I have the honour to inclose herewith a copy of Mr. Webster's letter to the Secretary of the Navy, directing that such an instruction should be sent to this officer; and your Lordship will perceive that, if faithfully carried out, it must have the effect of undeceiving those American citizens who may have been led into error in regard to the countenance which they may have been led to expect from their Government in the sort of proceeding they seem now to contemplate.

I have on my own part addressed letters, of which I have the honour to inclose copies, to Her Majesty's Consul at Greytown, and to the senior naval officers on that station, transmitting to them, for their information, copies of Mr. Webster's letter to the Secretary of the Navy, and recommending them to come to such a friendly understanding with the officer commanding The United States' naval force there, as may enable them to preserve order and enforce a due submission to the existing authorities, until such time as the definitive political position of Greytown in regard to the neighbouring Central American States shall have been determined by the result of the negotiations upon which I am now engaged with The United States' Secretary of State.

I have endeavoured to impress upon these officers the importance of using every effort to avert the necessity of having recourse to force in order to sustain the just rights of the Mosquito Government at Greytown. The persons who, by their violent proceedings, are liable to bring themselves into collision with our naval forces are most of them American citizens, and the repression of those acts by force, however justifiable, would cause, both in the public and in Congress here, a degree of excitement which could not but have a very prejudicial effect upon the negotiation for the settlement of the Mosquito and Central American questions, which Her Majesty's Government are desirous of carrying on in the most friendly spirit with the Government of The United States.

It is stated, in the inclosed report, that the measures contemplated by the persons composing the public meeting at Greytown, were advised by Captain Green, of The United States' ship Decatur. This statement, I believe, however, to be entirely unfounded; Mr. Webster having read to me Captain Green's report of the transaction in question to Commodore Parker, by which it appears that Captain Green, though without any special instruction applicable to the case, had done what he could to dissuade American citizens from taking part in the proceedings in question.

The Earl of Malmesbury.

I have, &c.

JOHN F. CRAMPTON.

(Inclosure 1.)—Extract from the "New York Herald."

A MEETING of the citizens of San Juan de Nicaragua was held at the American Hotel, on the evening of February 28, 1852, in pursuance of the following notice:

Public Meeting.

Saturday, February 28, 1852.

A meeting of the citizens of San Juan de Nicaragua will be held at the American Hotel this evening, at 7 o'clock, for the purpose of discussing the propriety of applying to the Government of Nicaragua for certain corporate privileges.

By the request of many citizens.

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Benjamin Mooney, who nominated Mr. William H. De Forest as Chairman of the meeting. On the motion being put to the meeting it was carried unanimously, and Mr. De Forest accordingly took the chair. Mr. Benjamin Mooney was then elected Vice-President, and Mr. William B. Gerring and Dr. R. W. Mackay, Secretaries, and Mr. J. V. Peres interpreter.

The meeting being organized, the Chairman briefly explained the objects of the meeting to be, to endeavour to obtain a Government for this town that would be satisfactory to its citizens, and afford that protection to person and property to which all are alike entitled; and called on the citizens assembled to come forward and give their views and sentiments on the subject, that all may know the grievances we labour under, and what rights and privileges we desire to obtain.

Mr. W. P. Kirkland then, in an able and lengthy speech, stated his views. He objected to the present Government of this town, and urged the necessity of obtaining a more stable, permanent, just and legal Government, and contended it was the duty and interest of the citizens of San Juan to appeal to the rightful owner of the territory, viz., the State of Nicaragua, requesting from her a charter of incorporation, giving and granting to them such privileges, land, and power as may enable them to establish a Government of law and order, satisfactory to the citizens of San Juan, and protecting the persons and property of all within its jurisdiction. Mr. Kirkland contended that the present so-called authorities of this town was a temporary Government; that they themselves were in doubt and uncertainty who and what they were, and how to act; that they derived their power and authority from the King of Mosquito, an individual recognized and protected by England, but having no existence or authority accorded or acknowledged by other nations, and whose claim over this territory and existence as a king, was [1851-52.]

3 F

even now a matter of negotiation between the Governments of The United States and England. While these matters are in doubt and uncertainty, we find ourselves without a Government, and without protection alike in our persons and our property, and it is our duty and our interest to go to head-quarters-the rightful owner of the soil-the State of Nicaragua, and demand from her a charter of incorporation, so that we can form a Government in which our interests are represented, and by which our persons and our property will be protected. Mr. Kirkland's views and remarks were coincided in by the meeting with acclamation, and he retired with great applause.

The following resolution was then moved and seconded:

Resolved, that the chairman appoint a committee of 3 persons, to draft resolutions expressing the views and sentiments of this meeting, and report such resolutions to the meeting.

The resolution was adopted, and the chair appointed Mr. Gelston, Mr. W. P. Kirkland, and Mr. Charles Wendall. During the recess occasioned by the retiring of the committee to draft resolutions, Mr. J. V. Peres addressed the meeting in Spanish, calling on all to express their views and sentiments fully and freely, and vote according to their knowledge and judgment, yea and nay, to the resolutions which would be presented.

