30 
" and others of a large size, can enter, and is far superior ei- 
" ther to Pensacola or Espiritu Santo. There are at all sea- 
" sons on the bar, at the mouth of that port, twenty-two feet 
" water." 
VI. 
When the Mexicans had established the independence of 
their country, their first natural desire was to promote the 
development of the various elements of prosperity which their 
territoiy possesses. 
In the year 1824, the state of Vera Cruz and the Federal 
Government, appointed each a commission to survey the isth- 
mus: the former chose Don Tadeo de Ortiz, and the latter 
selected Colonel Don Juan de Orbegozo of the general staff; 
but it was only after the return of our commission to Mexico, 
that the reports of Senor Ortiz could be obtained. 
His attention was especially directed to the promotion of 
colonization, and the cultivation of these fertile and favour- 
ed districts of the republic, upon all of which topics he enlar- 
ges with much enthusiam ; but on what relates to our purpose 
he furnishes no light whatever, and his plans are not admissi- 
ble, excepting only in so far as they propose to render the 
Coatzacoalcos navigable to the confluence of the Malatengo. 
He also observed the facility with which the Boca Barra of San 
Francisco might be opened for the admission of large ships. 
In the sequel we shall advert to these observations , but li- 
mit ourselves at present to quoting those which refer to the bar 
of the Coatzacoalcos, and which are very important. 
" The bar of the Coatzacoalcos is permanent and constant, 
*' forming two canals or channels ; that to the left or the 
" west, has on it in the rainy season (that is, from the begin- 
*' ning of June to the end of February) 3h fathoms of wa- 
*' ter, or 21 feet, these being increased to 23 at high tides. 
" That on the right or to the east, has 2h fathoms, or 15 feet, 
*' and both during the dry season lessen three or four feet, the 
" principal channel maintaining itself at not less than 18 feet, 
" except perhaps under extraordinary circumstances. When 
*' a vessel would effect an entrance, with a view only to grea- 
" ter security, the 15 feet channel should be preferred, because 
