The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-12-17
British ASgrsssis.s In the Gulf Of Msxieo-
M eoixure q the Anland OF R~atsu.

| Bratish Aggressieas In tho Gulf Of Mexico
seixure % the AsAana OF Rsatan.
About thirty miles to the northward of the por
of Truxillo, in the republic of Honduras, Contra
America, il an island called Rostan. (some time,
Ruatan or Rattan) about thirty miles long and nine
broad. Ithss fine soil, heslthful climate, plen.
tiful supply of good water and, furthermore, two
excellent harbors, eachcapable ofcoAtaninga fleet
:" 1t may be considered" says Alcedo, cas- the
key Of the Bay of Honduras, and The focus of the
trade of the neighboring countries" "This beau
tfful island" says Macgregor, "has an excellent
harbor, easily defended, and is well adapted to the
cultivation of cotton, Coffee" &c.
Being the key Of the Bay of Honduras" pos
sessing good pors and other requisites for strong
naval position, besides being well adapted for rails
ing cotton, it has, of course, been seized upon by
| Great Britain.
"Upon what pretext 7"
| Most verdant of querists Is not Honduras weak I?
Does not Great Britain require it to complete her
Gordon of commanding positions on the American
coast-that chain of keys" which extends from
Labrador to Riot Go ask the highwayman for
"pretextsw There are crimes which suffer from
the production Of " pretexts," but which are almost
sublime in their naked, unblushing enormity, and
the SEIZURE of Roatan is precisely one of these
Hang no dish cout of pretext the shoulders of
so gigantic felony! 1t would spoil the effect.
"But, when, howl"
Most knowing of querists, while thou vert
babbling of "niggerology," and knocking thy
leaden head about in the vaults of ignorance, ina
ginning myself the while, high amongst the stars,
in the emporium of wisdom and craftsmanship.
The story of the seizure is q short one but we re-
serve the facts for succeeding paragraph in order
to give some account of the island, from which
its importance may be inferred And in doing this,
we shall only present the substance Of an article
entitled ga Statistical Account and Description
Of the Island of Roatun, by Commander r. C.
Michel, late Of H. M. SIS Sappho," published in
the August number of the British Uwsted Service
Magazine.
The soil of the island is Of the FIRST quality;
there is little waste land on it, and the whole
might be advantageously cultivated. In approach
ing the island, it has a singuarly beautiful ap-
pearance. The mountains rise gradually in height
to summit of 800 feet, and seem succesively to
follow each other, intersected by valleys, and the
whole thickly and most luxuriany wooded. Palm
and cocoa nut trees encrcle the shores, and
other trees cover the hills. These furnish an
abundance Of good and useful timber, such as the
Santa Maria wood, extensively used for ship build
ing, those varieties of oak, cedar, Spanifh elm,
and lance wood At present the island produces
IN abundance, cocoa-nuts, plantains, yams ba-
nanas, pine apples, &c, nc, and Captain Michel
expresses his conviction that bread fruit European
vegetables, and, indeed, many OF the fruits and
grow there il is admirably adapted TO produce all
the tropical staples sugar, cotton, collec and to-
bacco, which might soon become extensive arti-
Giles of export
The greatest abundance of game is found there,
including fowls, wild hogs &c., aud quantities of
domestic animals are raised. great deal of rain
falls during the winter months, from September to
February, which has the effect of making the air
cooler than in the West India islands generally,
and constant breeze tempers the influence of the
sun The dry months are warmer, but not oppres-
mometer averaged 80 deg of Fahrenheit. He
thinks the climate is not only healthy to those
born IN warm attitudes, but that Europeans with
proper precautions, might here enjoy good health
and long lives
The population is now about 1000, and rapidly
increasing; the proportion of births to deaths be-
ing as three to one. IL is confined almost exclu-
syey 10 the sea coast for purposes OF convenience
OF their palm and paIntain groves, having their
little vessels and fishing boats in quiet and shell
tered hooks, and conveying their produce, and
Rs sr safe is's and ai' @ t CAPT
Michel thinks "they were directed here BY
chance, and not by the superior advantages of the
place" The mass Of the people are liberated
slaves from the Grand Csyman, who have also
who find Roatsn better position. There is an
other portion Of the population made up Of Spanish,
settlers from the adjacent coasts, besides which
a few Europeans and Americans Capt Michel
says that "the mass of the population is fine
race-strong active, athletic, temperate and quiet
in their habits. and not given 10 excess. Grimes
are rare. They are familiar with the rude mecha-
nical arts, OF which they stand in need some ere
carpenters, others ropemakers, and they have a
knowledge Of boat and ship building, the m king
OF lime, &c Their trade is in their plantains, CO.
Goa nuts, pine apples, &c. which they carry TO the
ports of Honduras on the main land, to the Baize
and New Orleans.
They have not had, for some some time past, any
Jecihc form OF government. Mcdonald, British |
Superintendent OF Balize, In his expedition along
the Central American Coast, in 1911, for the pur
pose of" yndicating the rights OF bis Majesty the
King OF Mosquito, not content with HE outrages
on the efsnceless Central Americana, from TUX
lilo TO Boca del Toro, stopped at Roatan, hauled
down the flag Of Honduras, and expelled the au-
thorities Of that republic. similar attempt was
made at Tpxio, but the guns of the fort having
been brought TO bear upon him, he decamped-
contenting himself with raising and salutiDg the
English flag, barren strip Of sand, outside the
hsrbor. Since that time, Honduras has several
times manifested disposition TO resume her autho-
rity in Roatan, but in eyery instance has been pre-
vented by the appearance Of an English vessel Of
wsr. bearing letters. sometimes from the Supern.
teLdent OF Balize, and others from the Governor
Of Jamaica, 10 the effect that any such attempt
would be followed by 4" a severe castigation"
The latest advices from Central America in
form ms, that the English title having come 10 be
regarded as perfected, the Governor Of Jamaica,
(who does the crowning OF the " Mosquito mo-
nsrchs,'') has appointed magistrates, in the name
Of the Queen to govern the island SO the usurpa-
ton is sccomplished-by simple force, without an
attempt even to set up pretext, or TO manufacture
" historical evidence" az in the case of the Mos
quito shore, The act stands, a bald. unblushing
robbery and usurpatiou With the history Of re-
cent events in Central America fresh before them,
need we say more TO rouse the American people to
the extent and enomty Of British aggressione, at
our very doors Unless there is an eficient inter-
vention, the Key Of the Bay Of Honduras"
will remain in the grasp Of England There Is
only 0 arrow strip OF less than one hundred and
fifty miles Of coast, from Yucatan TO Chsgres, "a
distance OF more than 200 miles,) 10 which Eng
land does not directly or indirectly lay claim, and
the island Of Roatan commands that fragment.
We cannot resist the temptation ef copying YER