20 



BOGOTA'. 



ministers of war, foreign affairs, finance, and 

 the interior, have their offices all in the palace, 

 a method I would fain recommend to older 

 established governments, as a means most 

 decidedly tending to despatch of business 

 and general convenience. 



The mint is a large plain building. In 

 consequence of the mistaken policy of the 

 government in giving merely a debenture for 

 the uncoined gold brought to them by the 

 natives, instead of returning, as in former 

 times, a proportionate quantity of coined 

 metal, the machinery, &c. of this place is 

 at a stand-still, and its treasury entirely ex- 

 hausted. I would venture to recommend to 

 the consideration of the Republic the impo- 

 licy of this step ; for if, as formerly, they gave 

 their coined gold for the gold dust brought 

 to them, they would soon form a rich trea- 

 sury by the quantities that would be pro- 

 duced by the people, who now keep back 



