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Doc. No 73. 



and witbo at a previous declaration of war; that the explanation was 

 not given of consideration to the Mosquitos, but for tlie government of 

 H. M. ; and thus must be understood any arrangement that may be made 

 respecting this question, until the independence of those tribes be duly- 

 recognised by the other repubhcs of America, and some of the principal 

 nations of Europe, as 1 have already told your excellency in my despatch 

 of the 20lh of January last. 



By the reasons already expressed ^ the armistice does not give England 

 the right to retain the port of San Juan definitively, nor to exercise acts 

 of ownership in that territory; because, having interfered with armed 

 force, it would appear that this, and not justice, had decided the question 

 which cannot even be considered doubtful. 



Convinced of this, I have proposed to your excellency, with pleasure 

 and confidence, the amicable means of deciding it by arbiters, oftering at 

 the same time to accept any other means your excellency may find ca- 

 pable of conciliating the dignity of both governments and the interests of 

 the two countries. 



After all that I have said, I am persuaded that H. M. government will 

 deign, firstly, to declare null, and of no strength or eifect, all that has 

 been practised by Mr. Christie about the demarcation of territorial limits in 

 San Juan de Nicaragua, in the same manner they annulled, in 1840, the 

 commission given to certain individuals by the superintendent of Belize to 

 govern in the territory of Mosquito; reserving the approbation of H. M., 

 because Mr. Christie, acting in his character of consul general, would ap- 

 pear authorized by his government to execute a demarcation against the 

 resolution taken at that time by the said government, which then declared 

 that the proceedings executed in virtue of the said ^ # * ought 

 not to be considered as having any force or validity; secondly, to desire 

 the authorities of Jamaica not to send any convicts nor police force to San 

 Juan until the question be definitively settled; thirdly, to disapprove 

 of the conduct of Mr. Christie towards the government of Nicaragua, as 

 contrary to the views and interests of H. M. government; fourthly, to pro- 

 pose, with the object of terminating soon the present question, the arbitra- 

 tor or arbitrators they may think proper to decide as to the restitution of 

 San Juan, as it has been solicited. 



This is an honorable way for both governments, and I doubt not it will 

 be accepted by her Majesty for the sake of peace, and as a worthy homage 

 to justice, by whose light will be examined the rights and works of every 

 one. 



My love for peace, and the desire to contribute, with my small efforts, 

 to the preservation of the relations between Great Britain and Nicaragua, 

 have induced me to address your excellency this despatch, which is in all 

 conformed to the instructions oi my government. And I would feel happy 

 indeed, if, with your excellency's co-operation, my hopes are realized, 

 terminating a question which might, in course of time, debilitate those 

 sentiments of sympathy and friendship which the conduct of George lY, 

 and his worthy minister, Canning, inspired in the heart of all the Central 

 Americans. 



I beg of your excellency to raise to the knowledge of H. M., the Queen 

 of Great Britain, all I have expressed, and to honor me with a reply as 

 early as possible; admitting the assurances of friendship and respect 



