of the sovereignty of his country, had a right to fly a foreign flag, he was ordered to enter the house, and in case the British colors were shown over it, to tear them down and trample them under foot, thus returning the insult offered to the Republic of Nicaragua by their display. The native authorities, accustomed to yield to the wishes of not only British consuls but even of British merchants, were utterly astounded at these orders. On the Englishman, however, the orders produced a wholesome effect; for he immediately gave up the lead, about one hundred and fifty pounds, for the use of the Americans. At the same time Walker was collecting the scanty supplies of arms and ammunition the country afforded for the use of the Falange, he was also searching for some native officer who would have the resolution to join in the expedition to the Meridional Department with or without the consent of the Provisional Government. Such a person was found in the sub-prefect of Chinandega, D. José Maria Valle. He was one of those who accompanied Jerez on his landing at Realejo, in May, 1854, and had risen to the rank of Colonel in the democratic army; but a severe wound in the lower third of the thigh had endangered his life during the siege of Granada, and the bone being broken in splinters, he was left with a stiff knee, and had retired for the time from active service. Valle had great influence over the soldiers about Leon and Chinandega, and with a certain rude eloquence he was accustomed to stir the hearts of the people with a recitation of the wrongs they had suffered from the Legitimist Government. Almost a pure Indian, without any education, being unable to either read or write, he would ride through the streets of Chinandega and into the hamlets of the neighborhood, speaking of the generous Americans, who had come to help them in their struggles against the Granadians. Nor was his influence confined to the men. When he took the guitar in hand he would carry the women away with his songs of love or of patriotism; and the control he exercised over the women was not to be despised in a country where they serve to some extent the use of newspapers, at the same time scattering news and forming opinion.