The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-22
john M. CLAYTON, Secretary Of State.
British Occupation OF the Mosquito Goa

SoHN W. CLAfToN, oecTetuTy ~ otuie
British Occupation OF the Mosquito Coast. \
II will be remembered that days ago
published the protest. by the consul of Great Britain
at New York, in behalf of the rights of the King of
the Mosquito coast. AS the subject still continues
to interest, fuller sketch of the affair, which we
condense from the Providence Daily Journal, may
not be without value. II must be stated that this
coast did not extend far south as the San Juan
river There has been, for the last two centuries,
constant intercourse between Jamaica and the op-
poste coast of Honduras: but these commercial re-
latons, if they may be so called, were confined to
these countries and did not extend to England, as
we shall presently show
During the period when the buccaneers held their
sway on the Spanish Main, their haunts were along
the coast of Honduras as far south as the isthmus
of Panama. The Indians well as Spaniards
stood in fear of thcm and when, in the year 1856,
an English expedition, sent by Cromwell against
Jamaica, had conquered that island, they crossed
the opposite coast, where they induced the chiefs
of the Mosquito Indians to place themselves under
British protection. A traffic kept up between
Jamaica and the Mosquito coast without Interrupt
ton, but the British established no settlement
there. II appears, however, that this transient
commerce gave offence to Spain; she captured
the logwood trade, thereby asserting her claim to
the country in question. These captures took place
previous to the year 1889, when took place be-
tween England and Spain, which war is attributed
to these captures.
During all this time the only public function
aries in the country justices of the peace, APP
pointed by the Governor of Jamaica, who had au-
thority to decide commercial questions. On the
close of the war, the British government deter
mined to hold the Mosquito coast under its imme-
date sovereignty, and appointed Captain Robert
Hodgson the first superintendent "In l749, he
took 100 men, drafted from the troops at Jamaica,
and took possession of the principal station at
Black river on the coast, where he erected fort,
mounted it with cannon, hoisted the royal flag, and
kept up garrison"
"From this time" says MacGregor, sc during
the peace, and until the conclusion of the war of
1856, the Mosquito shore continued to be mill
tary, federal, protected province of Great Bri-
tain In the treaty of peace, concluded in
1853 between England and Spain, the English
was required to relinqush all pretensions to the
country and in the following year Q764) gave
orders for demolishing the fort at Black river,
and Withdrawing the garrison to Jamaica. 1t is
said the English overreached by Spain in this
article of the treaty, and determined still to keep
their hold of it. "They convinced of the i'm
policy of their decision, in agreeing to relinquish
possession, and approved of the conduct of Mr.. OF
way, the superintendent in refusing the admission
of Spaniards into the country" Culture admins
trations" continues Mr.. MacGregor, continued to
support the settlement, and TO main tain the
eighty of the crown the Mosquito Territory, in
such to silence the pretensions OF Spain
20 any dominion over it."
new system of administration formed by
Lord Dartmouth, which Governor Basil Keith put
in execution in IT'S. This consisted of council,
a bench of justices, &c. and Mr.. James Ferguson
was appointed superintendent by the Governor OF
Jamaica. In l777 the settlers sent two ships laden
with sugar, rum, bark, &c, TO England, which
were refused admission, and compelled TO go to n
foreign. market. This question, on being referred
70 the Lords Of Trade, elected a reply, that the
Mosquito shore could not be considered a British
colony or plantation, and therefore that the pro-
duce of the shore should not BE- made subject to the
restriction of the clause in question.
Il is evident, from the above, that the British
Government did not consider the Mosquito coast
a dependency, but merely trading district for
Jamaica. The governor Of that island had exer-
cised a certain jurisdiction the chiefs, rather
we suppose for the protection of the English traders
than To exercise any sovereignty over the country
Our traders find their way 10 distant parts of the
globe, where they barter with the natives Of UNI
civilized countries, and ships sent To pro.
tect them. The protection Of the traders on the
Mosquito coast 10 have been the object of the
Governor of Jamaica in sending hundred soldiers
there Such seems 10 have been the tenure under
which England claims sovereignty over this coas
and country, extending" says Juarros, in hi,
History of Yucatan, three hundred and thirty
nine miles in length, by one hundred and fifty in
breadth, with an area Of forty-eight thousand fv,
hundred square miles"
Il is only within few years that any pretension,
have been made by the English to the country
south OF Blueields river, and we do not think !
was ever asserted until Mr.. MacGregor did so ia
Is47 This gentleman is, was, Secretary Of thu
Board Of Trade, and, by order Of Parliament, drew
ND the best and most extensive report on CONNER
eaI tariff and statistics and treaties with forcigI
States, e1tant. In his book is a distinct acknow
Judgment that Great Britain had formally aban
doncd all connexion with the coast at that date.
Mr.. MacGregor then goes ON TO argue, that a
spain has lost all dominion on the continent O
America, "the Mosquito Territory is still an indie
pendent country, and that the anarchical States O
Central America have right by occupation o
by recognition 10 it."
The claims set up by the writer in question-an'
his authority is considered the highest in England
are az follows:
"Thc territory Of the Mosquito country, as hith
erto claimed by the kings, extends from Cape Hon
duras south 10 King Buppo, or landing place, nca
tbc Escuda de Yeragua, and comprises the Sc
coast Of the following provinces, viz;
"PRovINcE OF HoNDURAs, including Cape Hon
duras, Roman river, Black river, Potook river, Cap
Gracias Dios, and Wava river.
"PRoviNcE OF NICARAGUA, including Bluchcld
river, San Juan river, and YANKEES river.
COSTA RIGA, including Salt river, &c.
"VERAGUA, including Bocca dc Toro, Bocca q
Chiriaui, Ecuda dc Veragua.
1.-The Government Of Grenada claims the Bocc
de Toro, Bocca de Chriqui, and the Escuda dc We
raVua Central America also claims a part, bu
the Spaniards never appear TO have occupie
them"
This goes beyond any thing suspected, and il III
Mosquito king" should assert that he claimed
hundred miles further north south, there woul
he as much reason in England extending her arr
over the whole. The districts named extend nearl
to Chagrcs, and leave Central America without
mile Of coast on the Atlantic.