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PAYTA. 



the independence of South America^ there has 

 been a very inconsiderable trade between the 

 Pacific ports and Panama; but there is still 

 enough to show how much shorter the commu- 

 nication is with Europe^ by Panama^ than by 

 the voyage round Cape Horn. A hundred 

 days from Liverpool to Lima is a good passage, 

 and, of course, to Payta, five days more ; but 

 by the West Indies, and across the Isthmus, 

 goods arrive in seven or eight weeks ; and 

 the news from London here is of a date two 

 months later than I found it at Lima. Indeed, 

 with steam-boats, the rapidity of communica- 

 tion would be so great, that it would never be 

 worth a merchant's while to send his remit- 

 tances, or bills, round the Horn, from any port 

 in the Pacific Ocean.* 



* Monsieur Roux, a French merchant, occupied only 

 forty-six days in travelling from Payta to Liverpool vid 

 New York. 



