The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-25


government. Had hey continued to be dependen.
Giles Of the Crosn they would have afforded useful
opportunities TO the Gristocracy for the establish
ment Of their younger s,ns in governorships and
secretaryshps but their great value to US as q com.
mercal nation, opening vast market for our pro-
ducts would have been lost. Every new State that
the Americans establish supplies England with pur.
chasers for her goods In their efforts at extension
tons with the principles Of our laws and open to us
new channels Of prosperity. The American imports
Milton and Shakspere into new regions, as well as
corn and cotton. The more territory Brother iona
than obtains-so long as the republic is not endan
gered-the better fer John Bull.
from the London Times, Aug. OF
We have never professed to consider the species
of pIotectorate exercised by the British govern
coast as possession Of any practical advantage to
the interest or the hoIor Of this country, and we
learn with great satisfaction about four year ago
that treaty mad been signed at Washington by
Sir Henry Bulwer and Mr.. Clayton, the American
Secretary Of State, for the purpose Of placing the
communication between the Atlanctic and Pa
cifc Oceans by way Of Nicaragua under the
Joint protection Of the maritime powers most
interested In the prosecution Of that undertaking.
The spirit Of that treaty was perfectly fair and
just; and, If any exclusive rights had ever been
claimed or exercised by the British government in
its former relation with the Mosquito Indians, as
far back as under the Spanish dominion over Cen
trail America, those rights were cheerfully, and we
think wisely relinquished in exchange for Q posi-
tive engagement from the United States govern
ment that they would cooperate with ourselves in
Importance to that part Of the globe-namely, the
opening Of secure line Of communication between
the two ocesns and the establishment of two free
ports for all nations at each extremity Of the caua
this trade is carried on would naturally become i'm
portant free cities, like the Hanseatic towns Of Eu
rope, having no political character or strength but
respected By all the world for the services they
render to the best interests of society.
This being the principle which the British gov
eminent has for some time past proclaimed and
acted upon with reference to the passage Of Mica
Iagua, with the full concurrence of the United
States it is with considerable surprise and regret
that we leara that Greytown, at the mouth of the
river San Juan, has recently been alta ;ked and
destroyed, by one Of the most extraordinary out
RACES ever committed by the commissioned officers
present only known to % through the American
Journals, are follows-t seems that quarrel had
taken place on the San Juan, between one Captain
Smith, commander Of q small American steamer,
and the native owner OF bungo, or barge, on the
river The native had levelled his piece at Captain
Smith, but did hot fire.
Captain Smith shortly afterwards called for his
rife, and coolly shot this unfortunate Indian
through the heart. Upon the return Of the steamer
to GIeytown, the local authorities Of that place pro-
ceeded, not uIreasenaby to attempt the capture of
the murderer. The Americans, however, resisted
the Mayor; on the ground that there was no au-
American citizen. Captain Smith retired on board
steamer in the hazbor, and oddly enough, Mr..
Borland, the Minister of the United States In Cen
ssten with his duty and his Dignity o tSs
part Of the culprit. riot ensued, in which Mr..
Borland received the fragment of bottle in his
face.
Upon this provocation, the Americans having de.
manded the assistance Of Captain Hollins, Of the
United States ship Of war Cysne that officer bro.
ceeded to threaten the place with bombardment
unless satisfaction were afforded by the payment of
sum of 1000 dollars within few hours Grey
town was, in fact, village consisting of about one
hundred low huts, thatched with palm leates, and
containing 500 inhabitants, chiefly Jamaica negroes
ao. With few traders
fed to the neighboring woods, and the English resi-
dents went on board Her Msjesty's schooner Ber-
n1nda, which was unluckily the only British vessel
in the harbor, and far too small to oppose the
American ship.
To the establishment Of every one who wit.
messed the outrage, Captain Hollns's terms not
having been complied with, he opened his free
was soon in ruins; and lis destruction was com.
peted by LAT ding men to set it on fire. The
whole of the property contained in the warehouses
was likewise consumed, and the inhabitants left
Gieytown is not British possession; fit had
been measures would have been taken to repel 80
wahtcn and barbarous an attack; but we have at
this time no further interest in the place than that
which Brtish subjects may be engaged there.
II is impossible however, to lose sight of the fact,
which stands recorded in q solemn treaty. that
Great Britain waived and relnquished her rights to
tie protectorste Of the Mosquito Coast aud OF Grey
town. its principal trading station, on the express
stipulation with the United States that they would,
in conjunction With ourselves, guarantee the
trsity and security of the passage" The object of
that Treaty was to promote the construction Of the
communication between the two oceans for the be.
nefit ofmankind, on equal terms to all, and for the
protection of the same" 1t is certainly q most ex-
traoIdnaTy violation Of the spirit Of that treaty that
an American ship Of war should have presumed,
in defence Of at best very doubtful cause, to
attack and destroy the principal commercial station
situated on this very line Of COMMUNICATION which the
American government is expressly bound to main.
tain and protect. The act OF Captain Ho!lns speaks
for Itself It is, indeed without parallel Ia any
history with which we acquainted for the place
was wholly incapable Of firing sho, in its defence,
not a man was killed or wounded in the attack,
and the enterprise was one Of mere destruction.
The American papers from which we have extract
ed these details record them with the strongest ex
piessons Of shame and regret, and cannot doubt
that the public opinion of the enlightened classes in
the United States will condemn these proceedings as
strongly as the judgment every other part Of the
world.
There IS. in this case, no war and no proyocat;on
to account for or pa!late such measure. Far from
being at war Nth the States of Central America,
the government of the United States has always
affected to regard them with peculiar interest; and
the first proof given of this interest is an act of yio
lence which would have disgraced buccaneer.
Inc eed considering the species of protection estab
listed by the treaty Of 1850, and the engagements
contracted by the United States towards this coun-
try ard the whole world for the security Of the pas.
sage, this outrage OF Captain Hollins is contempt
of the authority Of his own government, and gross
breach Of faith to every nation which may have
mercantile transactions carried across the 18th
mus of Nicaragua.
Russlau FoenessIons In Auner,ca
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TlMBs.
SIR-1 observe from an extract from the New
YORK HERALD, in the Times Of to dag, that the
Russians apprehensve of the loss Of their posses
s'ons la America through the present war, are
resotiatpg for the transfer OF those territories 10
tie United States.
A desire to make some additions toour kno Wedge
Of tire geography and natural history Of the interior