102 



Doc. No. 75. 



Foreign Department of the State of Costa Rica^ to send a commissioner 

 here to treat: yet I have no express authority to make treaties with any 

 of these States, except Guatemala and San Salvador; but my general 

 instructions would seem to require that I should confer with all the States 

 of Central America. It would be well to give me full authority to make 

 reciprocity treaties with all these States, wiiich I can do if ihey will send 

 commissioners h6re; and I have no doubt they will, for Nicaragua and San 

 Salvador have already written to that eifect. I send a page of the Nicara- 

 gua Gazette, containing a correspondence between W. D. Christie and 

 S. Salinas: the former consul-general of her Britannic Majesty near the 

 court of the Mosquito kwgdom — the latter Minister of Foreign Affairs of 

 Nicaragua. 



Can it be possible that the United States will permit England to play 

 out the game she has commenced with this part of North America, which 

 will result in her colonizing this magnificent country of Central America,, 

 to monopolize its commerce, and either to make, herself, or prevent 

 altogether the making of, a canal through Nicaragua? 



Please send my letters and newspapers, to the latest dates. 

 With great respect, your servant;^ 



E. HISE. 



To the Hon. Secretary of State 



of the United States of America. 



Mr. Hise to Mr. Buchcman. 



[Extract ] 



[No. 6.] United States LEGATIo^T, 



Guatemala^ February 28, 1849. 



Sir: Since my last despatch, of date the 8th February, 1849, (No. 5 of 

 the series,) 1 have agreed, with the executive government of this republic;^ 

 upon the articles of a treaty, which I am now engaged in writing or 

 copying, and which I know will be ratified by this government. It will 

 contain precisely the provisions of our former treaty with the federation of 

 Central Am.erica. I have also received letters, to-day, fiom the executive 

 government of the States of San Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras, 

 informing me that those governments will send commissioners, each, to 

 this city, to negotiate treaties w^ith the United States. I cannot do wrong 

 in making reciprocity commercial treaties with these States, though (as 

 before stated in my last letters) I have no express power to treat but with 

 the States of Nicaragua and San Salvador. 



I have learned that the Mosquito Indians are sunk in the lowest state 

 of ignorance and barbarism, being wholly destitute of civilisation or 

 regular government. Their number does not exceed five thousand; and 

 in their political condition they bear the same relation to the States of 

 Honduras and Nicaragua that our Indians occupied, with relation to our 

 government, when situated within the known and acknowledged limits 

 of some of the States or Territories of the Union. 1 have received a letter 



