The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-17
Mosquito, Nicaragua, and osta-Hica.
[From the Epali.h Colonial Massnine ]

My DEAR GENEKAls-ln proportion as the iade-
pendence and security OF The Mosquito Territory
may be object OF Interest aud value To Enslanu'
must the services You, tor so many years, ieu-
dered 10 that cause, be highly estimated oy an 10
whom they are known IL was, therefore, WIN no
ordinary pleasure that received PERMISSION 10 III
scribe TO YOU the republication OF tne iouowibS
pages, as enabling me 10 pay this puolic tfloute To
the generous feeling, patriotic sPi'' anu ehii9hteh-
ed policy which dictated your proceedings, when
In command at Honduras, 10 wards the Mosquito
Indians, the native sovereign chlefain and his Ia
miy.
Quito brought up and educated at Jamaica by the
Duke OF Manchester, when Governor there, In
stead OF being mere savage-as ignorance and
maleyolence have combined In representing him
was found by yeu, not merely u civilized being,
but man wi hose ''beanDg, manners, and demea-
nor, were altogether those OF gentleman" Fur
thermore, II Is well II should be known that,
Christian himst II, he sought, through letter add
dressed TO you the II Of February, 1910, in the
following, his own noble language, Her Majesty's
aid" that salutary laws may be established in my
kingdom like those which Her Maesty's subjects
have the happiness 10 enjoy, and 10 introduce
among us the blessings OF the Christian religion,
which alone can ensure us lasting peace"
The wish was responded 10 by the British Co
veDment 10 the high credit of this nation IL was
so, too, at moment, when any advantage, which
might be derived from strengthening the ties
which existed between the crown OF Cheat Bn.
tam ana lhs Mosquito Territory, seemed as re-
mote, as when In tunes OF old, aud yet more re-
Gently, by the side OF our great Nelson, Mosquito
men fought and bled in British ranks, with that
underwriting hdelty aud devotion which has, for
upwards OF TWO centuries, characterised their at
tachment 10 the paramount sovereignty of Grea
Biitaln.
1t is no less satisfactory to know, that the pre-
sent king, who has hkew received an English
education, eylDces every anxiety 10 promote the
views 20 well expressed by his late father: and
although he has lost that support he would have
had from his brother, Prince Clarence, youth
capacity and promise, whose death lat year in
England, while being brought up under your Judi
cious care, Is Calamity for his country yet will he
not latter In his aim, under the shelter OF British
protection.
The future destiny of the Mosquito Indians, for
veal or woe, in our hands, and there
circumstances OF recent growth which amply show,
that we have now involved IN the observance of
our Obligations towards Them, some OF the largest
interests OF this land, and Its widespread possess
slons-lnteIes upon which depend the CONT
nuance OF our national prosperity, greatness, and
glory.
These circumstances are fully developed IN the
following pages, revealing new ambition, which,
but Tor Mosquito, would have grown 10 maturity,
leopardisiDg The security of the British Empire and
the peace OF the world, no less Than the public veal
OF our transatlantic brethren themselves.
The facts OF the case are clear, official language.
official acts, well at Washington as on Inc
shores Of the Pacific, all tending TO the same ends
exclusive privileges, commercial monopoly, and
political sggrandlst at-the closing of every in
dependent avenue 10 BRUSH and European traffic
between The Atlantic aud Pacific Oceans. In the
face Of TINS, the American Ambassador has ven-
tured, at public dinner the other day, with dry
senientousness, to lay II down that the United
States sought no exclusive advantages for their
citizen.
