Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-01-06
From the London Daily News Of December 10, 1851
The AFFAIR at GreytOyn.

There is, we believe, no rational Englishman,
who has paid attention to the proceedings Of our
diplomatic agents and naval officers in Central
America whether on the Pacific or Atlantic
side-but feels disposed to blush and change the
subject whenever that country is named. A still
deeper sense of regret win be awakened should
ANYTHING occurring in that scene of our folhes be
allowed to interrupt the feelings of amity which
prevail, and ought to prevail, between Great
Britain and the United States. We wait there
fore, with considerable anxiety for more full and
authentic information respecting the apparently
and inexplicable conduct of the
commander of British man-ofwar in firing
upon an American steamer off the harbor of
Greytown.
1t would be wearying the patience of our read
ers to no purpose to recapitulate all the costly
foies and degrading negotiations into which our
rulers have been led in the attempt to make the
so-called kingdom of Mosquito an English colony
in disguise Mr. Chatfeld's war with the little
republic of San Salvador; the occupation of Tiger
Island; the expedition up the San Juan river, lin
which Mr.. Walker, the prime mover of these alb
surdities, was accidentally drowned the officer
in command on the occasion being rewarded with
the Order 'of the Bath the compensation of a
ministerial supporter in Parliament, flor his losses
in buying borough, which a committee took out
of his hands, by the appointment of President
at the court Of Mosquito; all these may not yet
be forgotten. The crop of jobs which has sprung
up in the fertile soil Of this disreputable connex-
ion has cost John Bull pretty penny.
One prominent characteristic in the North
American is, that he cannot by any means be
brought to submit to, or affect respect for,
" shams." The pinchbeck majesty Of Mosquito
has, in consequence, been an object Of unmitiga-
ted scorn to all Americans frequenting the
coast; aud hence bad blood has arisen between
most of them on the one side and such British
authorities as have been playing part in the
farce, and the squatters, for whose benefit it is
played, on the other. The dignity of these svice-
roys over the King of Mosquito has been so
offended in the course of such broils that q de-
tachment of Jamaica police has been placed in
garrison at Greytown and English men Of war
have been stationed off the harbor, to compel
saucy Yankees to perform the Kotoo before these
magnates, and to make them pay their harbor
dues This was movement pretty certain at no
distant date to lead to collisions between Ameri-
cans and the English naval officers. But the mis-
chief has been accelerated by o new element of
discord.
Greytown (San Juan de Nicaragua is the ter
minus on the Caribbean sea of one Of the most
lines for railway or ship-canal across
the isthmus. 1t is situated where the territories
of Costa RIGA border on those claimed by the
State of Nicaragua, and also by the government
of his Mosquitian Majesty. The canal or rail
road, if it is ever formed, E11st run through the
Costa RIGA territory, or that claimed by the other
two "powers." English and American specula-
tors have in all these States been trying to obtain
the exclusive privilege of making the canal or
railway.
In Nicaragua the Americans have obtained the
in Costa RIGA the Englishmen (; and
in the country claimed and occupied in the name
of the King of the Mosquitoes, Englishmen are, of
course, in the ascendant. While the English
spectators have been talking, the American spec
ulators have been doing. They have actually
organized system of transit for goods and pas
sengers across the isthmus on that route, and
have placed steamers on the San Juan and the
AXE of Nicaragua.
Since this has been done the English council
ors, who act as dry-nurses to the King of Mos
Iuitia, have been sulky and savage, and doing all
m their power to thwart the American company.
The English government has wisely listened to
the representations of the Cabinet ut Washington
and agreed to make Greytown free port. But
the fermiers g6nerou1 of Mosquito have pleaded
for a postponement of the carrying of this ar
rangement into effect until their lease of the Gus
toms duties shall expire; and in the meantime
they have been levying their tolls with a high
hand.
The exact merits of the case, in which they
have been so vigorously backed by the express"
are yet unknown but it is unfortunately but too
certain that q spirit of nationality has rendered
the British officers on the station too ready to lend
an to the interested misrepresentation of the
Mosquitian custom house officers
Now, without any special reference to the case
Of the Prometheus, we put it to the common
sense Of our readers, Is it credtable for a great
empire like ours to allow itself to be mixed up in
such miserable trdcasseries? Is it consistent with
the honor of Great Britain, or its reputation for
sanity to place its ships and soldiers at the dis
posal of some dozen of "squatters," who keep
savage chief in leading strings? Are we to 90 to
loggerheads with our blood relations, with the
only State to which we can look for sympathy or
succor in the event of quarrel with European
despotism, in such a disreputable quarrel
Were the Mosquito coast our own, il would not
be worth the powder and shot it would cost to
it; but it is not openly and avowsdly
ours. Did the duties exacted at Greytown flow
into our national Golfers, il would be bad policy
to levy them but they are pocketed by private
whose title TO them is, in the eve of
the law Of nations, worse than doubtful The
sooner this country shakes off the Mosauitian
the better it will be for its reputation
AS to the firing upon the American steamer,
for which Mr. Webster has instructed the Amer
lean ambassador in this country to demand ex-
PLANTATION or redress, it would be unfair to an
English officer to condemn him before he has had
an opportunity to tell his own story in his own
way. But the transaction, so far as at present
known, has, 1T must be confessed, an ugly look.
We will not believe that he really intended to
hit the steamer but even the show Of violence
was an insult to the American flag. We have no
doubt the story may be found susceptible Of salts
factory explanation. At all events, we hope that
the communications between our government and
that of Washington on this subject will be con-
Quoted in such manner as to prevent even any
GOODNESS between England and its most natural
and desirable ally.