Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-04-01

In February last received letter from friend in New
York gentleman OF high responsibility extensively engaged
IN commercial TRANSACTIONS chiefly with Central and South
America and who formerly held seat in The House Of Re-
pesentaves, stating that he had noticed my auson TO the
affairs Of the Mosquito coast and that be could give me some
information on the subject, If desired IT, Immediately
made the request and received from him, about month ago.
a letter, which will read 10 the Senate
/ ssNEw YuaK, FEBRUARY %, 1siS
DEAR SIN Your favor OF the 18th instant is received In
compliance win your request have hastily drawn up the out
lines OF the information alluded to.
- In August 1916, MIR James s. Bell visited New York and
Introduced 10 person having great commercial adj
ansges 1t the English settlement of Bueheds, Mosquito
on Central America, aud who desired to torn connexon
with house at New York. by which these advantages could
he made available for commercial enterprise Having at that
time much business at Belize and Truxo was ready to las
propositions for increasing my trade with that country
especially 10 receive the valuable information which was told
Mr. b. could mpart MIR Bell stated he the Secretary
to British consulate at Bluefes which he assured
really the Government de acfo OF the Mosquito natlona tribe
dsoate and degraded Indians whose King aiad fourteen
inmate of the couhouse and dependant on that iunc-
Onary for the necesaries OF lie that the Mosquito country
had been privately conveyed the British Government and
that that claim when que STONED could be maintained BY legal
title OF purchase from the King that the object OF the British
Government was not only the possession OF this territory which
abouded with rich forests OF mahogany and other valuable
woods the and many miles in the interior on navgable
rivers but al The oe time show, prove and maintain by
force arms, necessary the Mosquito ther own ute to as
far south io of north latitude comprising San Juan and the
rich country of Lake Nicaragua thus securing the best route
the Pacific well by FAR the most fertile and productive
all that section OF Central America that he Mr. Belly had
made visits accompanied by kliul and engi-
San uan and thence the interior and TO the Lake
Nicaragua for purposes Of exploration Sc by order OF the
Government conveyed privately Mr. Walker the Consul at
Bueeds that he the United STATES TO effect on has
dRidual connection with mercantile house BY
whcho establish branches Bueeds and at San uan IN adj
vance OF its becoming british o that he had received AN
exclusive grant for the cutting of mahogany on Bueeds river
and adjacent that this with and Intimate ea-
ton TO the consulate Buefelds alas the Mosquito Govern
men would give him such advantages at San Juan that lac
could nearly monopoze the interior trade OF that place. and
ship TO the United States large quantities OF spice indigo
cotton goods,
Mr Bell by written documents and letters, satisfied
fully truth of his which recent have in
part confirmed ldecned the propositions but another house
have accepted them far engage the services of about
thirty men Bueheds with Mr. b. to maho-
gany cargo of which has actually been received this port
Mr. Bell whilst here had large chair made with canopy Ne
gde prousey and covered with damask which he stated
the throne of the King OF the Mosquitoes also habu and other
parsphernaa royalty which he took with him to Blue
fields At the time, these statements made but little impress
sons upon but recent events your speech have
showed too truly their truth and importance.
In connection with this subject will also read commlni
cation furnished me- request by the head OF OF the
foreign embassies in this city and addressed by the British
Charge Aaires at Bogota the Government Of New Gre
NADIA, setting forth the OF the British claims. In Janu
last furnished the evidence the authority OF the
British Consul General Guatemala. present this
roborative, and as Of higher authority
sBRIrIsH LEGATION, BoGoTA, SEPT. I'll is47.
Circumstances having given rise to question as to the
OF the frontier of the Kingdom OF Mosquito, her
Britannia Majesy's Government after having carefully
ned the various documents and historical records which exist
this instructed the
Britannia Majesty Charge dAaires to inform the Govern
Of New Grenada that her Maesys Government oil
opinion that the right the King OF Mosquito should be main
tanned extending from the Cape OF Honduras down to the
mouth Of the river San Juan a..
1.-The undersigned has likewise been instructed that
her Maesty Government will view with indifference any
attempt encroaeh upon the territories OF the King
OF Mosquito, who under the protection OF the British
Crown
Man Anczar Greusdan Secretary OF State for Foreign Affairs
ad Interim the undersigned begS him OF his high and
"DANIEL F. oLEARY."
From the information have been able TO gather, Mosquito
has become for all practical purposes, British colony. The
real head of the Mosquito nation Mr. Patrick Walker, the
British Consul at Bueields The nominal king Of the Mos
quitos boy, living in his house The Mosquito ma
ton consists of few hundred naked Indians, ide Ignorant
and worthless Under the petence of giving protection to this
miscaed naon Great Britain has extended her sovereignty
district of country nearly large the State OF New
ork Pennsylvania She has vessels OF commanded
by British subjects under the Of the Mosquito navy
And, in word she has appropriated to herself part Of the
territory Of Honduras and encroachng the territory OF
Nicaragua, against the solemn protest OF the Central Ame
can States. Her objects doubtless threeiold-
/. To extend her political dominion on this continent
/ .. To open fields for commercial enterprise and
3. To obtain possession of the most practicable route for
ship canal the Ishmus and thus to control the
mercial communication between the two oceans.
This last object naturally regarded the most important
The has been surveyed mnuey, thoroughly, by Bril-
fish engineer and its praccabily ascerained. From the
Caribbean 10 Lake Nicaragua Nei san Juan u
cpihe of the requisite improvement The lake Is already
nagabe for vessels OF any burden and from the lake is
less than sixteen miles the Pacific, with descent Of
about hundred and twenty eight feet, The results of this
examination viii be found the end Of the first volume Of Sie
yeas work on Central America.
Sut il is not through her connexon with the Mosquito
alone that Great Britain is extending herself the
continent Through her establishment at Belize she pene
trang the very heart of the peninsula of Yucaan. She
bad first only permission TO occupy small district on the
for the purpose Of cutting ogwood, and 10 enjoy the
Of fishery for the subsistence Of the persons employed This
permission given during the Spanish rule in America. 1t
confirmed in 1888 by the treaty of Versailles, under very
cautious restrictions and slightly extended by the treaty Of
London in l7s6. The sovereignty Of Spain this territory
became by virtue of the independence OF her colonies OF which
Yucatan one, vested in Mexico. But the right OF Great
Britain to Belize told has not been recognised either by
Mexico Yucatan She not only continues to hold the coast
but she has extended herself district Of about fourteen
thousand square miles, embracing Of the most valuable
portions Of Yucaan and believe she claims by conquest
She within sixty miles Of Chspas, the southern State Of
Of coniaband fierce contest is going between the
Spanish and Indian Of Yucatan and the latter who
disnmed and harmless, found to be album
dainty supplied with powder and earms-mauy Of the lat
ter bearing the stamp Of the Of London. When this
contest Marked all such contests by murder and apne
and babay shall exhausted the combatans both
parties may be wiling take refuge in the power, and nd
tranquility unler the protection Of Great Britain. Sir, this
is the usual issue Of her Intervention in the domestic concerns
OF other Staeshose especially in which civilization has made
but little progress This is still likely TO be the result
when semi.babarous tribes ntermnged with civilized
m nj THE south