Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-12-23
THE AFFAIR OF THE PROMETHEUS
AND CHALLENGE.
NEW YdRK Dec

NEW lOhh, DcC.
The Captain of the steamship Prometheus,
which arrived here to-day, reports that as ne
was about to proceed to sea, from San Juan,
the English brig of war Express, fired two shots
both passing within few feet of the steamer.
Upon sending boat on board the brig, the
CAPTAIN stated that he did it to protect the au-
thorities of Graytown, who had demanded what
Can't. Churchill of the steamer, thought illegal
port charges, and threatened to fire bomb shell
unless the fires of the steamer were put out, and
the vessel brought to an anchor. The authori-
ties then came on board, and the Capt. having
paid the charges under protest, was permitted
by the brig to proceed to sea.
The ~ Y. Evening Post of Dec. 4th says
:" In the news brought from San Juan by the
steamer Prometheus, which arrived here last
evening, an incident is related of a very import
ant nature. The protection Of the pretended
dominions of the King of the Mosquitoes is
made, by the British fleet in those waters, pre-
text for committing acts which, if they are re-
peated, or not apologized for, will lead to Sc
rious misunderstanding between Great Britain
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 dignifed by the government of Great Brit
ain with the title of King of the Mosquitoes,
and whose title to a large extent Of coast that
power has taken upon itself to support against
the claim of the republic 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 Nicaragua, sometimes
called Nicaragua, a place which the Nicaraguans
and their Spanish ancestors have held from time
.nn,, or;a what io tho payt fbipn m II
from the earliest settlement of the country
On the river San Juan 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 settlement, and set of authorities have
established themselves at this place, who have a
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 Nicaragua
and insist as it seems from the experience of
Capt Churchill, that those who enter and de-
part from it shall pay them port charges. The
Prometheus being about to leave the mouth of
the river without paying these charges, a British
vessel of war, the brig Express, fred into her,
in such manner as to endanger the lives of the
passengers, of whom there were 500 on board.
On inquiry being made as to the meaning of
this, Capt. 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 bomb.shell into the Prometheus; order
ing his guns, at the same time, to be loaded
with grape and canister shot AS there was no
alternative between paying and being sunk in
the harbor, Capt. Churchill complied with the
demand, protesting against its violence and ile-
gality.
To say 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 courteously,
and even forbearingly it might be offered, can
not be endured. We find a civilized race in pos
session Of the river and harbor of San Juan, and
we acknowledge their jurisdiction over the
country, as succeeding to the ancient Spanish
title. Great Britain, on the other hand, digs up
what she pretends to be still older title of a
small tribe of savages, crowns 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 nations must come into deadly collis-
ion, and the waters of the harbor Of Nicaragua
will be tinged with blood.
Our republic claims the right to Judge for it.
self in recognizing the independent government
of any country with which we have relations
Of peace. We have recognized the Nicaraguans
as sovereigns of the country watered by the San
Juan, and have never acknowledged any other.
The Mosquito nation has been esteemed of so
little consequence, that its name is not even
mentioned in the British geographical works of
authority. MeCnlloch's Geographical Diction-
airy, which is extremely minute, has not the
slightest allusion to its existence. Great Brit
ain, however, like u.s. may Judge for herself, and
acknowledge the right OF the Mosquitoes to the
country, if she can find a reasonable pretext for
doing so but she must not presume to Judge
for us. The pretext of being the protector of
the Mosquito King, does not alter the question.
1t is mere expedient for giving plausible face
to an impertinent interference, and will not be
allowed to pass"
Letters received here from San Francisco,
give the following account Of the difficulty on
board the ship Challenge the vessel ar
rived off Rio the crew some fifty to sixty, broke
out in open mutny, with the intention to seize
the ship murder the Captain and mate, and give
her in command Of one Of their company, and
go rowing. The mate was knocked down and
stabbed by the crew, but was rescued by the
Captain, who succeeded in bringing them to du-
ty, not however until some of them were Sc
verely hurt, seven of whom having previously