20 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



In such a state of aiFairs to say that there 

 is any government, would be absurd ; and 

 yet the number of official proclamations that 

 are constantly being issued, would lead most 

 persons to believe that the government was 

 excessively active, indeed too much so, did 

 they not, by examining these proclamations 

 and laws, find them of such contradictory 

 tendencies as completely to defeat their own 

 ends. To give one example among many : — 

 A flaming proclamation was issued by the 

 Government, stating, that "an opportunity 

 having luckily arisen which might tend to 

 develope the mineral resources of Central 

 America, decree, &c. Sec.'"* The substance of 

 the decree is as follows. " That every faci- 

 lity and protection should be given to those 

 who dedicated themselves to the exploring 

 and working of mines. That all previous 

 laws which compelled owners to give a part 

 of their produce to the Government be an- 

 nulled. That no duty should be placed by 

 the present, or any succeeding Government, 

 on the exportation of any mineral ores in 

 their crude state, a very small duty after 

 having undergone smelting, and the duty 

 greatly reduced upon all mining tools and 

 implements imported. That the proprietors 



