Doc. No. 75, 



47 



No. 5. 



[Translation.] 



The latest intelligence received by the government respecting the occupa- 

 tion of the port of San Juan by British subjects, under the pretext of 

 protection of the Mosquitos; and respecting the arrival of the troops of 

 the line at the city of Grenada, for the purpose of establishing proper 

 means of defence, whenever the dignity and rights of Nicaragua shall 

 be threatened by a foreign invasion: 



CoMANDANciA San Juan, Octobcr 27, 1847. 



Yesterday evening, at 5 o'clock, an English frigate of war, called the 

 Alarm," arrived off this port. At daybreak she anchored in the bay; 

 and about 9 o'clock in the morning two officers presented themselves to 

 me, and placed in my hands the communication which I enclose, sealed, 

 charging me to lay it before the government with as little delay as pos- 

 sible; and also a copy, which I enclose, translated, of a similar commu- 

 nication which they delivered to me, indicating that it was of the same 

 tenor as that addressed to the government. They had also the assurance 

 to intimate to me that from this day forward the flag of the State must 

 not be hoisted, because the port belonged to the King of the Mosquitos. 

 I replied that my government did not recognise such King, and that 

 who was but its subaltern , had to obey its orders at the cost of my life; 

 and since the term they allowed me was two months, they should not 

 interfere in any way with the internal and economical government of the 

 port till the said term was run, and that I would hoist the flag on all 

 customary occasions. Whereupon they retired; and on board hoisted 

 the Mosco flag, and saluted it with twenty-one guns of the largest calibre. 



These disputes and the intimation made to me, obliged me to make a 

 protest in duplicate to the captain of the frigate, of which I enclose a 

 copy, and which I sent on board by an officer; but they did not ac- 

 knowledge its receipt, saying that the frigate would return with the an- 

 swer in three or four weeks. They immediately weighed anchor and 

 set sail. 



These occurrences have obhged me to despatch my own orderly with 

 the aforesaid communications, who will place them in the hands of the 

 governor; and I hope that the resolution that may be formed will be 

 communicated to me with the least possible delay, keeping in mind that 

 two months pass in an instant; and I hope the prefect of Grenada will 

 be charged to facilitate a passage to the orderly on his return. 



I hope, sir, that you will lay what is here set forth before the supreme 

 director, and meantime I repeat, <fec. 



RAFAEL BERMUDES. 



Office of the Council of State, 



Bluefields, Mosquito, October 25, 1847. 

 Sir: I have this day been commanded by the King, in council, to 

 notify through you to his Excellency the President of Nicaragua the fact 

 that many protests have been made to his government against the usurpa- 



