SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



89 



upon it, the attempt was abandoned, and it is 

 now a ruin. If, however, it had been carried 

 to an end in the same manner in which it was 

 begun, it would not have been surpassed by 

 the famous route of Napoleon over Mount 

 Simplon, nor by any of the great designs of 

 the ancient Romans. Should the English 

 establish a communication with the mines of 

 Mexico (as it is sincerely to be hoped and 

 expected they will), this road will be of the 

 greatest importance ; little is wanting towards 

 its completion Jbut the M'Adamizing system, 

 and a portion of that spirit of enterprise now 

 existing in England, as the most difficult part 

 has already been accomplished, and materials 

 are very abundant in the vicinity. 



We afterwards passed along a very indif- 

 ferent road through a country miserably 

 sterile and burnt up; but upon descending 

 a hill another sudden change appeared, the 

 country became again fertile in vegetation, 



