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35 Panama.

Panama of which I was awhile to become a resident - is an old Spanish town. It was founded shortly after the discovery of America and became a place of note - from the consideration that it in conjunction with Nombre de Deos - was entripet - for all the wealth of the Spanish colonies on the Pacific Coast. Before the discovery of Cape Horn - the Isthmus of Darien afforded the only route whereby the spoils obtained by the Spaniards could be transmitted to Europe. Hence a route across this Glen of the New World - was soon established. Neither came the adventurers under Cortez - and under the various Spanish leaders - and after crossing the isthmus passed down the coast conquering Equador - Peru - Bolivia and Chili - and passing up the coast - invaded unfortunate Mexico. The city was founded about the year 1517. Vasco Nunez de Bilboa - was the first who crossed the Isthmus. He saw the Pacific with ecstacy and wading into the tide took possession in the name of his master the King of Spain. The settlement continued to flourish - and "when burned by the Bucaniers in 1671 consisted of about 12.000 houses many of them large and magnificent. It contained also eight monasteries and two churches all richly furnished" It was rebuilt on its present site and surrounded with walls - to defend it from the Bucaniers - and the English. The appearance of Panama was to me interesting. Unused to observing the customs and the style of buildings - except of my native land - every thing I saw was full of novelty and fresh ideas. I was in an old city full of odd buildings - old ruins - quaint customs and curious people. The general impression to the traveller of the town is pleasing. It is hardly seen in the approach from Chagres - until entered upon. A wide street - leads ot the town Gate - just without which is a plaza - with a church fronting upon it. On the right hand - a conical hill of about 600 ft height rises covered with verdure and trees - and flanked with other hills till the view is limited. This hill is bald - and from the open space waved the New Grenada flag. It was from this point that Bolivar bombarded the city - and it has received the name therefore of Bolivar's Hill. The city within the walls is not large. These gloomy bulwarks with the accompanying force are in a tolerable state of preservation - although fallen into decay somewhat where they face the bay -