CARTHAGENA, the capital of the republic of New Granada, South America. N. Lat. 10. 25.; W. Long. 75. 34. It is situated on a sandy island, on the shore of a large and very commodious bay more than two leagues in length. It contains a handsome cathedral, besides several churches, convents, and monasteries. The bay is closed in by another island, called Tierra Bomba, and to the eastward the city is joined by a bridge to a large suburb called Xiximani, which is connected with the continent by another bridge. The city and suburbs are well laid out, and the streets, though narrow, are straight and uniform. The houses are for the most part built of stone. They consist chiefly of one story above the ground floor. All of them have balconies and lattices of wood, which in that climate is more durable than iron. The climate is excessively hot, and the city suffers much from the ravages of yellow fever. In former times, this city was the scene of frequent contests, and in the late war of independence it was taken and retaken by both parties. The narrowness of the entrance to the harbour renders it easily defensible, and the fortresses on the islands are massive and well mounted with artillery. Its commercial facilities are great; but since the revolution its commerce has dwindled down to a mere transit trade, consisting of produce exported from the neighbouring districts, and the importation of manufactured goods in return. Pop. nearly 20,000.