circumstances which determined its selection were the jealousies and consequent bickering between Leon and Granada. Still, although the congress met in accordance with the constitutional provision at Managua, Leon was the real seat of the government until the re-establishment of order in 1859, after the civil war which culminated in the usurpation of Walker. Managua, by reason of its central position, is better suited than either of the other cities to be the capital of the country. The government houses, barracks, etc., are all on the plaza. They are all two-story buildings constructed of tufa, and not remarkable for beauty of design. I did not visit the halls of congress, for that body was not in session at the time of our visit. The President's reception room in the capitol is a spacious apartment. President Sacassa received our party in state. We were ushered into his presence by a military officer in full uniform. The President, who was a tall, portly man with a swarthy complexion and heavy features, but rather benignant expression, stood at one end of the hall between two of his ministers, while at the other end, facing him, stood three military officers of high rank, in showy uniforms. The President and his ministers wore frock coats of black broadcloth. The former shook hands with each of us and the latter followed his example. After the handshaking was finished we were invited to seats in chairs ranged along the sides of the room, while the President and his ministers seated themselves in a transverse row. The President spoke no English, so what little conversation we had with him was carried on through the medium of an interpreter, which gave rather a constrained character to the occasion. Champagne was served without ice, although an abundance of the latter was to be had in the city. Armed sentries paced the interior veranda and the sidewalk before the entrance of the building. Altogether the place had to our republican eyes more the appearance of a military post than the executive department of a constitutional government. Managua is the only city in Nicaragua that is artificially supplied with water, and the only one also possessing an ice machine. Ice enough is produced to supply all of the principal cities on the west side of the lakes, at five cents per pound, and the machine is a veritable gold mine to its owners. The railroad repair shops are also located here, and there are besides a soap factory, a mill for making pita, a fiber equal in strength and superior in quality to manila, and a number of small factories of domestic wares. Here likewise are the central offices of the government telegraph system, which gives a cheap and tolerably efficient service throughout the country. I may mention too, in this connection, that Nicaragua has a very fair postal service. Several small steamers of English build, owned by the government, ply between Managua and Momotombo, thirty-three miles higher up the lake, to connect the railroad from that place to Corinto with the section between Granada and Managua. The Bank of Nicaragua, which has branches in all of the cities and controls the finances of the country, has its headquarters in Managua. It was established in 1888 by Mr. J. Francisco Medina, at the time of my visit Nicaraguan minister to France, who had previously originated the banking systems of Guatemala and |