[XXVIII-4] The first law to promote colonization was issued Jan. 22, 1824, by the national constituent assembly of Cent. Am. Marure, Bosq. Hist. Cent. Am., 133, app. xviii.-xxvii.; Guat., Recop. Ley., i. 815-20; Id., Boletin Ofic., June 22, 1835; Nic., Corr. Ist., Aug. 8, 1850; Hond., Gaceta Ofic., March 20, 1854; Rocha, Cód. Nic., i. 42-3, 53; Baily's Cent. Am., 43-5.
[XXVIII-5] Containing upwards of 14,000,000 acres of virgin soil, and affording every climate. Brief Statem. of the Important Grants Conceded to ... by the State of Guat., Lond., 1839; Guat. Charte de Concession du territ. de Vera Paz, Bruxelles, 1840, 8vo, 1-34; Guat., Mem. Concession, 17-130; Marure, Efem., 38; Squier's Travels, i. 422-4; Id., Compend. Hist. Cent. Am., 77-9.
[XXVIII-6] It was first formed out of, or at least originated from, the débris of the Poyais bubble, of which I spoke elsewhere in connection with Mosquitia.
[XXVIII-7] They talked of their ability to spread Brit. influence in the country. They even threatened to sell their charter to some other government.
[XXVIII-8] Details on the subject will be found in Dunlop's Cent. Am., 160, 190-1; Niles' Reg., li. 36; Reichardt, Cent. Am., 39, 238; Guat., Memoria, 1837, 17-19; Id., Comm. and Agric. Co., 1-132; Anderson's Cent. Am., 5-93, 97-138.
[XXVIII-9] It stipulated a conditional sale of the lands lying between the left bank of the river Motagua and the right bank of the river Cahabon to where it runs into the Polochic, including all the coast and neighboring islands within these limits; and inland as far as Gualan, and the interior limits of the province of Santo Tomás. The company was to pay for the computed 8,000 caballerías at the rate of $20 for each caballería, in ten yearly instalments of $16,000. It was also to present the Guat. govt 2,000 muskets, similar to those used by the Belgian army, and four large guns; likewise pay one fifth the expense of erecting a city at Santo Tomás, make a cart road to the river Motagua, and introduce steamers for navigating the river. Guat., Recop. Ley., i. 824-38; Reichardt, Cent. Am., 239-43; Belly, Nic., ii. 36-7; Dunlop's Cent. Am., 303-6; Crowe's Gospel, 169-70; Amerique Cent. Cie. Belge, pt i. 5-64, pt ii. 110-13; Valois, Mexique, 438-42; Claquet, Rapport S. Tomás, 7-9; Cuelebrouk, Blondeel van, Colonie de Santo Tomas, 1-240 pp., with maps and plans; Laferrière, De Paris á Guatém., 250-1; Brouez, Colonie Belge, 103-29.
[XXVIII-10] With a few exceptions, however, they were to be governed by their own laws, and were, besides, to enjoy a number of exemptions. The custom-house of Izabal was to be removed to Santo Tomás.
[XXVIII-11] The grants were repealed in April 1854. Guat., Recop. Ley., i. 838-9; Belize, Packet Intelligencer, June 17, 1854; Squier's Cent. Am., 512-13; Payne's Hist. Europ. Colonies, 327; Crosby's Statem., MS., 98.
[XXVIII-12] See laws and decrees of Feb. 29, 1868, Oct. 2, 1873, Aug. 19, 1878, June 27, 1884, and a decree of Presid. Barillas in 1885; also official correspond with the U. S. govt. Guat., Recop. Ley., i. 841-5; Id., Id., Gob. Democ., i. 197-8; Nic., Gaceta, Apr. 18, 1868; S. F. Times, May 9, 1868; Mex., Diario Ofic., Sept. 18, 1878; Manero, Doc. Interes., 105-6; U. S. Govt Doc., Cong. 42, Sess. 2, H. Ex. Doc. 1 (For. Rel.), 542-3; El Guatemalteco, June 30, 1884; S. F. Bulletin, June 15, 1885.
[XXVIII-13] Cultivating one half, and becoming a citizen, provided he had not been imprisoned meanwhile for crime. The concession involved several other facilities, and privileges. Guat., Mem. Sec. Fomento, 1884, 7-8; Pan. Star and Herald, July 23, 1883.