Doc. No. 7S. 



43 



lence and force committed by the naval forces of her Britannic Majesty in 

 the island of Raatan and the Mosquito territory, for the purpose of taking 

 possession of either of those places, so important, from their position, in 

 case of the execution of the enterprise of the great canal between the 

 two oceans; as also against all the consequences which may ensue from 

 such acts — protesting, as I do protest, in the name of the said States, 

 which I represent, against those grievances, with the hope of one day 

 obtaining the reparation so justly due on account of them from those 

 whom it may concern. It is my duty to declare that the said States do not 

 consent, nor will they ever consent, to cede the slightest portion of their re- 

 spective possessions, ©f which an attempt is made to despoil them by means 

 of force, so long as reason and justice (the only means now employed by 

 them) are respected by the other powers, as compatible with the preserva- 

 tion of universal society — the interest of which is to repress, and even to 

 punish, those who arbitrarily trample justice under foot, and, by their 

 conduct, always manifest their disposition to aggrandize themselves at the 

 expense of the weak, without regard to the rights gf other nations. 



Be pleased, sir, to submit this present declaration and protest to his 

 Majesty the King of for his information, and to accept the assu- 



rances of most distinguished consideration with which I have the honor 

 to be your most humble servant, 



FRANCISCO CASTELLON. 



A true copy: 



BUITRAGO. 



Leon, December 15, 1847. 



A?iswer to the preceding-, from the Hon. W. R. King, Envoy Extraor di- 

 etary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at Paris. 



Leg.ation op the United States, Parts, 



October 22, 1844. 



Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the communication 

 which your excellency has been pleased to address to me; and I shall, 

 with great pleasure, transmit it to the Department of State of the United 

 States. 



I avail myself of this occasion to offer to your excellency the assurance 

 of my high consideration. 



WILLIAM R. KING. 



His Excellency the Envoy Extraordinary and 



Minister Plenipotentiary of the Slates of Nicaragua and Honduras, 



A true copy: 



BUITRAGO. 



Leon, December 15, 1847. 



