358 TKAVEL, ADVENTUKE, AND SPOKT. 



Walker, Americans. Thus, for the first time after 

 an incessant internecine war of two years' duration, 

 was peace restored to Nicaragua through the instru- 

 mentality of the American filibuster. Sixteen days 

 after Walker embraced Corral in the Plaza of Gren- 

 ada, he was unfortunately obliged to have him shot 

 there, in consequence of an intercepted correspon- 

 dence, which has since been published, and which 

 affords undoubted evidence of the treachery of Cor- 

 ral, who was in league with Guardiola and two other 

 Mcaraguan generals to destroy Walker, of whom 

 they naturally felt jealous. 



The country being now in a state of profound 

 peace, Walker turned his attention to the develop- 

 ment both of its mineral and agricultural resources, 

 and to the establishment of his foreign relations upon 

 a satisfactory basis. President Rivas was a timid 

 man, of no mental calibre and very little energy, and 

 acted entirely under the dictation of his general and 

 chief. It would be difficult to conceive a more inter- 

 esting occupation than that to which Walker now 

 devoted himself, in his endeavours to regenerate a 

 magnificent but neglected country. He visited the 

 gold regions of Chontales and Segovia, and circulated 

 reports of their wealth far and wide ; numerous de- 

 crees were passed guaranteeing life and property, ex- 

 tending immunity to political offenders, and holding 

 out inducements to immigration; a department of 

 colonisation was organised, and every effort made to 