The committee of 3 then appeared and reported the following resolutions:

Resolved, that whereas we, the citizens of San Juan de Nicaragua, being desirous to secure for ourselves the liberty and protection to our persons and our interests to which we are entitled, and desiring a Government in which we shall be represented, and by which our persons and our property will be protected; and feeling that action on our part is called for to obtain those privileges which we do not now possess, we do therefore resolve to appoint. and delegate such citizens as we have confidence in, to proceed to the capital of the State of Nicaragua, to treat and negotiate with the Government of said State, for a charter of incorporation, giving and granting to us. such power and privileges as may enable us to establish a Government, and elect such officers as may rightfully and properly administer such laws and ordinances as may by us be enacted.

Resolved, that the chairman appoint 15 delegates to proceed to the capital of Nicaragua, for the purpose of obtaining from that Government a charter empowering the citizens of San Juan to establish a free port, territorial and local Government.

Resolved, that such delegation pay strict attention in procuring a proper guarantee and protection from that Government for all property for which a proper consideration has been paid.

Resolved, that should any of the delegates appointed by the

chair decline acting, that the remaining delegates have full power to act and call such persons to their aid as they may deem expedient. The resolutions, on being put to the meeting, were carried unanimously.

The resolutions were translated and read in Spanish to the meeting by M. Peres, and were unanimously adopted.

On motion, resolved, that Mr. W. H. De Forest be the chairman of the delegation to the Government of Nicaragua. Resolution adopted.

The chairman then appointed the following named gentlemen as the delegation to the Nicaraguan Government, to carry out the object of this meeting :

Mr. Benjamin Mooney, Don Francisco Alvarado, Mr. R. Gelston, Don Juan Misner, Mr. William B. Gerring, Dr. R. W. Mackay, Mr. Elvino, Don A. Sigana, Mr. W. P. Kirkland, Señor Mancho, Mr. J. V. Peres, Don Ramon Rivas, Mr. W. F. Upham, Mr. Charles Wendall.

These names, with Wm. De Forest as chairman, were then submitted to the meeting, and unanimously approved of.

On motion, resolved, that Mr. John Y. Doyle and John Jefferies be added to the delegation. Resolution adopted.

On motion, resolved, that the thanks of this meeting be returned to Captain Banker, for his offer of a steamer to convey the declaration to Granada. Resolution adopted.

On motion, resolved, that the delegation will be at Mr. Kirkland's on Monday next, from 10 to 3 o'clock, to receive such suggestions as the citizens may desire to make to them.

On motion, resolved, that the meeting do now adjourn.

(Inclosure 2.)—Mr. Crampton to the Senior Naval Officer at Greytown. SIR, Washington, March 18, 1852.

It is with much concern that I have learnt that the proceedings of certain persons styling themselves citizens of San Juan de Nicaragua (Greytown), and more particularly the adoption at a public meeting held at Greytown on the 28th ultimo, have rendered the position of the Commander of Her Majesty's naval forces stationed at that place one of a very difficult and critical nature.

I have thought it my duty, in consequence, to put myself in communication upon this subject with the Secretary of State of The United States, for the purpose of adopting, in concert with him, such measures as may conduce to the friendly understanding of the commanders of the naval forces of the 2 countries in that quarter, and may enable them to concert such measures as may put a stop to the proceedings which seem to be contemplated by a part of the inhabitants of Greytown.

The instructions which are to be sent to the officer commanding the naval force of The United States there, and which will be in conformity with the directions contained in the letter from The United States' Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Navy, of which I have now the honour to inclose a copy for your information, will show that such proceedings on the part of American citizens are in no way countenanced by their Government, and when this instruction is acted upon by that officer, it cannot fail to undeceive such persons as may have been led into error in this respect.

It would, however, I would venture to suggest, be very desirable that such a friendly understanding should be come to between yourself, Her Majesty's Consul at Greytown, and the officer in command of such vessels of war of The United States as may be at Greytown, as would enable you to concert with them such measures as shall tend to preserve order and ensure a proper submission to the existing authorities there, until such time as the definitive political position of Greytown shall have been determined by the result of the negotiations now in progress at Washington for that purpose.

I have, &c.

JOHN F. CRAMPTON.

SIR,

(Inclosure 3.)-Mr. Crampton to Consul Green.

Washington, March 18, 1852. I HAVE learnt with great concern that a body of persons styling themselves citizens of San Juan de Nicaragua (Greytown), have, at a public meeting held on the 28th ultimo, adopted a series of resolutions which, if acted upon, would very much aggravate the already critical position of affairs at that place, and which could only be carried into execution by the violent expulsion of the existing authorities there; an attempt to effect which would doubtless be resisted by the commander of such of Her Majesty's vessels of war as may now be, or might hereafter arrive, at that station.

You are aware that negotiations are now pending at Washington between this Legation and The United States' Secretary of State for the final settlement of the position which Greytown is to occupy in regard to the adjoining Central American States; and it is hoped that this question, as well as the general Central American questions connected with it, will be speedily arranged in a manner satisfactory to all the parties concerned. Proceedings, therefore, of the nature I have alluded to on the part of persons inhabiting Greytown, to whatever nation they may belong, can have no other effect than one injurious to the present interests of the place, without at all influencing the final decision of the Governments interested in this question.