The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-23
Interesting from Central Anerssa.

Interesting from Central America.
BY the arrival of the bark William Alden, Capt.
Bates, from the Belize, we have files OF Hon.
duras papers TO the lst Of July and an interesting
letter from our correspondent.
OUR HONDURAS CORRESPONDENCE.
BELIZE, Hon., June 20, 1856.
Ensf0nds Fret More tOtcards Territorial
Claim Colonel McDonaid's Negotiations -Hoso
the Government Rssisted the Encroochment-Ar-
rical Of English War Ships and their Bullying
Conduct The Ruatan Plantations Historical
Skefch-Fyra Hoisting of the Mosquito Flag
Value Of the British Tile Produce Of the Sod
and Rivsrs- The Weather and Trads--Number
Of Americans Arriring.
Ienclose you the Honduras Observer of the Esd Of
February, 1872. About that time, Col. Mcdonald
s-rs .U...s.. VI the Belize began the move.
ment against the State of Honduras which has re-
suited in claim of all the coast of Honduras, from
the cape Of Gracios Dois up to, and taking in, the
east side of the Roman river and also the six islands
composing the colony of the Bay Islands will
make no comment this first step of her Majestys
Superintendent to acquire title to part Of the ter
rtory of Honduras, and only say that up to this
date-in fact up to the year lS46-the title of Hon
duras to the coast was fully acknowledged and
acquiesced in by the merchants of this town. who up
to this time, bought and paid the government of
Honduras for the mahogany trees which they
cut on that coast Besides this, they sent
their ships TO Truxillo to enter, before
sending them to the different rivers to load
This was the invariable CUSTOM and when this GUS
tom was departed from by our mahogany cutters,
and vessels sent from here direct to the rivers
to load, without entering at the ports Of Truxlo
Omoa the State of Honduras resisted this first
encroachment Of its rights; and two vessels
which were driven by stress of weather from the
rivers where they were taking in mahogany, to en-
ter the port of Truxillo for safety. were at once
seized and on full proof of their culpability they
were at once condemned and sold.
This, you will recollect, brought down two war
vessels from Jamaica, who, after threatening to
!" bang the town down." unless paid the sum of
$4,000, accepted more truly speaking, took by
force sl2 900 from the residents of TruxilIo, pro-
missing to call again in six weeks for the balance.
So glaring and inconsistent was this proceeding at
that time, and so clearly were they 10 the wrong,
that even the asaricions and grasping officials at
Jamaica had not the courage to send for the balance
of the $l20 but the vessels quietly sent out
Of the neighborhOod, and apparently the matter was
dropped by her Majesty government.
Meanwhile several persons from the Grand
Commands, the Corn and other islands, had moved
to and made plantations on Ruatan, as had also
some American citizens on the islands of Bonacca
and Utilla. These residents, with few Hondura-
noes, continued to live quietly together until the
year ls49, when Mr.. Fitzgibbon began to agtate
Nd q 0f FIR
He managed to get elected magistrate, and nad
number Of men associated with him. They
soon got into difficulties, and finally the
Englshmen applied TO the Superintendents
Of Belize, who appointed number Of magistrates
among whom were Messrs. Collier and Webster,
wesleyan missionaries). This state Of things did
not work well, and after few years we were some
what startled to find on the blackboard at the Court
House in Belize royal proclamation, making the
six Standardization, Bonacca, Helene, Morat, Utilla
and Barbarat-a colony of her Britannia Majesty.
OF all these facts apprised you at the time, and
had the honor to do the same TO the Department OF
State at Washington; and thoud not refer to them
now, save only to draw your attention to the COM
munication of the Honduras Observer Of ls42-and
adding that the then editor was opposed to the
step taken by Col. Mcdonald. You will also OBJ
serve that he denies the right, well doubts the
utility Of the Of her Britannia Majestys So
perintendent-
Mr.. DAILY was subsequently sent down to Limas
ION the coast 10 the east OF Tuxilo) as magis
traie for an English mahogany cutting town,
tablisbed there ny house here. He was also ap-
pointed her Britannia Majestys Vice Consul, and the
dag OF his Mosquito Msjesty was also hung up; and
although the Honduranoes drove him out, and with
him all Englishmen, yet the steamer Devastation,
with p. +. Nodehouse on board, went down and com
PEELED the Honduranoes TO evacuate, hoisted the
Mosquito fag sauted II, aud then left, since which
time the whole Of the coast has been virtually in her
Rr,ts nic Maiec " not
being able TO prevent simply protested against the
fragrant violation OF their nghts-a that weak
poor government could do.
But what more has your government done! What
has become Of your boosted Monroe doctrine, and
why has no notice been taken OF these papabe vio-
latiors OF right--on weak power--on this cont
nentl pause for the reply, which should have been
given promptly, as these events occurred.
Having In my two last letters given You brief,
and believe true history OF the claim, the extent
and title OF Great Britain 10 is settlement in the
Bay OF Honduras-I think it, being in the bay Is
the reason Of It's being called British Honduras
shall leave the matter Of title for the present, and
give you few facts on it, value.
The town Of Belize Is situated at the mouth OF the
nver on each side; the principal stores and main
part Of the business II done the south side Of the
river, which Is crossed by large old fashioned
bridge but near the bridge, on the north side there
are several large stores, and considerable trade
RED on. The whole town, north and south, IL very
low scarcely one foot six inches above water
at extreme high tides, and was originally nun
grove swamp, but has been filed up with bal
last brought out by ships, which have come
here for mahogany. (Thus. IN measure, Il may be
truly called British soil.) The land on which the
town Il built is next to yalueless. Yet there are
some very fine stores, well built, neat and comforta
bly, arranged with all the sonvenences for transact
ing q very large business. In former times large
business done here with the interior OF Central
America, and with Bacalar, in Yucatan; but lat
tery owing TO local causes, II has fallen of very
much. A great effort Is now making TO revive IL,
but fear viii not be successful, most OF the sol
vent trade ia now done with England or the United
states direct via the Pacific ports. The mule car.
riage from the coast across the mountains being
very expensive. and the freight from Yazabal,
Truxillo and 0moa, being one dollar each package,
ynsk&s this way much more expensive than the
Pacific route or that via the Panama Railroad.
In addition 10 this, all merchandise which Is
Landed at this port has 70 pay duty OF three and
half per cent, and that all cost and charges, in
GLIDING freight add 10 this the expense Of landing,