This announcement must be hailed with salts
faction, n II be the forerunner ct new line of
policy and conduct, but If there should be no
change IN the course winch has been pursued, then
such professions may be taken at their true value,
as mere closks ana blinds with which IL is essayed
10 paclfy and mslead the British people. The
prese MT Republication at the facts connected with
DIOcteulUUS ne nj al
America has been the object, will at least tend to
assist In the approaching this and similar profess
sions hereafter. | beg now to subscribe myself,
with the greatest esteem and regard,
Yours, most faithfully,
London, 18th Dec, 1919. The AUTHOR
STATE or ADMINISTRATION OF GREAT BRITAIN =.
ltrom the Colonial Magazine for Nov aud Dec ls49
There are colonial interests of SO nom ntous a
character connected with the project of a sh
canal between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
that II calls sr our earnest consideration. Its &C
complls hmtn amounts, IN tact, TO achange IN tina
physical conformation OF the globe, by oh IN
interchange and intercourse OF some of the mos
distant regions have been regulated. Without III
disastrous effects 81 some great commissions
nature, breaking through that barrier which inter
poses between the waters OF the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans, by means Of the lsthmus which
stretches from North 10 South America, all the
advantages OF which a communicat alton between
those seas Is capable, seem likely to be secured by
the industry, skill, and enterprise OF this age.
Our present object, then In this article, Is briefly
TO note what Is the nature Of the questions which
have been up To this moment forced upon public
attention IN connection with this subject
Before Spain Quilted her last hold over the mag
nihcent dominions which the genius, energy, aud
courage Ot her earlier sons acquired, the Kingdom
Of Guatelama, under the Intendency of a captain
general, formed the most central portion of the
isthmus Of America, bounded on the North by the
Audlencia OF Mexico, and on the South by that of
the ASdtncia OF Santa Fe. For the purposes of
civil government, the kingdom was divided into
hive chief districts, CONSISTING Of Guatemala, 81.
Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa-ltica
The whole OF these bordered more or less on the
Pacific, but Honduras and Guatemala alone pos
seEsed any territory or jurisdiction the Atlantic
side. That coast, from Cape Honduras on the
Nor.h, TO Kings Buppan on the South, known as
the Mosquito shore, was occupied by a bold and
tDdependtn nj race OF Indians, whom the Spaniards
were never able to subdue. Thus Spain was left
with nothing but an empty clam, under her papal
gram, OF night, as Tar as the Pope could give it,
TO that coast, and to the extirpaton OF It's inhsb
tants, should they refuse TO embrace the Roman
faith, and ackbow ledge her imperial sway.
The Mesquite lndiass found ready allies IN the
buccaneers, and having become acquainted with
the rivalry which existed between England and
Spain, placed themselves from time 10 time under
the protection and alliance Of this country, and in
the different wars which were subsequently, waged
with Spain, acted a. suxIiares TO the BRUSH
forces employed ON the neIghboring seas and
coasts.
In l7s6, to the eternal disgrace Of our then
government, England was led 10 Withdraw her
support from the hing OF Mosquito and his depen-
dent rihea. and to leave the field open TO SPAN.
The cabinet Ut Mrdnd, thus lett to itself, soon
after attempted, by lew expeditions, 10 conquer
the resistance 81 the Mosquito Indians, but al
though they Obtained temporary successes by
bringing superior forces 20 given spots, they were
unable Co MAINTAIN their positions. The last of
heir hostile movements took place IN l1y6, when
he SpabiaIds having been signaly defeated a
Black River by a Mosquito force, commanded by
General Lowry Robinson, a native, and subject Of
the hing IT Mosquito (tne grandfather OF the pre-
a
such me for ,fltctng the subsection OF this in.
domiis BILE race. IL was then determined 10 make
he attempt by peaceable efforts, through the es-
isblishment at trading settlements, TO consist at
first 81 well affected natives Of some OF the neigh
boring. ISLANDS. For this purpose, IN lsO3. the
King OF Spain signed decree, known as that Of
san Lorenzo, by which he placed the whole coast
under the special supervision and military control
OF the Governor OF the island OF ST Andrew, in
the caribbean sea, subject, however, to the Cap
tains-tienersl OF Santa Fe, TO whom the care Of