In fact the Accessory Transit Company had itself furnished the American government with the most satisfactory evidence of its own unscrupulous and criminal character. On the 8th of April, while Mora was yet in Nicaragua, Thomas Lord, the vice-president of the company, wrote to Hosea Birdsall, authorizing him “to ask for the assistance of the commander of any man-of-war of Her Britannic Majesty’s navy in the port of San Juan.” “The object of the Transit Company,” so its vice-president wrote, “is to prevent accessions of filibusters to Walker’s force, pending his hostilities with Costa Rica, and to effect this purpose, no pains must be spared or effort left untried.” In conclusion he adds: “Unless our boats are seized by the filibusters on the Orizaba and Charles Morgan they cannot get into the interior, and without large accessions Walker must fail and Costa Rica be saved. To this result Her Majesty’s officers in San Juan can materially contribute, by protecting American property in the manner indicated.” It was made clear, by such acts, that the company was afraid to trust the justice of its own government. It was the necessity for completing the arrangements about the Transit, no less than the rainy season, which kept Walker from moving against the Allies. It would have been folly to advance against Leon without having the Transit secure and communication with the United States certain. Leon was well barricaded, and the Americans had not numbers to spare for an assault; neither had they artillery to aid their attack, even if the roads had admitted of its easy transportation. Besides, disease and dissension were weakening the Allies; and it was only after the death of Estrada that they got even an appearance of unity. It was early in the month of September that events occurred to encourage the Allies in an advance toward Granada. But before narrating these events, it may be well to mention the celebration of the 1st of September, at the capital, as it displays an element which entered into the war in Nicaragua.