422 



J^OVITA. 



Spanish system of monopoly ; if they would 

 put on a moderate duty, and allow the expor- 

 tation of gold and platina, they would secure a 

 handsome revenue from it; but as they entirely 

 prohibit the exportation of these metals, the 

 whole is smuggled to Jamaica, and at a mode- 

 rate rate. No one will send gold-dust to any 

 of the mints, because the government have 

 several times seized what was sent, and only 

 given promissory paper in return. The conse- 

 quence is, that scarcely a pound of gold-dust 

 remains in Colombia, and hardly a shilling is 

 drawn from the mines of Chocd, towards the 

 exigencies of the state. What blind policy! 



In another point the Congress has been badly 

 advised. They have shut up the river Atrato, 

 so that no vessel can stand directly over from 

 Jamaica, and come up to Citera, as was usual 

 before, but is obliged to go to Carthagena, 

 and clear out, which is a considerable ex- 

 pense and loss of time. Besides this, the 

 Congress have taken off the alcahala, which 

 was a duty, at a low rate, on every thing sold, 

 either foreign or domestic ; this brought in a 

 great revenue to the state, and was not felt, or 

 complained against, at least in Chocd. In- 



