I continue (being now at Panama) my narrative of our transit across the Isthmus, from where I left off at Gorgona. But first, let me observe that we are under the hospitable roof of Mr. P––, where he and his daughter most kindly have arranged everything in their power to make us comfortable.

The house is charming, and commands an enchanting view of the majestic and mighty Pacific; and almost perpetually, the most delicious and the coolest breezes blow in at the immensely large windows which open on broad balconies with wooden balustrades, some of them ornamented with rare and lovely plants.

There is a little green paroquet here, which is an immense favourite of V––'s, and a great amusement to her. She has undertaken to tame it, and as it is the most savage little beast of a bird I ever met with, it will task her powers to the utmost, and she will be the Van Amburgh of birds, if she succeeds. It already begins not to bite her quite as hard as it does other people.

From the windows we see immense numbers of palm-trees, growing to the very shores of the great ocean, and we can almost fancy the fairy bowers of roses, and of myriad blossoms we have been so enchanted with lately, are continued, and mixed with the labyrinths of coral and wealth of pearl under these placid, translucent, silvery-glittering seas of music and of peace.