The age-herald., 1898-01-16

modore at dinner the result of his interview with the god-laced functionaries at the palace. The old salt smiled grimly as he passed the decanter of Madeira to his guest remarking significantly as he glanced through the stern ports: '"The wind is fair, and the Brandywine has outsailed the en- tire British fleet on a taut bow line. She will be on hand before the sun dips tomor- row, and with her arrival there will be some bowsing and hauling of diplomatic land tacks, with you well to windward of the game MT. Minister"
 The next day the American flag was again reported in the ofing, and as the sum set gun from the castle had announced the close of the day the Brandywine had float ed quietly into the harbor, anchoring in line with the balance of the squadron.
 Unmistakable signs of alarm and uneasi- ness were now apparent shoreward, with sudden activity and unwonted hustle per- vading the troops and attachments gar risoning the forts commanding the harbor. Additional guns were hurried into position, working parties made their appearance along the weather-staned and diapidated walls while mounted messengers galloped hastily in various directions But the usual quiet and good order prevailed on board the American men-of-war, broken only by the exercise of all hands at general quarters, a forcible reminder of their presence in Neapolitan waters as the broadside guns were run in and out, with the suns rays glancing brightly on lines of polished steel accouterments.
 Minister Nelson was pulled on shore in the commodore's barge, proceeding with that deliberation and dignity becoming his station as he presented himself for the third time in the audience chamber of the now perturbed king of Naples. But the royal pride was stubborn, and the reserve of self-esteem and vanity were heavily drawn upon, as with a pallid face he dis missed the official, again ignoring the jus of a dor1and his treasury
 The sloop-of-war John Adams was the fourth vessel to appear on the scene, and with her position in the column the broad sides of the Men-ofwar were brought to bear upon forts and buildings, the open rows of ports disclosing to view the crews mastering behind the guns; while the ma- rines were drawn up in line on the quarter deck amid the rolling of drums and words of command that echoed across the blue waters, reaching the royal ears with sig nificance that received additional force as the Concord luffed up to her anchorage, her deck and rigging alive with active sea- men. This demonstration might have been a fleet drill under the immediate supervi- sion of the astute old commodore anxious to test the efficiency of his command; but whatever the object that officer had in view the effect upon the palace magnates was sufficiently powerful and realistic to create an immediate change of front re- garding the status of the long-standing claim.
 The commodore chuckled softly to him. self as a barge was reported approaching the flagship bearing an important member of the government who, upon arrival, an- nounced to the American minister the will of his gracious majesty to settle the bill of claims in full.
 It was in 1854 that after repeated at tempts had been made to effect satisfac- tory settlement for numerous outrages
 4l-1 ard nrfx of American citizens residing in Nicaragua with no success, that 1t was decided by the administration to take decided steps con- corning the matter In June, 1854, Capt Rollins, Commanding the sloop-of-war Cy- am, was ordered to proceed to the town of San Juan, or Greytown, which lies on the Mosquito coast of Nicaragua, and to force a settlement, or, in lieu of that, to take summary measures with the controlling powers. Upon arrival Capt. Rollins placed his demands before the authorities, but no satisfactory response was vouchsafed They were renewed, but with no better suc- cess, and final demand was lodged on shore by the naval commander Nothing was heard from the dark-sSinned function aries, and Capt. Rollins commenced active operations without further barley or delay. On the morning of July 13 he directed his batteries on the town and opened fire. Un- til o'clock the guns continued in active operation, by which time the greater part or the town was Tn runs. Then a party of marines were landed, and they complet- ed the destruction of the place by burning the houses. lieutenant of the British navy, Commanding a small gunboat, was in the harbor at the time England claimed a species of protectorate over the settle ment, and the British naval officer, raised a violent protest against the action taken by Capt. Hollins But no attention was paid to the gentleman by Capt Rollins, who carried out his instructions to the letter. The United States government sus- tained Rollins in everything that he did and nothing more was heard from it so far as England was concerned.
 In 1855 Paraguay gave an offense to the United States as follows: In 1852 Capt. Thomas Jefferson Page, in command of small lght-draught steamer, the Water Witch, was sent to South America to ex- plore the River La Plata and its tributa- ries. The expedition was ordered by the United States government, and the coun- tries having Jurisdiction over those waters signified their concurrence in the project