at 27 leagues, or 70 English miles. By sleeping at Rio Frio, the journey may be divided into two fatiguing days; but without a change of mules at the Venta de Cordova it is not easy to accomplish it. On horseback, the time employed depends entirely upon the number of relays.
In January 1826, on Mr. Morier's return from England with the second Treaty, circumstances occurred which made me particularly desirous to see him before his arrival in the Capital; and in order to accomplish this with the least possible loss of time, I stationed my own horses at proper distances upon the road. The first was placed at Īstăpălūcă, the second at Rio Frio, and the third at San Martin, while a fourth carried me the seven leagues from San Cosme to Īstăpălūcă. I left the gates of Mexico at half past seven o'clock, and reached General Calderon's house in La Puebla at a quarter past three, having accomplished the journey, without difficulty, in eight hours and a quarter, although, from the nature of the ground, it was not supposed that the distance could be performed in so short a time. I remained at La Puebla three days, Mr. Morier's arrival there having been unexpectedly delayed, and returned on the fourth to Mexico, in rather less time than before, being not quite eight hours upon the road.
During my short stay at La Puebla in 1826, I had an opportunity of observing the improvements which General Calderon's exertions had effected in the
