CENTRI.AL AMERICAN STATEs.                  101

the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea nearest our cities on the Gulf
coast. I recommend to your consideration, therefore, whether it would
not be advisable to address the Secretary of the Navy upon the subject
of the explorations mentioned, after taking the views and instructions
of the President thereon.

      Ihave, &c.,
                                           GEO. WILLIAMSON.


                              No. 68.

                    Mr. Williamson to Mr. Fish.

No. 34.]   UNITED STATES LEGATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA,
               Guatemala, October 4, 1873. (Received November 4.)
  SIR: I have the honor to inclose you herewith a decree of President
Barrios authorizing civil marriages in Guatemala among foreigners re-
siding here. It is a step in the direction of liberadismn which I hope
will soon be followed by one which will place the right of civil mar-
riage within the reach of the citizens of Guatemala who are disposed
to avail themselves of it. At present Roman Catholic supremacy feels
able to assert its power to such a degree that notwithstanding the de-
cree was issued and the church party stands in awe of the rude but
prompt measures of President Barrios,. the Swiss gentleman, Mr.
Grubber, reported to me he was unable to find a civil magistrate in this
city who would consent to solemnize his marriage. I advised him
strongly to leave no exertions untried to have his marriage contract en-
tered into before a civil magistrate, and tried myself to get an officer
to
perform the act. Not one objected on religious grounds, but all feigned
or presented excuses of one kind and another, thus conveying to my
mind the impression they feared the responsibility. Up to this point
my mind was decided not to celebrate the act of marriage in person,
but being urged by the Swiss citizen, I consulted with President Bar-
rios, his chief minister, Mr. Samaoya, his minister of foreign affairs, Mr.
Soto, and also with a prominent lawyer, Mr. iRamirez, ex-minister of
foreign affairs, and, after having taken the friendly consultation of the
minister of Her Britannic Majesty, Mr. Edwin Corbett, I consented to
celebrate the marriage at the legation. Such an event was too impor-
tant both in its relations to the parties and to our government to be
entered upon unadvisedly, and, although my own opinion was adverse
to the validity of the act of marriage, I consented to yield to the opin-
ions expressed, and to perform the ceremony at the legation to-night
in the presence of the distinguished persons named. The Duke d'Lin-
guand, charge d'affaires of Italy, and Mr. Cabarrus, charge d'affaires
of France, promise to be present with their families, although they are
Roman Catholics. They also promise to sign the act of marriage as
witnesses, and under their authority I have prepared a proces verbal
which has their names inserted as acting in that capacity.
  The President, Barrios, his chief minister, Samaoya, his minister of
foreign affairs, Soto, all say they will be glad to lend their presence to
such a ceremonial.
      I have, &c.,
                                           GEO. WILLIAMSON.