The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-11-02
From fhe Bali. American.
TIE KINGDOM OF MOSQUITO.

VT hO@XthA0' I
The claim Of the British Government
to right of control over the country
known as the Mosquito Coast, is dated as
far back as the reign of Charles the Sec-
ond. 1t is alleged ihu! some time after the
conquest Of Jamaica, the Mosquito King
and his chiefs placed themselves under The +
protection Of England, and that the Gov.
ernor Of Jamaica in the name Of his sove.
reign accepted this prefer and promised
them the royal protection. ]
Ii is further stated that in 1889 Tort
vas erected bv'a BRUSH force from ia. !
maica and The royal flag hoisled, "lhus
making formal publication to tho world
and To The crown of Spain Ina, the indie
pendent country Of the coast was under
The direct sovereignty and protection Of
Great Britain" This assumption IS plac.
ed upon the ground that the Mosquito ma
ton IVES never sutiuga;ed by Spain; that
it had always retained is independent char.
ac,er that since the downfall Of Monte.
zuma the tribes under the Mosquito Kings
have had recogn zed territory pertaining
10 themselves, and governed by laws ad-
mnis,ercd BY their own hereditary 10.
Iets. Now this Mosquito country Is
included within the limits Of the State OF
Nicaragua, which has never Recognized a.
ny such kingdom as HAT Of Mosquito. II
The Wild savages iuhabItiug the Mosquito
} Coast have been allowed to roam at will
through that region II has been Somewhat
: after the fashion OF the Seminoles 10 FIOri.
{ da-the country not being attractive e.
! nough TO draw 10 it any other occupants
/, The Government, Of Nicaragua regards
!. the British intervention and claim in some
such light as We would regard a treaty be
tween Victoria ana Billy Bowlegs, by which
Billy would undertake TO put himself an'
e his people uuder the royal protection o
l. Englu-d.
e The occasion which has brought thi
II matter to the notice Of our Government !
!. simply Ibis The State Of Nicaragua ha
;, granted TO an American Company the priv
10 lege Of opening a communication betwee
d the Atlantic and the Pacific by the rout
:, Of the San juan river and ihe Lake NIcg
=, ragua. This fact having become known
~ the British Consul al New York gave nc
IN tlce 20 the Nicaragua Company Ina, Gret
b. Britain had certain rights Of sovereign
e, over the territory through which their pr'
c. jec,ed route lay; that the Mosquito coul
Try was under the BRUSH protection at
that he was Instructed TO inform the Con
> pany that " the boundary line Of the Mo
n. quito Kingdom touches tho ST. Johns I
- yer al Tie Mechucs rapid, about lhif'
ID miles below the Lake Nicaragua, and IN
9. from thence 10 The mouth Of the ST John
tn the Navigation OF that river belongs
a. Musqui,o."
n. The British Consul goes on further
e. inform the Company that the po.t Of S
\. Johns, now called Grey Town, at vi bic
I'd they have agreed with the Nicarsg,
he Government, 10 build store, also belon
Of TO Mosquito tina, her Majestv's Cover
- meni is bound to protect the King Of Mo
cs quito 10 the exercise Of the terrtori
ial rights which he possesses over Grey Tow
oil and over the lower par. Of the ST. Joht
Isl river; and that the government OF Me
rs, ragua has entered iato an agreement
90 regard 10 places where II has no comp
On tence."
rs We have never learned how il happc
an ed that the official announcement Of the
%, claims on the part Of the British Cover
-. ment came from Consul aRd 20, from Il
ed diplomatic representative Of that Cover
ment. The claims themselves, cxtraort
nary in their osn nature, involye quo
A. ton Of sovereignty which 1t does not b
10, long to Consular functions to discuss.
is said however, thstlhe subject has broue
an on some cspondence between the Sta
le. Department at Washington and the Bt
ID, ISL Government.
hi To give color to the pretenslons Of Gre
ch Britain IN this affair 1t seems that {,
lis years ego, probably in lsii, the ccrcm
~ ny Of GROWING king Of Mosquito "
or perlorned a, Tie Brush se,,lemen, at Il
"a lie. A poor farce II was-bui it 10 Tx
90 " TO BE- come a serious business enough
10 the claims advanced by he British co
er sui are 10 be seriously pressed by his Go
IS. etrment. The object IS sufficiently plai
nd Il is TO exclude Americans from the pc
ks session Of he Nicaragua route and 10 he
.te it 10 British hands.