118 



humboldt's cuba. 



the residence of the first-named, and placed our 

 instruments and our collections of specimens in the 

 palace of the Count, the broad flat roofs of which 

 were exceedingly convenient for our astronomical 

 observations. 



[Note. NAVY-YARD AT HAVAJ5&. 



The great advantages which the port of Havana 

 affords for repairing and building ships were apparent 

 at an early period. Its admirable position made it a 

 port of call for all the ships navigating those seas, 

 and it was the place of refit and final departure of 

 the galleons for Spain. But neither the government 

 nor private individuals availed themselves of its 

 abundant timber and naval resources, until about 

 the year 1626, when the king ordered several vessels 

 to be built there for the service of the windward 

 station, of which it was the head-quarters. After 

 these were completed the government built no more 

 vessels there for a long time, although private enter- 

 prise continued the business until the king prohibited 

 the cutting of timber except for the purpose of 

 building or repairing of houses in the city. 



In 1713 Don Augustin de Arriola went to Madrid, 

 for the purpose of inducing the government to estab- 

 lish a navy-yard at Havana, and proposed to build 

 there ten ships of the line, which should serve as 



