The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-01-07
Authentic Aeeounea fro1. M5es-.@.--

AHthenftc Accounts frum NieRrm@un.
In the New York papers Of The 2ssh uIt. are pub
lished several interesting Official documents rom
Central America giving the Particular OF the sci
zGre Of Tigre Island by the British naval farrrs.
and the correspondence OF ltie Honduras assarE.
ment in relation 10 that extraordinary traussf.s...
On the 10th Of October, Capt. Payntes. ..s.
mander OF the British steamer GoFr0n. pgesen,suk
himself before the harbor Of Amapaia, On Tiase
Island, and took possession, with formal notice TO
the commander, Vicente Leehuga, to the effect, that
in consequence Of communications received from
the Charge d'Afaires of H. B. M. in Central
America, nanifesting the impossbty ofobtaining
by pacific means the arrangement Of the ust claims
of Great Britain against the government Of Hondu-
ras, he had come to establish Jurisdiction over the
Island Of Tfgre behalf and 10 the name of Queen
Victoria, and Inf consequenec had taken possession
of said island, reserviDg to the government Of Her
Majesty the adoption Of final talterioSes) measures
in this particular. Mr. Chatfeld, the British
Charge, was present, and directed the seizure.
The commander reports that he mustered his
little force, hoisted the flag Of the Republic, and
drew up his men, but not with the intention Of
making resistance, which was obviously hopeless
against superior force. The flag OF Honduras was
taken down by the British, the commander refusing
to be party TO The act and protesting that nothing
but the weakness Of his force prevented him from
resisting the outrage. No change was made in the
administration Of the island The troops left the
island, giving notice that British vessels of war
would visit it from time to time, to maintain the
British claims. Mr.. ChatfieId gave notice to the
government Of Honduras that he had seized the
island for the use of the British Qneen. ST. Hon
cada, the Minister of Foreign Relations of that
government, replied 10 this notice, Commenting with
some severity on the causes alleged for The seizure
He denies that any communication from the Brit
ish on the alleged subject Of complaints had been
left unanswered; and that, moreover, the govern
ment of Honduras, 4" in consequence offhe persmp-
tory manner in which these claims had been de-
manded, the rnenaces which accompanied them,
the extraordinary power Of Great Briizin, and the
weakness of Honduras" bad been willing to
name, and had actually named, Commissioners for
the examination OF the claims /; to which PROPOSE
ton the British authorities had made nc reply what
ever. Sr. Moncada also recalls the fact that the
British had, previous to the seizure, received official
notification Of the transfer Of the island to the Uni
ted States, by treaty already negotiated.
Itappears that we were in error in former state
ment, that the American Charge, Mr. Squier, had
actually taken possession. A decree had been
published by the Honduras authorities, announcing
the transfer to the United Sates but no change Of
flag had taken place when the Gorgon seized ii.
| The following passage concludes Sr. Moncada's
letter to the British Consul-General:
"The government of Honduras win endure all
the injuries which your government may choose to
inA;ct upon il under ahe sole right Of J0rcs; but
| Honduras will never surrender 10 Great Britain
any rights in its territories, for it is now clear that
the unjust demands Of your conntTymen are simply
the pretexts for occupying the Island Of Tyre and
the Port Of TruxiI0. The government Of Hondu-
las confines itself, them to the renewal Of its pro-
test Of January 8. 1913, under the firm belief that
the despotism of England will Esfish, that aome
strong and liberal nation, foreseeing the fatal ten
denotes of their violations Of the most sacred pFn
| ciples of international right, which are now 80
openly practised by Great Briisn, will take under
its protection the feeble Republic Of Honduras"
The whole amount ofihe British claims by which
these proceedings are justified, does not exceed
$4,000.
The Island Of Tigre governs the Gulf Of Fonssca,
or Conchaqua, which is the Pacific terminus Of
the proposed Ship Canal between the two oceans
1t is described as a magnificent body Of water, and
around it cluster the independent States Of Nicaa-
qua, Honduras and San Salvador. The NewYork
Tribune says it is probably the most important and
valuable position the western Of this CONT
nent Its islands, harbors ports and resources, ara
scarcely paralleled that coast while il lies very
nearly in the direct Inns Of communication between
Europe and the chief seats Of Asiatic population
and commerce. Whenever the great Pacific Rail-
way shall have been completed, San Francisco, or
whatever point in California or Oregon may be its
western terminus, may hope to rival the western
outlet of the Nicaragua Ship Canal in Importance
to the commerce of the wide world.
The British government saw fit to have this Gulf
or Bay scientifically examined by Com. Belcher in
her behalf so long since as 1887. His report
affirmed its great importance, as also that any ship
canal through Nicaragua must terminate therein
Such, we believe, is now the general conviction.