INTRODUCTION. 



be established between Europe and the United States^ 

 with the countries on the Pacific. The introduction 

 of steamboats on this coast;, as well as on that of Bra- 

 zils, and in the Carribean sea, will no doubt follow in 

 the course of human improvements, and will effect the 

 most singular changes in human affairs. Great diffi- 

 culties oppose the passage across the isthmus of Da- 

 rien or Panama; a proof of which is, that Spain in- 

 stead of sending troops to Lima in this direction, pre- 

 fers the circuitous voyage around Cape Horn. It is 

 true, however, that a very considerable trade has al- 

 ways been kept up between Porto Bello and Panama, 

 notwithstanding the ruggedness of the passage. But 

 the important trade of Spain with the East Indies, has 

 been carried on from Acapulco, the only good port of 

 New Spain; while the products of Lima, and Guia- 

 quill, have been transported across the isthmus of 

 of Tehuantepec. In the hands of an enterprizing na- 

 tion, this wonderful country would be found to possess 

 facilities of communication approximating remote parts, 

 which at present can scarcely be imagined; at the same 

 time, that there exists the most extraordinary advanta- 

 ges for defence, when it should require the interruption 

 of that intercourse. At present, the inhabitants north 

 of the Orinoko, on account of the uninhabitable wil- 

 derness of Amazonia, have no direct communication 

 with the provinces on the Plata; they are almost as 

 completely separated as if they were on opposite sides 

 of the ocean. The eastern ridges of the Andes, op- 

 pose a barrier scarcely le^s formidable. 



Humboldt has remarked, that in no part of the 

 world, is the population so unequally distributed as 

 in Spanish America. This principally arises, from 



