cations of the proposition to Nicaragua and Costa Rica shall be made its chances of ultimate success will be much increased. Towards the close of article one after the words "in that part of the Mosquito territory hereby ceded to Nicaragua" insert the following which grants shall have been attended with residence on or possession of the lands granted! After the words "interfere with" strike out the words "other legal grants made previously to that date by Spain, by the Central American confederation or by Nicaragua. To article III add the following: "But it is understood that nothing in this article contained shall prevent the republic of Costa Rica from resuming its rights to navigate the said rivers and lake by steam vessels, when the charters of the Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company or Accessory Transit Company shall either have expired by their own limitation or shall have been legally forfeited." You will accordingly propose these modifications to the Nicaraguan government. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant. J. BOZMAN KERR, Esq., dc., dc., &c., Acting Secretary. Mr. Hunter to Molina. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 19, 1855. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 8th instant. If, as you remark, Costa Rica should entertain insurmountable objections to a surrender, in perpetuity, of the privilege of navigating the Colorado and San Juan rivers and lake Nicaragua by steam vessels, it is presumed that she could not reasonably object to enter into a stipulation promising a surrender of the same until the charters of the Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company and of the Accessory Transit Company shall either have expired by their own limitation or shall have been legally forfeited. As the principal purpose of the United States and Great Britain in proposing to give to Nicaragua the exclusive right to steam navigation on that lake and those rivers. was to protect franchises acquired in good faith from Nicaragua, if that purpose could be accomplished, no good reason is perceived why that right should not be limited to the duration of the franchises referred to. I avail myself of this occasion, sir to offer to you a renewed assurance of my very high consideration. Señor DON FELIPE MOLINA, &c., &c., &c. W. HUNTER, No. 1. Mr. Walsh to Mr. Webster. GREYTOWN, May 28, 1852. SIR: We arrived here in the Saranac the 25th, and will proceed to San José as soon as we can make our preparations for the long and arduous journey before us-a journey, for the most part, through a wilderness, which compels the traveller to take with him everything that may be needed on the way. We hope to be off the day after to-morrow, though the listlessness of the people with whom we have to deal will take its own time in spite of every effort to stimulate it. The prices, also, demanded for boats and mules are so extortionate as almost to exceed belief. Unfortunately the water in the river San Juan is now so low that steamers cannot run, and we find ourselves obliged to employ the row boats of the country-a necessity productive of delay as well as of inconvenince and expense. The chief impediment, however, has been the difficulty of procuring mules to be in readiness for us at the spot where the Sarapiqui ceases to be navigable. I greatly regret the detention on all accounts. The flag of the Mosquito king is still flying here, but that is the only evidence of his sovereignty. The control of the town is in the hands of the foreign residents, principally Americans, who recently elaborated a constitution for themselves and elected a complete set of authorities. The natives were allowed to vote, and two or three of them obtained majorities for certain offices, but on some pretext of illegality their election was annulled. Upon what ground that illegality was established was not made clear to the apprehension of the natives. who in consequence were with difficulty restrained from expressing their dissatisfaction in a belligerent manner. The practical interpretation would seem to be that the fact of being born here is a disqualification for being elected if not for electing, and that only those who do not labor under this disadvantage are entitled to all the privileges of citizenship. The mayor is an American named Martin, who appears to possess a kind of energy and talent well adapted to his anomalous and difficult position-a position in which justice, while wielding her sword with one hand, is obliged to point a revolver with the other. He has just won considerable credit by the mode in which he discovered and brought to justice the perpetrators of a robbery of a large sum of money from a Frenchman, who arrived here the other day on his return from California. A part of the money has already been recovered, and hopes are entertained of finding the rest. The excitement among "the Californians," of whom there is a numerous body now here waiting for the next steamer, assumed for a time quite a threatening aspect. They were apprehensive that the robbers would not be properly dealt with, and seemed determined upon taking justice into their own hands, but the regular way in which the trial was conducted removed their suspicions, and the ultimate conviction of the culprits re-established peace. Two or three of the gang are, I believe, to be hung, and minor punishments will be inflicted on others. The whole action of the court was under the authority of the new constitution, which completely ignores the dominion and laws of the indigenous aspirants to the sovereignty of the town. The framers of this constitution would seem to cherish views of an eminently progressive nature, for in the article defining the limits of the embryo metropolis it is declared that they "commence at the mouth of the Indian river, thence run up through the channel of said river fifteen miles, thence in a direct line, so as to include the head of the Machuca rapids, thence down the San Juan river to its junction with the Colarado, thence down the channel of the Colorado to the Caribbean sea"-an area of some fifty or sixty square miles! The object of the foreigners here is avowedly to establish a free port with as much circumjacent territory as possible, and they loudly proclaim that they will never submit to the rule of any native power. To Nicaragua they bear especial hate, which may prove a source of trouble in the execution of the treaty, should it be concluded. It is almost certain that without some such aid as the treaty would afford, that country will never be able to obtain possession of the town, for there can be little doubt of the ability of the inhabitants to repel any attack. Indeed, if the stories told of the weakness and degradation of the Nicaraguans be true, one may easily credit the assertion of the "Greytowners' that they can take the whole republic whenever they please. A step towards this result may, perhaps, be the appropriation of the district marked out by the article of the constitution alluded to above. Coming events cast their shadows too plainly in this quarter to need a prophet's eye to discern them. I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, ROBERT M. WALSH. Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER, Secretary of State. No. 2. Mr. Walsh to Mr. Webster. SAN JOSÉ, June 11, 1852. SIR: We left Greytown on the 31st ultimo and got here the 8th instant, after a journey of which it would be difficult to describe the fatigue and the risks. Four days and three nights were spent in the boat in which we were rowed to the landing place of the Serapiqui; and four days and a half in crossing the mountains to this placescrambling up and down precipices of most formidable aspect, or wading through quagmires from which extrication, at times, seemed to be almost impossible. It will be out of the question for Costa Rica to cultivate much intercourse with the foreign world until a road is constructed to the Serapiqui. At the landing place there is a sort of military post, where we were received by the officer in command with all due courtesy, and had the satisfaction of finding mules and men to carry our luggage and provisions, sent by the government itself, which had been apprized of our coming by the messenger we had dispatched to procure the means of transport. When within a few miles of this city, we were met by an aid-de-camp of the president, with a note from him, congratulating us on our arrival, and placing a house at our service, to which we were immediately conducted. It is among the best in the town, belonging to one of the principal families, who moved from it expressly for our accommodation-an act of hospitality and kindness well deserving of record. There is evidently a disposition to manifest all possible friendliness, both public and private, the mission being regarded not only as a compliment, but as something from which good may accrue to the country. We have had interviews with the president and minister of foreign relations, and have sent to the latter a copy of the proposed arrangements, with alterations directed to be made in it by the dispatch of 13th May, from the acting secretary of state. There are good grounds, I think, for expecting a prompt acquiescence in the views of the two governments. I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, ROBERT M. WALSH. Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER, Secretary of State. Mr. Walsh to Mr. Webster. No. 3. SAN JOSE, June 25, 1852. SIR: Enclosed are copies of correspondence with the minister of foreign relations and a decree of the legislative body, approved by the president, from which you will perceive that the government of Costa Rica has given its full consent to the proposed treaty. The modifications suggested in the last note of the minister are mere requests, in no way affecting that consent. They were discussed in our conferences, but we could only promise to communicate them to our governments with a recommendation of them to their kindly consideration. This government seems to be animated in all respects with the very best spirit, on which too much praise can scarcely be be stowed. We shall proceed to Nicaragua without delay. If not unexpectedly detained there, I may be able to return to Washington by the end of next month, taking with me the originals of the documents above mentioned. I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER, ROBERT M. WALSH. Secretary of State. SAN JOSE, June 16, 1852. The undersigned, commissioners of the United States and Great Britain, have the honor to enclose to his excellency the minister of foreign relations a copy of the propositions which they are directed by their governments to offer for the adjustment of the difficulties in regard to limits between the republics of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. It was after full investigation and mature deliberation that the two governments determined upon these propositions as most conducive to the ends of justice and the interests of the contending parties; and they cherish the confident hope that they will be promptly and willingly accepted. The advantages to Costa Rica which will accrue from their acceptance are various and all-important. She will be relieved, in the first place, from that state of harrassing agitation which the perpetual danger of foreign hostilities must keep up, and which is so baleful in its influence upon the industry and progress of a people. Men care not to work for the future when that future is clouded over with uncertainty and apprehension. To remove an evil of such magnitude great sacrifices may well be authorized; and were no other inducement presented, this alone would be sufficiently strong to call for a ready acquiescence in any arrangement which secures the blessings of tranquility without the loss of honor. But Costa Rica, in the next place, is not asked to make any concessions for which adequate compensation is not tendered. If she abandons some of her pretensions on the Atlantic, she establishes all of her pretensions on the Pacific. If she yields the barren delta of the Colorado, she gains the fertile district of Guanacaste. Even on the Atlantic side, also, she obtains the acknowledgement of an important right which she has not hitherto been able to enjoy-that of having the river San Juan for her boundary, and navigating it with all descriptions of vessels which do not interfere with the indispensable privileges of the company that has been formed for the construction of the interoceanic canal." Again, a cheerful compliance with the proposals of the two governments will have the effect of awakening in them sentiments of kindness towards this country, which cannot fail to be attended with great and increasing benefit. The time is manifestly at hand when the relations between Costa Rica and the other nations of the earth are to be placed on a new and more elevated footing-when the comparative seclusion, in which she has heretofore dwelt, is to be exchanged for that intercourse with the world which it is the interest and the duty of every government to promote, as one of the chief guardians of civilization and the firmest bond of brotherhood among men. Of the friendly ties which will thus be formed, the most important certainly must be those which will connect her with Great Britain and the United States-countries whose position and influence point them out as allies from whose good offices the most useful aid may be derived. The advantage that will result to Costa Rica from the construction of the canal should also be taken into account. To over estimate it, |