ADTA^rCE or rOPUEATIOIf. 
125 
I have thought it right to enter into these general 
Considerations on the future connection of the two conti- 
nents, before tracing the political sketch of the provinces of 
Venezuela. These provinces, governed till 1810 by a cap- 
tain-general residing at Caracas, are now united to the old 
viceroyalty of Now Grenada, or Santa Pe, under the name 
ef the llepublic of Columbia. I will not anticipate the 
^oscription which I shall have hereafter to give of New 
Grenada ; but, in order to render my observations on the 
statistics of Venezuela more useful to those who would 
judge of the political importance of the country, and the 
'idvantages it may oftbr to the trade ot Europe, even in its 
present imadvanced state of cultivation, I will describe the 
Gnited Provinces of V enezuela in their relations with Cun- 
^unamarca, or New Grenada, and as forming part of the new 
state of Columbia. M. Bonpland and I passed nearly three 
years in the country, which now forms the territory of the 
Republic of Columbia; sixteen months iu Venezuela, and 
eighteen in New Grenada. We crossed the territory in its 
^vhole extent ; on one baud from the mountains of Paria 
“I® far as Emeralda on the Gpper Orinoco, and San Carlo 
uel liio Negro, situated near the frontiers of Brazil; and on 
the other, from Rio Sinn and Carthagena as far as the 
auowy summits of Quito, the port of Guayaquil on the 
‘’oast of the Pacific, and the banks of the Amazou in the 
province of Jaen dc Bracamoros. So long a stay and an 
p-vpedition of one thousand three hundred leagues in the 
interior of the country, of which more than six hundred and 
htty Were bv water, have furnished me with a pretty 
^ocurate knowledge of local circumstances. 
. t am aware that travellers, who have recently visited 
puierica, regard its progress as far more rapid than my statis- 
Geal researches seem to indicate. Eor the year 1913 they 
promise one hundred and twelve millions of inhabitants in 
rexico, of which they believe that the population is doubled 
oveiy twenty-two years ; and during the same interval one 
iindred and forty millions in the United States. These 
Umbers, I confess, do not appear to me to be alpming 
the motives that may excite fear among the disciples 
^ Malthus. It is possible, that some time or other, two or 
oree hundred millions of men may find subsistence in the 
