148 THE CANAL PROJECT Book I. 
opposed to British influence, and though he was on good 
private terms with the more influential Englishmen living 
at Leon, he had reasons to consider them as his enemies. 
Now the interests of a society of speculators as powerful 
as the Atlantic and Pacific Ship-Canal Company came in 
conflict with his views on a question of national economy, 
and thus losing the support of the American influence he 
seemed unable to resist the combined attacks of his 
adversaries. 
The interference of the Canal Company marks a new 
period in the history of Central American troubles and 
dissensions. Be it that the results of the survey had been 
less favourable than had been expected, or that the want of 
sympathy which the enterprise had found with the capitalists 
of London had produced the effect; at any rate the Canal 
Company had formed the conviction that it would be an 
advantageous transaction to get rid of the obligation of 
opening a navigable communication between the two oceans 
across Central America, without losing the available part 
of the immense monopolies and privileges awarded for the 
realization of the great work. With the view to obtain 
this result an accessory contract w T as proposed to Nica- 
ragua by the Company, who were to constitute themselves 
in the capacity of holders of this second contract under the 
name of the Accessory Transit Company. The obliga- 
tions of the latter were to be, to open a carriage-road across 
the Isthmus of Bivas, and to supply the necessary means 
for the transit across Nicaragua, on this road, as well as on 
the river and lake. For fulfilling this obligation, together 
with some financial engagements, the Company were to 
have the monopoly of steam-navigation and various other 
valuable advantages. 
Munoz and the whole democratic party, actuated by 
