and partly by the river Roman; and south by Costa Ricaor, as this is a mooted point, we may add, its southern boundary, separating it from Costa Rica, runs in a right line from the mouth of the river Salto de Nicoya to the lower mouth of the Rio San Juan. Its geographical position, having a fine harbor, the town of Greytown, or San Juan, on the Atlantic, and other fine harbors on the Pacific, fully entitles this small State to the consideration of statesmen and the mercantile world, and has won for it its motto "The vast gate of the twin sea." The great chain of Cordilleras diverges in two ranges, and all the streams upon the southern side fall into the lakes Managua and Nicaragua, or into the Rio San Juan. The Pacific range, in volcanic cones, follows the general direction of the coast, gradually settling to low hills and plains. The principal cones are Momotombo, Momobacho, Ometepec, Madeira, with those of Viejo, Santa Clara, Axusco, Orosi, Abogado, together with others less remarkable, yet known not alone as landmarks, and as beautiful natural structures, but as being the traditional depots of great hidden wealth.
There are two remarkable and beautiful inland lakes: that of Managua, erroneously called Leon, and Nicaragua; the former being about fifty-five miles long by thirty-five in width, ranging from two to thirty-five fathoms deep. The mountains of Matagalpa, rich with silver, gold, lead, and other minerals, on the northern and eastern shores, margin with