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Rh was unoccupied, and the busy activity of the streets formed an agreeable contrast to their melancholy aspect in January 1824.

Indeed, from the moment that I landed, I had been struck with the progress which, in one year, the country had made. There was everywhere an appearance of more settled habits, more subordination amongst the military, and more respect for the civil authorities; while the long files of mules which we continually passed on their way from the Coast to the Capital, afforded evident proofs of an increase of activity in trade. In the town of Mexico it was already difficult to procure a tolerable house, without paying a Traspaso, the amount of which competition had rendered enormous. In good situations I have known eight, ten, twelve, and even twenty thousand dollars paid, in order to obtain possession of nothing but bare walls and windows, with the probability of being obliged to lay out half as much more in order to make the house secure and habitable. In 1823, one fifth part of the sum would have been sufficient.

The distance from Riŏ Frīŏ to the Venta de Cordova is five leagues; from thence to the Capital eight. The Hacienda of Buena Vista lies about half a league out of the direct road. The whole distance from La Puebla to Mexico may be taken