The San Francisco call., 1898-02-20

her own, and old England, who was never known to allow any old rocks to lie around loose without putting the stamp of the broad arrow thereon, con- cluded that Trinidad belonged to her.
 Despite the protest of James l, the island was taken possession Of by an English cable company. Among the adjuncts to the court of James l was the office of Chancellor of the Princi- pality of Trinidad. It was filled by Comte J. de la Boissiere. who was one of the most faithful, as well as Vlgor- ous, subjects of James l.
 The ire of James I was aroused and so was that of the Chancellor Of the Principality of Trinidad. The Ministers Plenipotentiary at Washington, those of England and Brazil, were appealed to. and James 1 even went so Tar as to say that he was ready to declare war, and. what is the most amusing part of it. he meant every word of it. He was just that sort of fellow. He would have thought nothing, in fact, under circumstances he might consider it his imperative duty to challenge the Prince of Wales, as the representative Of the English nation, or the President Of Brazil, to fight duel; that would have been his style of warfare.
 The Island of Trinidad was finally awarded to Brazil, but by this time the ardor of Baron Harden Hickey had . cooled somewhat, and ne was apout ready to abandon his scheme Of colo nization anyway. It had also become known to the world that Trinidad was only of value as a possible coaling sta tion and that about the only means of livelihood it afforded was as flsh- ing station, and not very attractive one at that. Colonists for the new Kingdom were not forthcoming in great numbers and this, too, rather discouraged the head of the new nation.
 The plan of government laid down by James I seems to have been sort of compromise between that of republic and a kingdom, with few of the pre- ropatfves of an absolute monarch thrown in A constitution was drawn m and a code of laws adopted by the King and his Chamber of Deputies. Currency and postage stamps were is sued. James I even went so far as to seek admission. to the international Postage Union, but his postage stamps were never recognized as of value ex- cept as souvenirs. He distributed few of these to his most intimate freinds in Los Angeles, and they treasure them as curiosities.
 navy was secured properly off, cered with admiral, commander and a full staff of titled dignitaries and one ship. The navy was second hand hark that had about outlived the days of usefulness as a merchantmen and was ready to retire to dignified old age When not used in defending the few old buildings comprising the solitary port of Trinidad the navy carried the mails over to Brazil It was the in- tention of James to model his king dom on the principle and the teach ings of gentle Guatama. It was evil dent from this that no matter what his wffe's views may have been on the subject. Baron Harden Hickey was still a Buddhist at heart.
 James I believed in valor and its re- ward. He instituted the Order of De Chayliere and laid in good stock of gay golden crosses with which to dec crate his subjects when they had won his esteem for deeds of daring and chiyalry. The principality of Trini- dad was also designed as a sort of haven of rest for letters, art and sci- ence. Those who excelled in any of these were to find favor and decora-