ON THE COAST OF PERU. 
believe, be often gladly exchanged for ine 
variegated aspect of terrestrial nature. The 
formation of the coast is rather curious 
Its mean elevation above the sea is about 
one hundred and fifty feet. The surface 
consists of an indurated paste of fossil 
shells, mixed with decomposed clay-slate, 
the strata of which, rising at an angle of 
about 45°, form the body of the coast. 
They are intersected by veins of quartz, 
often of a considerable thickness, and, as 
the slate decays, masses of this substance, 
frequently of several tons weight, are sepa- 
rated and left bare on the beach. A dif- 
ferent formation appears to the east of the 
town, where we find the shore composed 
of horizontal layers of clay, mixed with 
considerable quantities of sulphate of lime 
in crystallized fragments. It will be ob- 
served from the composition of the soil, 
that it is far from being naturally barren, 
The almost entire want of water is the sole 
cause of its sterility. When a few showers 
occasionally fall, it is immediately covered 
with vegetation, the remains of which lin- 
ger in the ravines till renovated by the 
next year’s showers. found here the 
“ Sapote de perro” dwindled into a shrub; 
a few specimens of the tree described at 
Tumbez, in the same state; a few Mimo- 
sas ; a species of Solanum ; two or three 
syngenesious plants, and a shrub, scattered 
In tufts among the rocks, which, by its 
crimson blossoms, formed the pride of the 
Paytenian Flora. 
I remained in Payta from the beginning 
of November till the middle of January. In 
the mean while, a change had taken place 
in the Equatorial Cabinet, by the accession 
“a a new minae: «ho was desirous to give 
ted, a cha- 
racter of ak A decree was according- 
ly passed, granting permission for the exiles 
to return, and declaring oblivion of all the 
past; a convenient doctrine for the op- 
pressor, who expected that after having 
been banished, without form of trial or 
shadow of guilt, and subjected to all the 
penalties and vexations attendant on such 
. a state, we should feel grateful for the 
= Permission to return, without satisfaction 
77 
for our losses, or reparation for our cha- 
racters. It is true a government so dis- 
- graced could not throw much discredit on 
others, against whom no crime could be 
urged beyond the suspicion of participating 
in the general disgust occasioned by its 
measures. Flores had certainly the great- 
est reason to enjoin forgetfulness ; but 
there are deeds which must needs be re- 
membered as long as the injuries they 
occasion are unatoned or unavenged. Be- 
ing aware of the publication of the am- 
nesty, I was desirous to obtain a passage 
in the United States' sloop of war, the 
Falmouth, then on the point of sailing 
from Payta for Guayaquil. The Captain, 
with whom I had a slight acquaintance, 
would willingly have given me a berth; 
but on consulting his instructions he found 
them very positive against affording any 
assistance, from motives of humanity, to 
persons implicated in the political disturb- 
ances of these countries, I confess both the 
manner and matter of these instructions 
seemed to me little in harmony with the 
policy of a free goverment. We may con- 
sider a more exact estimate of the nature 
of political crimes as one of the legislative 
discoveries of the present age. In coun- 
tries torn by revolutions, it is often difficult 
for the most impartial observer to pro- 
nounce which party has most reason on its 
side : and it would be frequently hazardous, 
if not criminal, to condemn the conduct of 
either, merely because it may have been 
momentarily overthrown and exposed to 
persecution. Amid the storms and whirl- 
winds of political passions, conscience is 
frequently enlisted in behalf of the most 
extravagant projects; and certainly there 
is no class of errors in excuse of which 
may so frequently be pleaded the palliative 
of good intentions. Few men expose them- 
selves E death and danger i = the arena of 
noli 
qeu from a design to injure their fellow 
creatures. One could scarcely, therefore, 
have expected they should be selected as 
the class in whose favor motives of hu- 
manity should never be allowed to militate. 
There can be little difference in discrimi- 
