The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-12-15

remark, and people were even found to
insinuate that the dollars went the same
way as I did. have never troubled my
self to contradict these scandalous ru-
mors, being content to rely on the hand
some vindication from this charge which
the President published. In addressing
the House of Assembly shortly after his
resumption of power he referred at length
to the circumstances attendant on the
late revolution, and remarked that al
though he was unable to acquit Mr.. Mar
tin of most unjustiiable intrigues with
the rebels, yet he was in a position to as
sure them, as he had already assured those
to whom Mr.. Martin was primarily re-
sponsible, that that gentleman's hasty
flight was dictated solely by a conscious
ness of political guilt, and that, in money
matters, Mr.. Martins hand were as clean
as his own. The reproach that had fallen
On the fair fame of Aureataland in this
matter was due not to that able but mis-
guided young man, but to those unprinci-
pied persons who, in the pursuit Of their
designs, had not hesitated to plumber and
despoil friendly traders, established in the
country under the sanction of public
faith.
The reproach to which his excellency
eloquently referred consisted in the fact
that not cent of those three hundred
thousand dollars which lay in the bank
that night was ever seen again! The
theory was that the Colonel had made
away with them, and the President took
great pains to prove that under the law
of nations the restored government could
not be held responsible for this occur
renee. l know as little about the law of
nations as the President himself, but l
felt quite sure that whatever that ex-
allied code might say, none of that money
would ever find it's way back to the d.
reetors' pockets. In this matter l must
say his excellency behaved to me with
scrupulous consideration; not a word
passed his lips about the second loan,
about that unlucky cable, or any other
dealings with the money. For all he
said, my account Of the matter, posted
to the directors Immediately after my de-
parture, stood unimpeached.
The directors, however, took a view
opposed to his excellency's, and relations
became so strained that they were con-
templating the withdrawal of their bust
ness from Nottingham altogether, when
events occurred which modified their ac
ton. Before l lay down my pen must
give some account of these matters, and
1 cannot do so better than by inserting a
letter which l had the honor to receive
from his excelleney, some two years after
I last saw him. 1 had obeyed his wish
in communicating my address to him, but
up to this time had received only a short
but friendly note, acquainting me with the
expressing good wishes for my welfare In
my new sphere of action. The matters
to which the President refers became to
some extent public property soon after
ward, but certain other terms of the ar
rangement are now given to the world for
the first time.
The letter ran as follows:
my Dear Nartin-As an old inhabit-
ant Of Aureataland, you will be inter-
ested in the news I have to tell you.
I also take pleasure in hoping that, in
spite of bygone differences, your friendly
feelings toward myself will make you
glad to hear news of my fortunes.
you are no doubt acquainted generally
with the course of events here since you
left US. As regards private friends,
have not indeed much to tell you. You
will not be surprised to learn that Johnny
Carr has done the most sensible thing he
ever did in his life in making Donna
Antonio his wife. She is a thoroughly
good girl, although she seems to have
very foolish prejudice against Christina.
was able to assist the young peoples
plans by the gift Of the late Colonel Nc
Gregor's estates, which under our law
passed to the Head Of the State on that
gentleman's execution for high treason.
You will be amused to hear of another
marriage in our circle The doctor and
Madame Devarges have made a match of
it, and society rejoiees to think it has
now heard the last of the late monsieur
and his patriotic sufferings. Jones,
suppose you know, left us about year
ago. The poor old fellow never recovered
from his fright on that night, to say
nothing of the cold he caught in your
draughty coal-cellar, where he took ref
uge. The bank relieved him in response
to his urgent petitions, and they've sent
us young Puritan, to whom it would be
quite in vain to apply for timely little
loan.
II wish could give yeu as satisfactory
an account of public affairs. You were
more or less behind the scenes over here,
80 you know that to keep the machine go
ing Is by 40 means an easy task. have
kept 1t going, single-handed, for fifteen
years, and though it's the custom to call
me mere adventurer, upon my word l
think I've given them a pretty decent gov
eminent. But I've had enough of 1t by
now. The fact is, my dear Martin, I'm
not 50 young as was. In years I'm not
much past middle age, but l shouldn't be
surprised If old Marcus Whittingham's
lease was pretty nearly up. At any rate,
my only chance, 30 Anderson tells me, Is
to get rest, and I'm going TO give my
self that chance. had thought at first.
Of trying to find q successor, and /
thought Of you. But. while was con-
sidering this, received confidential pro
posal from the old government. They
were very anxious to get back their prov
ince: ct the same time. they wsrs not at
all anxious to Try conclusions with me
again. In short, they offered, X Aureata-
land would come back, q guarantee Of To-
cal autonomy and full freedom: they