sea-port town of North America, in New Spain. This city is almost the sole channel of communication between Mexico and the mother-country. It is beautifully and regularly built, and is situated in an arid plain, destitute of running water, on which the north winds have formed hills of moving sand. Near the town are considerable marshes and stagnant pools, which occasion intermittent fever among the inhabitants. The population of Vera-Cruz in 1803 amounted to 16,000. The port is not very secure, though it is the best on the Mexican coast. The trade of this town is very extensive: the exports consist of gold and silver in ingots, cochineal, sugar, flour, indigo, salted provisions, tanned hides, vanilla, soap, campeachy wood, &c. and amount annually, according to Humboldt, to 4,620,000l. sterling; while the imports, consisting of linens, woollens, cottons, paper, mercury, iron, brandy, wine, &c. amount only to 3,150,000l.

W. Long. 96. 15. N. Lat. 19. 12.