PKOSPERTTY OF PANAMA. 149 



place in that country. The transition, therefore, 

 which now took place from the Spanish rule to a 

 state of independence, was very easy, and there 

 being no motive to violence, it was unaccompa- 

 nied by any extravagance on the part of the peo- 

 ple. Thus Panama, under similar political cir- 

 cumstances with Lima and Guayaquil, was placed 

 in singular contrast to both those cities. So gent- 

 ly, indeed, was the Revolution brought about, 

 that the inhabitants did not even change their 

 governor, but left him the option either of conti- 

 nuing in his old situation, or of retiring. When 

 the alternative was put to him, he shrugged his 

 shoulders — whiffed his segar for a few minutes — 

 and replied, that he had no sort of objection to 

 remain : upon which the inhabitants deliberately 

 hauled down the flag of Spain, hoisted that of Bo- 

 livar in its place, proclaimed a free trade, and let 

 all other things go on as before. 



But there were many, it was said, who did not 

 rejoice so much in the change, as good patriots 

 ought to have done ; a piece of political scandal, 

 however, which attached chiefly to the ladies, who 

 are, in general, vastly more enthusiastic in the 



