Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

Garibaldi in Nicaragua
19
Erano talmente tanti i viaggiatori che percorrevano queste strade dopo il 1849, che i governi europei ed americani si sentirono obbligati ad interes­sarsi del loro benessere e della loro sicurezza in queste contrade povera­mente attrezzate per un passaggio di massa e spaventosamente insalubri. Vennero inviati consoli e vice-consoli in molti degli importanti paesi lungo le strade dell'oro, da uno dei quali quello inglese di Realejo, sulla costa nica­raguense del Pacifico, di nome John Foster ci viene questa descrizione del Nicaragua sei mesi prima dell'arrivo dell'Eroe:
Hotels, boarding houses, restaurante etc are being erected in ali the towns from hence to Granada by American citizens and others; and establishments for the sale of Foreign Manufactures and produce are likewise commenced by French, Italians Germans...
The facilities from hence to Grey Town are every day improving, at least as far as the city of Granada; wagons saddle mules horses are here always ready for any number of passengers that may arrive, who, with their baggage are forwarded to Granada, at from S 8 to 10 each, the distance being about 140 miles, and occupies with mules from 3 to 4 days and wagons from 5 to 6 days. Several launches other boats have been transported from this place to ply on the lake and at Granada are several, many now under construction; there have likewise been sent up the river St. Johns some two or three schooners, of from 8 to 10 Tons each, which take passengers across the Lake to Fort San Carlos, at the head of the River St. Johns, from whence to Grey Town, Piraguas or boats of the country. In thcse Schooners the trip across the Lake occupies about 30 hours, and a similar time lakes them down the river to Grey Town.
Passengers can now go from here to Grey Town in 7 to 8 days, and return in 12 to 13.
Amidst ali the excitemente, which these movements are causing in Nicaragua, ite Government appears the only party who does not enter into the American spirit of go-ahead vision. It gives not the least attention to matters of the most vital importance to ite welfare improvements but squanders ite time money in idle discussions intrigues; whilst ite Finances are in the most ruinous condition; and in its blind compliance to certain politics at the commencement of the California traffic, omitled to obtain the slightest privilege to improve ite revenues; which are mortgaged to a serious extent to foreign merchanls, principaUy independent of its Bond debts, any discussion of which, or ite boundary question, are carefully obstinately evaded, putting off the evil day as far as possible that is = of each Director or Chief and his Minisrry, during their two years of office, to let the responsibility fall upon their successore. 24)
Garibaldi e Carpaneto rimasero per diciassette giorni a Granada dove secondo le Memorie Carpaneto avrebbe deciso di stabilire le sue opera­zioni commerciali e dove la comunità italiana li accolse calorosamente. Purtroppo, fra le poche lettere del Console generale sardo, Antonio Marcenaro, conservate a Torino, non risulta niente su questa visita di Garibaldi. Siccome Marcenaro fu nominato Console generale presso il Governo di Nicaragua il 27 gennaio 1846, 25) nel mazzo di lettere da Granada W la prima lettera conser-
24) USA/NA., Microfilm T. 152, N 1: Dispatches from U.S. Consuls in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, 8 settembre 1847-31 dicembre 1857: questa lettera, da John Foster, Realejo, a Frederick Chatfield, Guatemala, in data 31 dicembre 1850, si trova allegata ad una dal Comandante L. Hudson della nave Vincennes (U.S. Marina), scritta da Acapulco (Messico) il 14 giugno 1851.
25) A.S.T., Sez. 1": Lettere Ministero Esteri; Stati Uniti Paesi Americani. Fase: Stati dell'America Latina. Lettera del 30 marzo 1847.
26) A.S.T., Sez. 1": Consolali Nazionali. Granada. 1 mazzo.