132 



Doc. No. 75. 



Department of S^tatie", 

 Washington, May 3, 



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

 which your Excellency addressed to this department, under dates the 

 12ih November, 1847; and 6th March, 1848, relative to the seizure by 

 the British of the port of San Juan de Nicaragua. These communications 

 have been read with painful interest, and have led to a determination on 

 the part of the President of the United States to accede to the request of 

 the government of Nicaragiia for the interposition of the good offices of 

 this government, in a friendly manner and spirit towards both Great 

 Britain and Nicaragua, for the purpose of adjusting the controversy with 

 reference to the Mosquito shore. Instructions have accordingly been 

 transmitted to the minister of the United States at London, which it 

 is hoped may be instrumental towards inducing the British government 

 to respect the just rights of Nicaragua, and towards effecting a satisfactory 

 accommodation of all the matters in dispute. 



I avail myself of this occasion to offer to your Excellency assurances 

 of my most distinguished consideration. 



JOHN M. CLAYTON. 

 His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs 



of the Republic of Nicaragua. 



ZACHARY TAYLOR, 



President of the United States of America^ 



WASHINGTON;, Mahj 3,- 1840. 

 Dear and Good Friend: I have to acknowledge the receipt of youf 

 communication of the 15th December, 1847, which has been read with 

 lively and painful interest. The Secretary of State of the United States 

 has this day addressed a note to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nica- 

 ragua, expressing the sympathy of this government for the injuries which 

 that State believes she has received in consequence of the forcible occu- 

 pation of the port of San Juan by British authorities, and mentioning the 

 friendly steps which have been taken by us with a view to obtain redress 

 therefor. Your excellency may be assured that our efforts to this end in 

 an amicable spirit and manner towards both Nicaragua and Great Britain 

 will be cordial and zealous, and will be animated by the desire which we 

 sincerely cherish that the just territorial rights of Nicaragua may be re- 

 spected by all nations^ and that she may advance in prosperity and hap- 

 piness. 



Your good friend;, 



Z. TAYLOPv, 



To his Excellency the Director of the State of Nicaragua. 

 By the President: 



John M. Clayton^, 



Secretary of State ^ 



