Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-27
THE AFFAIR AT GREYTowN.

| The American merchants and residents in San
Juan del Norte, or Greytown, have issued mani
festo in reference to the alleged outrage on the
American flag in that harbor, which appears to show
very clearly that the captain of the steamer Prone
theus was in the wrong while it does not show that
the captain of the British brig-ofwar Express was
right. We quote the document in full, as follows
The port of San Juan del Norte (Greytown) is free
port All articles imported or exported free of duty.
The City Government consists Of Council of which Mr.
Green the English CONSUL is chairman The Council is
composed OF five members exclusive of the chairman
who are chosen annually by general election of the cit
zens The names of the present Council VIM. Gray,
Henry l.. Stevenson, Augustine Sigand Samuel Shepherd
and James Geddes. Messrs Gray and Stephenson are
Americans; Mr. Sgand is Frenchman: Mr. Shepherd
is native of this coast; and Mr. Geddes is Scotchman
Each member of the Council is magistrate by right
4f Office and act whether relating TO the city har-
por, must DO approved by the Council before it can be-
come law There is regularly organized poncs roreo
for the maintenance Of order city attorney to discharge
the usual duties of that Office and port captain and mort
surgeon whose duty it is to board all vessels entering the
harbor
harbor dues except the English mail and these
vessels exempt simply because they bring and receive
mail to and from this place. The same privilege is Of
Tered to the steamers OF any other country that win in
IKE manner deliver and receive mail to and from the
countries from which they come.
The steamer Prometheus commenced her regular trips
to this port in July last in connexion with the transit
steamers the lake. and the steamers from San
Juan del Sur. The authorities of this town granted to
the company the privilege of occupying certain portion
OF land on the opposite north side of the harbor for
the purpose Of fitting up the river steamers dschargnr
COAL &C. Previous to the departure Of the Prometheus
for New York. the bill for port charges presented and
payment refused the plea that the company did not
recognise the authorities, and consequently would not
pay. 'tta
The Prometheus permitted to depart and made
several trips each time refusing to pay before At the
same time all other vessels arriving and departing paid
the regular charges withouta murmur On the morning
Of November 81 the Promeheus being then in port and
about starting for New York. with large number Of pas
sengers on board among them Mr. Vanderbilt President
Of the Canal Company who had just returned from the
Lake OF Nicaragua whittier he had been with the new
lake steamer Central America presented with the
usual bill of charges including those due former occa
sions, and payment again refused.
ga warrant then issued with the approval of the
Council for the arrest of the captain of the
the debt
went on board and serving the the captain Of
the steamer refused On this the port captain and his
men retired, at the time giving notice that the
steamer would not be permitted to proceed until
the debt paid. "A few minutes afterwards the Pro-
metheus dropping down the harbor and Immediately
the English brigofwar Express got under way and the
steamer still continued to drift toward the mouth of the
harbor when the brig sent shot her bow and
another asten Of her. when she returned to her anchor
age, and Mr. Vanderbilt ashore and paid the debt
8 The Americans here deem the Mosquito question q
matter to be settled between the Governments interested
and until that is donc that in order maintain the laws
and to give protection to citizens and strangers the usual
port charges, well all other levied by the
Council should be paid