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COLOMBIA. 



cause of independence than the men. The real 

 truth is, Panama had been garrisoned by a very 

 handsome Spanish regiment for some years ; and 

 the abstract feeling of freedom, consequent upon 

 the departure of the troops, was considered, it was 

 said, by the fair Panamanians, a very poor com- 

 pensation for the gentle military despotism in 

 which they had been lately held. 



I waited upon the governor after breakfast, and 

 not knowing that he had been in power during 

 the Spanish times, I said, as usual, something 

 congratulatory upon the improvements likely to 

 result from the recent changes. I saw, with sur- 

 prise, a cloud pass across his brow ; but he soon 

 recovered, and in a dry sarcastic tone said, he 

 hoped it would be a change for the better. 



In the course of the morning, we became ac- 

 quainted with many of the merchants of the 

 place, who surprised us a good deal, and some- 

 what piqued us, by their total indifference about 

 the South American news which we were so full 

 of. They declared they could never manage to 

 understand the different accounts from the south ; 

 that names, places, and circumstances, were all 



