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HTJMBOLDT ? S CUBA. 



upon that subject. We shall, therefore, limit the 

 considerations we have to offer, to four heads, which 

 are : I. The Territorial ; II. The Political ; III. The 

 Industrial ; and IV. The Social relations of Cuba, as 

 they exist at the present time. 



I. The territorial relations of the Island of Cuba, 

 are of a more marked and permanent character than 

 those of any other country of limited extent in 

 America, and justify the Abbe Baynal's assertion 

 that it is "the boulevard of the New World." The 

 peculiar formation of the eastern shore of this conti- 

 nent, and the prevalence in the Caribbean Sea of the 

 trade winds, which blow with great uniformity from 

 the E.N.E., with a constant oceanic current running 

 in its general direction, from east to west, make the 

 narrow ocean passages, which skirt the shore of 

 Cuba, the natural outlets for the commerce of Vene- 

 zuela, New Granada, the isthmus States of Panama, 

 Costa Rica, Honduras, San Salvador, and Nicaragua. 



The rich and growing commerce with the coun- 

 tries bordering upon the Pacific Ocean, crossing the 

 several routes of isthmus transit, is brought by these 

 natural influences, under the immediate supervision 

 and control of the fleets that ride in safety, in the 

 numerous large and well-protected harbors of Cuba. 

 The value of the territorial advantages thus conferred 

 by its geographical position, must increase in the 



