Señor Peralta to Mr. Gresham.

Dear Mr. Gresham: I have the honor to furnish you with a copy and translation of the royal order of San Lorenzo, November 20–30, 1803, and of some royal orders and a law of the Spanish Cortes ignoring or meaning abrogation of the first on the well-known principle that “Leges posteriores priores contrarias abrogant.”

As regards Costa Rica not being a part of the Mosquito coast, in the correct geographical and lawful sense of that word, she never fell under the provision of the royal order of 1803.

Yours, very respectfully,

Manuel M. Peralta.
[Royal order of San Lorenzo.—Translation.]

Excellency: Señor Don José Antonio Cabellero tells me in note of the 20th instant, the following:

“The King has decided that the Islands of San Andrñs and the part of the Mosquito coast from Cape Gracias á Dios, inclusively, towards the River Chagres be separated from the captaincy general of Guatemala and he dependent of the viceroyalty of Santa Fé, and His Majesty has been pleased to grant to the governor of the aforesaid islands, Don Tomás O’Neill, the salary of 2,000 hard dollars instead of the $1,500 which he now enjoys. I inform your excellency by royal order to the intent that by the ministry under your charge may be issued the corresponding orders in fulfillment of this sovereign resolution.”

Which I transmit to your excellency by Hi’s Majesty’s command for its due fulfillment.

May God save your excellency for many years.

Soler.

Señor Viceroy of Santa Fé.

[Royal order of August 8, 1804, approving the appointment by the president captain-general of Guatemala of a collector of customs at the port of San Juan de Nicaragua.—Translation.]

His excellency, the secretary of state and finance, in royal order of August 8, 1804, tells me the following:

“The King has approved the creation accorded by that superior junta* of a place of collector of customs (guarda) at the port of San Juan de Nicaragua with a yearly salary of $200, which you report, with documents, in letter of last April 3, No. 467.”

Which I transmit to you for your knowledge and that you may propose for the appointment, as the place is vacant.

God save you for many years.


Antonio Gonzalez.

To the Collector-General of Guatemala.

Reply of the President of Guatemala.

Excellency: I remain informed of what your excellency is pleased to communicate to me in royal order of last August 8 upon His Majesty having deigned to approve the appointment of a customs collector for the port of San Juan, whose royal decision I have transmitted to the governor intendent of that province (Nicaragua and Costa Rica) for his knowledge and fulfillment.

God save your Excellency for many years.

Antonio Gonzalez.

His excellency Secretary of State and Finance.

[Page 287]
[Royal order on the navigation of river San Juan de Nicaragua and settlement on the Mosquito coast under the authority of the captain general of Guatemala.—Translation.]

The King has been informed of what you state in your letter of January 3, 1806, No. 609, as well as in your No. 602, of the 18th of June, of the same year, accompanying the documents respecting the navigation and commerce of the river San Juan de Nicaragua, proposing that it should continue open as a port of entry, and that for the advancement of the interests of the adjoining country, by clearing and cultivation of the lands, the same privileges should be granted to its inhabitants which were allowed by the royal order of November 20, 1803, to the new settlers on the Mosquito coast,” exempting them also from duties and tithes for ten years on all the productions of the lands within ten leagues of the river on either of its margins; and the King, being minutely informed on the subject, has been pleased to agree to the measures proposed by you, and has moreover resolved that endeavors should be made to settle a colony (poblacion) not exceeding 300 inhabitants in the vicinity of said river of Nicaragua. Finally, His Majesty has resolved to submit for examination to the superior committee on royal finance your proposal to the end that on the minor ports of that kingdom may be exacted the custom duties on foreign goods imported through them and that you report with full testimony so as to be enabled to dictate the convenient sovereign resolution.

All which I communicate to you by royal order for your knowledge and fulfillment.

May God save you for many years.

azanza.
[Decree CVIII of December 1, 1811, opening the port of Matina on the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica.—Translation.]

The Cortes general and extraordinary, wishing to promote the welfare of the Spaniards in all the countries of the monarchy on both hemispheres, decree: Let the port of Matina, on the north of Costa Rica, be open (to commerce) and let it be granted to those inhabitants the privilege for ten years of exemption of duties on the fruits and products of the country that may be exported through the same port.

Let it be understood by the council of regency, who shall order it to be fulfilled, printed, published, and circulated.


  • José,
    Bishop Prior of Leon, President.
  • Juan de Balle,
    Deputy Secretary.
  • José Maria Calatrava,
    Deputy Secretary.

To the Council of Regency.

Note.—The port of Matina was discovered and open to traffic in 1536 by the governor of Costa Rica, Don Gregorio de Sandoval, and some commerce was carried on through that port with Portobello, Cartagena, and Vera Cruz. In 1787 the King, Charles III, granted by royal order of May 1 the privilege for three years of exemption of duties on all the fruits from Costa Rica imported to Cartagena (New Granada) through the port of Matina. This privilege was prorogued for three years more by royal order of May 14, 1791.

By economical and military reasons the port of Matina was closed to traffic with other ports of the Spanish Main until by the Decree of December, 1811, was reopened and allowed the privilege of free export trade for ten years, without having ever, neither before nor after the issue of the royal order of 1803, fallen under the control or jurisdiction of the vice-royalty of Santa Fé.

  1. By superior junta is meant the committee of finance of the captaincy-general and audience of Guatemala.