During the preceding fifty-three years the Governments of New Granada and of its successor, Colombia, had been in a constant state of flux; and the State of Panama had sometimes been treated as almost independent, in a loose Federal league, and sometimes as the mere property of the Government at Bogota; and there had been innumerable appeals to arms, sometimes of adequate, sometimes for inadequate, reasons.

The following is a partial list of the disturbances on the Isthmus of Panama during the period in question, as reported to us by our consuls.

It is not possible to give a complete list, and some of the reports that speak of "revolutions" must mean unsuccessful revolutions: May 22, 1850 .-- Outbreak; two Americans killed.

War vessel demanded to quell outbreak.
October, 1850 .-- Revolutionary plot to bring about independence of the Isthmus.
July 22, 1851 .-- Revolution in four Southern provinces.
November 14, 1851 .-- Outbreak at Chagres.

Man-of-war requested for Chagres.
June 27, 1853 .-- Insurrection at Bogota, and consequent disturbance on Isthmus.