Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-10
NO. 80o
Translated for the National Journal, from the
Government Gazette of GuatamalA.

Translated for the National Journal, from the
Government Gazette Of Guatamala.
Guatemala is the most happily stu.
ated part of this continent; it is one OF
the fairest portions of the new world,
and the centre of America.
1t is not an immense expanse OF
earth, as Russia or New Spain; or q
small district, as Helvetia or Holland.
1t is happy medium between the vast
extension Of those kingdoms, which,
on account of then greatness, are de-
serted and badly administered, and the
extreme smallness of those states,
which, from their limited condition,
can neither be rich nor powerful.
Guatemala, situated in the middle
of the two Americas, and between the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, has an area
of 26,l52 square leagues, from the
isthmus of Panama to the line which
separates it from New Spain. The
Cordillera, which rises out of the sea
at Cape Horn, and spreads itself thro'
South America, runs through Guata-
mala, and extends throughout the Mex
lean territory. The figure of the
kingdom called Guatemala, is that Of
a triangular polsgon; having the 18th.
mus Of Panama for its vertex, and the
dividing line from New Spain as its
base. 1t is watered by various rivers
of different courses. The Colo, the
Motagua, Ulua, Lean, Aguan, Los Lii
mones, Los Platanos, La Pantasma,
Mosquitoes, San Juan, Camalecon, and
the Tinto, irrigate the northern side.
The Huista, the Samala, Xicalapa, Mi
chatrya, Los Esclavos, Para, Sonso-
mite, Lempa, Viejo, Nicaragua, and the
Nicoya, water the southern section.
Having an area of 10000 leagues, its
territorial extension is greater than
that of Cuba, the Floridas, Spain, sc.
Being situated in the middle of the
two Americas, its position makes it
the centre Of the new world; places it
at an equal distance from the people Of
both continents; facilitates its relations
with both, and destines tito be the EN-.
porium Of commerce, and the point of
the greatest population, wealth, and
power.
Having the figure of a triangular
polsgon, extended between the two
seas, sometimes running out into
them and then retiring from them,
and being of narrow breadth and great
longitude, it presents many points in
contact with the ocean, and many ports
on both coasts. Towards the north,
there are the ports of Estrella, Matina,
San Juan, Punta de Arenas, Truxillo,
Omoa, and Colo; towards the south,
La Libertad, made port of entry by
decree Of the Assembly of the 5th Of
February, 1921. cajutla, Culebra,
and Realejo, Of which an Englishman
has said, that it was sufficiently capa-
cious for the navy Of the whole world.
Proceeding from the coast towards
the mountains, there is presented Sc
ries of districts ofcountry, exposed, in
different degrees, to the action Of the
heat, which affords a perfect scale Of
temperatures, from the intense heat of
the coast, to the extreme cold Of the
mountain tops.
There is no germ of wealth that does
not exist in territory of such advan-
tageous position, extent, figure, eleva-
ton, and nature The miner may work
mines of the most precious metals; of
gold and silver, Of copper, lead, and
iron, in the same Cordillera that has
furnished so much wealth to Mexico
and Peru. For agriculture, there are
lands ofevery quality, for the different
modes Of cultivation; and temperatures
for almost every description of plants.
Commerce has the most important pro-
auctions of the three kingdoms, for in
ternal and external trade; and favora-
BILE ports for the extension Of its spe-
culations. All the elements necessary
to raise the navy to the highest degree
of power, are found here. Mountains
covered with cedar and other materials
for construction, border on the water,
which can be had for the cost ofcut-
ting them pitch and tar, which are
procured for the other America, are
abundant, as are also copper and iron;
cotton is production of this soil,
which is sold at price that does not
pay the expenses of the planter, and
the sailcloth made from it is greatly
esteemed in the navigation ofthe south.
More than a million Of souls Peo.
pied this territory about the middle OF
the last century; and as there has oeen
no remarkable desolation, aecofuMs
to the ordinary increase OF PoPulation,
it cannot contain at present less than
two millions.