154 



COLOMBIA. 



of that liberty acquired by their masters, from 

 whose thoughts nothing certainly was farther re- 

 moved than any idea of extending the same boon 

 to their slaves. 



3d of Feb, — Early in the morning I sallied 

 forth, as one would do at Rome, to view some ce- 

 lebrated ruins — a strange and unwonted sight in 

 America. Panama has flourished for a long se- 

 ries of years, but its sun has at last set with the 

 golden flag of Spain, the signal of exclusion wher- 

 ever it waved. As long as the ports of the Pa- 

 cific were closed against all commerce, except 

 what it pleased the Council of the Indies to mea- 

 sure thriftily out across the isthmus, Panama be- 

 ing the sole port of transit, prospered greatly ; 

 but now, that the navigation of Cape Horn is 

 rendered easy and secure, and is free to the whole 

 world except to the short-sighted Spaniards them- 

 selves, innumerable vessels contrive to search out 

 every nook in the coast, and supply it with goods 

 infinitely cheaper than Panama can furnish them. 

 The situation certainly possesses advantages, 

 which, in process of time, may be turned to great 

 commercial account, and Panama will probably 



