14 



AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



Valparaiso and Panama ; or of Capts. Wylde and Bloomfield whilst paking the 

 voyages on board their ships. 



Nor were the companies of our own country less liberal. The U. S. Mail Steam- 

 ship Company, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and the Panama Pailroad 

 Company each most cheerfully granted the use of their ships and cars, proffering 

 every other assistance to the enterprise which it would be possible for their officers 

 to aftbrd. I had the good fortune to make the voyages to and from Aspinwall in 

 that rapid steamer, the Moses Taylor, and it is proper that I should oft'er my tribute 

 of commendation to the courteous attentions shown their passengers on these occa- 

 sions by Capts. McGowan and Gray. 



Notwithstanding the most strenuous efforts of Capt. Bloomfield, after leaving 

 Payta for the north, we failed to reach Panama before the departure of the American 

 steamer which left for New York on the 20th of November, and during two weeks' 

 detention on the isthmus we were guests of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. 

 We were most hospitably entertained by the acting agent, D. M. Corwin, Esq., to 

 whom we OAve a double debt. He not only provided for every possible comfort 

 whilst we were in health, but carefully tended us when prostrated by the fever of 

 the isthmus. I say we, for my young friend — Mr. Raymond — had fairly earned a 

 right to participate in courtesies offered to me, and was a fellow guest. 



I abstain from naming my accomplished host at Payta from motives of delicacy. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 



The instruments with which the following meteorological observations were 

 made, were constructed for the Smithsonian Institution by Mr. James Green, of 

 New York. The barometer, a syphon (Bunten's form), reads to '" .002, and was 

 hung within the tent. All the thermometers are divided to 1° upon scales of 

 ivory^ The air and wet bulb thermometers were placed a few feet above the 

 ground, and in the shadow of the tent. The black bulb was suspended beneath 

 the telescope, its bulb within an inch of the ground. 



