299 



upon a more solid testimony than that of gene- 

 ral Don Jose de Espeleta, who was viceroy of 

 New-Grenada till 1798. This experienced offi- 

 cer, in a manuscript memoir, which is addressed 

 to his successor, the viceroy Don Pedro de Men- 

 dinueta # , thus expresses himself on the defence 

 of the isthmus of Panama : " Your Excellency 

 is informed that the king has caused his vast 

 possessions in America to be visited by the Bri- 

 gadier Cramer. That celebrated engineer has 

 calculated the dangers to which we are still ex- 

 posed, and indicated the fortifications which 

 must be erected for defence. The isthmus of 

 Panama is of the highest military importance, 

 of which your Excellency ought not to lose 

 sight for one instant. Its importance is founded 

 on its geographical configuration, and its prox- 

 imity to the South Sea; it presents three points 

 of defence, Portobello, and the small fort of 

 San Lorenzo de Chagre towards the north, and 

 the town of Panama towards the south. The 

 heights which command Portobello render it 

 impossible to fortify to any good purpose that 

 poor and ill-peopled town ; the batteries of San 

 Fernando, Santiago, and San Geronimo, appear 

 to me sufficient for the defence of the port. 

 The small fort of Chagre, at the mouth of the 



* Relation del Govierno, Parte quarta 3 Cap. III., fol. 118, 

 122, 123 (manuscript). 



