120 



COLOMBIA. 



ists, who settled on the spot, and without their 

 names appearing, really transacted the whole bu- 

 siness. The government were by these and other 

 circumstances eventually made to feel the absurd- 

 ity of their restrictions, and I have been inform- 

 ed that a new and liberal set of regulations has 

 since been established. 



In the latter end of the year 1819, Guayaquil 

 declared itself independent of the Spanish autho- 

 rity ; framed a new government ; established laws, 

 and opened the port to foreign trade. They ham- 

 pered it, however, injudiciously, in the manner 

 above mentioned ; and little good arose from the 

 change, or at all events, much less benefit than 

 a more liberal system would have produced. 



The population in the town is about twenty 

 thousand, and in the surrounding country subject 

 to it, about fifty thousand more ; and although 

 it is evident that so small a town, and so limited 

 a population, were insufficient to constitute a se- - 

 parate state, yet at the time I speak of, the sur- 

 rounding countries were so circumstanced that no 

 other power had leisure to interfere ; and Guaya- 

 quil declared itself independent. It is the prin- 



