Doc. No. 75, 



147 



Peter Shepherd, and Stanislaus Thomas Haly, their heirs and assigns, 

 foreverj in the presence of us* 



GEORGE YIZE, 



F. BOUCHET, 



ROBERT HALY, 



THOMAS LOWRY ROBINSON, 



General PFiTER SLAM. 



Mr. Squier to Mr, Clayton. 



[Extracts.] 



[No. 2.] Grenada, Nicaragua, June 23, 1849. 



Sir: I avail myself of the probable speedy departure of Mr. J. E. Priest 

 (a citizen of New York) for the United States, to inform the department of 

 the arrival of myself and suite in this city, on the 21st inst., in good health, 

 after a voyage of eight days from San Juan. The trip is regarded as an 

 exceedingly rapid one. At this season of the year it is seldom made in 

 less than ten or fourteen days, and at no season in less than six or eight. 

 The estimated distance is one hundred and eighty miles, the greatest 

 part of which is taken up by the lake of Nicaragua, or Grenada. The 

 passage of the lake is comparatively easy. We made it in two days: 

 with favorable winds it is often made in twenty- four hours. From this 

 it will be seen that the navigation of the river San Juan is slow and diffi- 

 cult, i shall reserve my observations upon that stream, and the facilities 

 which it affords for an oceanic connexion, for another communication, 

 meantime observing that the letter of Doctor Brown (which I had the 

 honor of forwarding with my despatch of the 10th instant) is entirely 

 accurate, so far as it relates to the San Juan and Lake Nicaragua, as I 

 have no doubt it also is so far as it relates to the remaining section of the 

 proposed canal route from this point to the Pacific. 



1 find that my arrival here has been for some time anticipated by the 

 government, and that instructions have been issued to all of the depart- 

 ments, enjoinii]g that every attention shall be paid and every facility ex- 

 tended to me in pursuing the object of my mission. My reception at 

 the fort of San Carlos and at this city has not only been in strict 

 conformity with these instructions, but the attentions of the authorities 

 and prominent inhabitants have been rendered in such a manner as to 

 convince me that the most friendly sentiments are cherished towards our 

 people, and that the highest hopes are entertained from more intimate 

 relations with the United States. These hopes are exceedingly vague, 

 and so little is known here of the nature, constitutional powers, and the 

 policy of our government, that I fear many of them will be disappointed. 

 They are, nevertheless, under the circumstances, entirely natural. Dis- 

 tracted at home, threatened with an extinguishment of her national inde- 

 pendence, and her appeals uimoticed by the more powerful governments 

 to which they have been addressed, it is not surprising that Nicaragua 

 turns to the United States for countenance and protection. So far as this 

 can be consistently rendered, I am assured from my instructions, and 

 from the disposition of the American people, that I. shall be sustained in 

 extending it. Once treated with consideration and taught to respect 

 herself;, I am sure many of the causes which have hitherto retarded the 



