102 



humboldt's cuba. 



Even in Madrid, for a long time, Cuba and the Phi- 

 lipine Islands were considered as dependencies of 

 Mexico, situat at distances widely apart, east and 

 west from the ports of Yera Cruz and Acapulco, but 

 united to the Mexican metropolis, which was then a 

 European colony, by all the ties of commerce, of 

 mutual assistance, and of ancient affection. 



The increase of her own proper wealth has gradu- 

 ally made this assistance from the Mexican treasury 

 unnecessary to Cuba. Of all the Spanish possessions 

 she has been the most prosperous, and the port of 

 Havana has risen, since the disasters of St. Domingo, 

 to the rank of a first-class mart in the commercial 

 world. A happy concurrence of political circum- 

 stances, the moderation of the government officials, 

 and the conduct of the inhabitants, who are keen, 

 prudent, and careful of their own interests, have pre- 

 served to Havana the continued enjoyment of a free 

 interchange with foreign nations. The revenue from 

 her customs has increased so greatly, that Cuba not 

 only covers her own expenditures, but during the 

 war between Spain and her continental colonies, has 

 contributed large sums to relieve the remnants of the 

 army from Yenezuela, for the defence of the castle 

 of Sail Juan de Ulua, and to the costly and most 

 generally fruitless naval armaments that Spain has 

 fitted out. 



