Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-12-31
THE BRITISH IN CENTRAL AMERICA

THE BRITISH IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
The intelligence received at New York, by
the steamer Empire City, from Central America,
makes it no longer doubtful that very extraordina-
ry proceedings have taken place in that quarter,
on the part of Mr.. Chatield, the British Charge
d'Affaires, and the forces acting under his direc-
tions.
1t appears from the official correspondence, in
serted in another column, that Mr.. Chathed, in
war-steamer Gorgon, with an armed party, took
formal possession. in the name of their Sovereign
on the 18th of October, of the Island of Tgre, in
she fine Bay or Gulf of Fonseca, on the Pacific
coast and that, two days afterwards, the port OF
Truxillo, on the Northern or Gulf Coast OF Hon
n.was seized in like manner Information,
hfE;cial character, but doubtless anthem
Rece1Ved, to the erect that tie British
seized all the islands in the Gulf of Fonseca,
and, moreover, La Unio1a the principal port of the
little State of San Salvador, which, we believe is
situated on the same Gulf.
These different acts would be sufficiently sus-
picious, were they wholly Independent of mea-
sures that have been adopted to promote the poll
cy of the United States in Central America; but
when it is remembered that treaty has been for
mally negotiated with the Government of Nicara-
qua for the construction by citizens OF this coun-
try, of ship canal through the territory of that
State, and that this very island of Tigre was &C.
ded to the United States, by the State OF Hondu-
gas, by treaty entered into with Mr. Squier, our
4 fbo Of is
evident that serious occasion of .misunderstand-
ing between our Government and Great Britain
may have presented itself, if each power shall
choose to stand by the acts of its agent.
The pretext for the conduct of Mr.. Chattield
was The existence of some unliquidated claims of
British subjects against the States whose terrific
ry he has violated But the busy proceedings of
that parsonage in forciby asserting the fictitious
pretensions of the Mosquito King to sovereignty
over the country bordering on the mouth of the
San Juan river, with the known avowal of Lord
Palmerston that those pretensions would be main
tanned by the British Government, render it alto
gether probable that the apprehended construc-
ton of the ship canal by Americans enjoying the
protection of the United States was the real cause
of these summary acts of hostility against the fee
BILE States of Central America.
l. should be recollected, however, that there is
strong reason to believe that Mr.. Chatfelds
course, in dealing with the State of Nicaragua,
concerning its treaty with Mr.. Squier, did not
meet the appreciation of his government; as there
is very little doubt that MIR. Squer himself in some
respects considerably transcribed the objects of
his own mission. The cordially of Sir Henry
Lytton Bulwers assurances, in presenting his Gre
dentals to the President of the United States and
the impressiveness Of the Presidents very friend
ly reply go far to repel the presumption that there
will be rupture between the two nations. And
it seems to be understood that whilst Mr. Rives
was in London on his way. Paris, had salts
factory conference with Ii lpeston on the
subject of the Nicaraguan The modified
language of the London the same to-
pic, also tends to induces y there need
1t will, assuredly, ecessary for the
American dignity - 81
sive measures at 81 S<
The essays Of y i
a deep imposed 'I 81
Of Mexico with Il Exl; VI
object of the hig ki1 eo16l,
and one noemt6 ba IL
may be thought of ourd
famous non-interference
alfwill unite in taking the
1nercal advantages of the ship capa1
Sbe tanely surrendered because CIR
choose TO interpose her negatiy2
-