m 



Doc. No. 75, 



San Jiian del Norte, as well as the following with regard to its establish- 

 ment as a port of entry, and its confirmation: With the object of ad- 

 vancing the population and commerce of Camen island, his Majesty, 

 taking into consideration the report of the Marquis de Branciforte, viceroy 

 of New Spain, has been pleased to open the port contiguous to its fortress, 

 and to place it in the class of minor ports, granting to it all the privileges 

 and immunities conceded by the decree of October 18, 1789, and the sub- 

 sequent orders respecting that class of ports. In order moreover that the 

 province of Nicaragua, and others of the kingdom of Guatemala, distant 

 more than 300 leagues from the capital, and from the ports of Orona, 

 Santo Tomas de Castilla, may carry a direct trade with the northern 

 country without the inconvenience otherwise occasioned by the distance, 

 his Majesty has been pleased to open for commerce the port of San Juan 

 de Nicaragua, on the coast of the river of the same name, extending the 

 rights of entry for the present to the city of Grenada, on the Lake of Ni- 

 caragua, to which point this river is navigable; so that all the liberties and 

 occupations granted to the port of San Juan may be enjoyed for the pre- 

 sent by the city of Grenada. I inform you of this order for its fulfilment. 

 May God preserve you many years. Aranjuez, February 29, 1796. 



^^GORDOQUI.'' 



To the Governor Intendant of Nicmragua: 



^^The King has been informed of what you state in your letter of January 

 3, 1806, number 609, as well as in your number 652, of the 18th of June 

 of the same year, accompanying the document respecting the navigation 

 and commerce of the river of San Juan de Nicaragua, proposing that it 

 should continue open as a port of entry, and that for the advancement of 

 the interests of the adjoining country, by clearing and cultivation of the 

 lands, the same privileges should be granted to its inhabitants which 

 w^ere allowed by the royal order of November 20, 1803, to the new settlers 

 on the Mosquito coast, exempting them also from duties and tithes for ten 

 years on all the productions of the lands within ten leagues of ihe river on 

 either of its sides; and his Majesty, being well informed on the subject, 

 has been pleased to agree to the measures proposed by you, and has 

 moreover resolved that endeavors should be made to increase the popula- 

 tion in the vicinity of the shores of the said river of Nicaragua to the 

 number of not more than 300 inhabitants. All which I comnmnicate ta 

 you by royal order. 



^•Madrid, March 31, 1808. 



AZANZA." 



In possession of this port, the State of Nicaragua in its constitution, ar- 

 ticle 2, says: The territory of the State is the same formerly comprised 

 in the province of Nicaragua; its limits are — on the east and northeast the 

 Caribbean sea, on the north and northwest the State of Honduras, on 

 the west and south the Pacific ocean, and on the southeast the State of 

 Costa Rica." 



From all this it follows clearly that there is no alliance between the 

 Mosquitos and the British government, and that the belief entertained by 

 you, that the left bank of the San Juan at its mouth is Mosquito territory 



