North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-12-13
THE AFFAIR OF THE PRoMETHEUs.

! In the news brought from San Juan 5y the steam
er Prometheus, which arrived here last evening, an
incident is related of very important nature. The
protection of the pretended domnons of the King
of the Mosquitoes is made by the British fleet in
those waters pretext for committing acts which,
fthey repeated, not apologized for, will lead
to a serious misunderstanding between Great Bri-
tain and the United States, if not to actual war.
There is chief of few hundred Indians, not
yet civilized enough to wear clothing, who has been
dlgnlhed by the government of Great Britain with
the title of King of the Mosquitoes, and whose til
tie to large extent of coast that power has taken
upon itself to support against the claim of the re-
public of Nicaragua. This unbreeched monarch,
under the instructions of the English government,
lays title to the mouth of the river San Juan and
its banks, including the town of San Juan de Nj
caragua, sometimes called Nicaragua, place which
the Nicaraguans and their Spanish ancestors have
held from time immemorial-or, what is the next
thing to it. from the earliest settlement of the coun
try.
On the river San uan lies place called, on some
Of the maps, Grey, and in the letter of Captain
Churchill, Which we publish to-day, Greytown.
From its name it appears to be an English settle
ment and set of authorities have established them
selves at this place who have police force at their
command, and who pretend to hold their power
by appointment from the naked autocrat of the
Mosquitoes. They claim the river and harbor of
San Juan de y and insist as It seems from
the experience of Captain Churchill, that those who
enter and depart from it shall pay them port char
ges. The Prometheus being about to leave the
mouth OF the river without paying these charges,
British vessel OF war, the brig Express, fired into
her, IN such manner to endanger the lives of
the passengers, Of whom there were five hundred
on board. Oninquiry being made as to the mean
ing OF this, Captain Churchill was informed that it
was the Office OF the brig to protect the servants of
the Mosquito King in their demand of port-dues, and
if they were not paid Immediately, he would send
a bomb-shell into the Prometheus ordering his
guns, at the same time, to be loaded with grape
and canister shot. AS there was no alternative be-
tween paying and being sunk in the harbor Cap
tain Churchill complied with the demand, protest
ing against its violence and illegality.
Iosay nothing of the insolent manner in which
the demand OF the white agents of the MOSQUITO
Chief was enforced, it is manifest that this sort of
interference however courteousy and even forbear-
lngiy 1t nigh be offered, cannot be endured. We
md civilized race IN possession of the river and
harbor OF San Juan, and we acknowledge their ju-
r1sdlc1on over the country, succeeding to the an
Gent Spanish title. Great Britain, on the other
hand, digs up what she pretends to be still older
Title OF small tribe OF savages, one of them
as their king, erects herself into protector of his
rights, and sends out an armed vessel to compel
us to recognise Them The bare statement of this |
proceeding is enough to show that it cannot be
tolerated. and that if Britain persists the two ma
tons must come into deadly collision, and the wa
ters of the harbor of Nicaragua will be tinred with
blood
Our republic claims the right to Judge for itself |
in recognizing the independent government of anv |
country with which we have relations of peace. We
have recognised the Nicaraguans as sovereigns Of
the country watered by the San Juan. and bare
never acknowledged any other The Mosquito ma
ton has been esteemed OF So little
graphical works Of authority. McCulIocS,sn geo