The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-05 00:00:00

liy DArken's ands arid deadly de.;

• - •
sod the shores of the Gulf of Sin Miguel is not much, if
anything, better. Fourthly, there is the line from Port de
Escrows, or New Edinburgh, • good port on the Atlantis)
side, to the head waters of the very crooked and rapid river
elatiqumaqua, which runs into the Gulf of Sun Miguel, :red
whose sources are only about 10 miles west from New Satin.
burgh. The Gulf of San Miguel runs about 22 miles into
the couutry, and is of a good depth of water, but the sum-
mit level of the dividing range to the west of New Edin-
burgh is at least 500 feet (some accounts nay 800 fret) above
the level of the sea, which, as in the previous lines, must
render a ship canal very difficult, if nut impracticable, by
any of these routes.
Fifthly, we have the line from Chagre to Panama, or
rather from Navy Bay, near it, the shortest of the whole,
and by which a railroad (estimated to cost 2,500,0001.) is
now in course of construction. The summit level of this
line is about 300 feet above the sea, reduced by much tun-
nelling about 90 feet. Chagre and Navy Bay have the
most deadly climates, and Panama is by no means healthy,
while large vessels can only find anchorage at three miles
out from the town. Vast expense must, therefore, he
necessary to construct a pier there, and a breakwater in
Navy Bay to shelter vessels from the north-cut winds, to
which it is quite exposed, especially in the winter months.
Sixthly, and passing to the Tehuantepec line, the harbours
on both sides, especially on the Atlantic side, are bad, and
unapproachable on the Atlantic during the winter months'
northers. The line has to pass a large river to the east of the
southern end of the Siora Madre chain, which river has worn
itself a bed about 500 feet deep, through earth of a volcanic'
mould. The elevation also is here great, and consequently
a road is now only talked of, but will be difficult : a ship
canal may lie considered impracticable. Seveathly, we have
the Juan de Nicaragua line, to which the public attention is
now strongly directed, from the mouth of the San Juan,
ou the Atlantic, is by the river 101 miles, and in •direct line
nearly 70 geograph4cal miles to Lake Nicaragua. The river
is as large as the Guadalquiver, in Spain, and all around its
mouth the country is very unhealthy. Lake Nicaragua, a
fine body of water, is 129 feet above the level of the
Pacific, end in its deepest parts GO fathoms, shallowing to
12 and 5 fathoms in its north-went extremity. From a
point to the south of the town of Nicaragua to the Pacific
is about 15 miles, and the summit level of the valley, run-
ning between active volcanic mountains, is about 21) feet.
There is still a narrower point to the south of the town of
Granada, where the distance to the sea is only 12 miles,
but by a line more difficult. Lake Nicaragua is about 120
miles long and 50 broad; and Lake Managua, or Leon, is
18 miles north-west of it. This lake is about 60 miles long
and 35 broad, and ranges from 2 to G, 12, and 40 fathoms
deep. Tho plain of Leon is about 28 feet above it, the
elevation above the sea about 200 feet, end the distance to
the Pacific only about six miles, with a low ridge rising
about GO feet above the plain between them. Three Funs
are spoken of for a canal in this quarter. First, by deep-
ening the river, or running a canal near the river San Juan
and then from Lake Nicaragua to San Juan de Sur, on the
Pacific. But the anchorage these is not good, and is sub-
ject, like the rest of the Gulph of Papagayo, to sudden gusts
and storms of wind from the adjacent mountains ; second,
through the plain of Leon to the fine port of the Rialejo.
lat. 12 deg. 29 min. N , and bog. 87 deg. G min. W. ; and,
thirdly, by the same line to the splendid and sheltered Gulf
of Fonseca, lat. 12 deg. 40 min , 10-g. 88 deg. 30 min. W.
In the latter case the distance from the mouth of San Jun
will be nearly 300 miles, and to Rialejo 235 miles. All
this country is filled with active volcanoes; 11 such can be
seen from Leon, and one very formidable one broke out
about 18 months ago in the plain of Leon, at a short dis-
tance from Lake Managua. Mr. Squier estimates the cost
of constructing a canal on these routes, ace soling to the
distance on the land, at from 6,000,0001. to 20,000,000 L
sterling. It is certain the cost must be very great.
It is evident that a ship canal can only be constructed at
a vast expense, if at all practicable in this quarter. The
cost would be many millions. We must, thcrefuic, next
turn to the proposed Chiriqui line, and the cheap mode of
communication there, at present contemplated. At this
point the distance from sea to sea is only 40 geographical
miles, and the summit level of the line of valley for the
road is only 160 feet, and that for a short distance ouly,
which may be reduced by some cutting to below 140 fret
above the level of the sea, the lowest summit level that can
be obtained in any part of the isthmus. There also
the whole lino of country is fertile, fruitful, and
healthy, without any volcanoes to endanger or an.
noy, On either side are splendid and most extensive
bays, completely protected against all wind., with
deep water, and excellent anchorages close to healthy
shores. The expense of construction of the whole commu-
nication is very low, and the mode of conveyance is such
that, as in the United States, hones with carriages, passen-
ger, and luggage, Itc., can easily travel at the rate of eight
or nine miles per hour. Hence cheapness of conveyance,
with sufficient facility, becomes quite apparent. On a fact
so obvious and plain it is unnecessary to dilate or to extend
remark. In a traffic to all parts of the countries within the
circle, at present exceeding 40,000,0001., it is obvious that
the revenue to be obtained on this route from passengers,
specie, and light but costly merchandise most be very
great.

PORTSMOUTH SAILORS' HOME.—Tho first annual
meeting of the subscribers and friends of this institution
was held yesterday afternoon, Lord George Lennox in the
chair, at the institution, in Queen-street, Porues, A report
of a most gratifying character was read, by which it Ap-
peared that the institution had succeeded beyond the most
sanguine hopes of its founders. The large accommodation
provided at the house for sailors of the royal navy had been
taken full advantage of, and, indeed, the demand for lodg-
ing and board at it had been found so much larger thsa
could be afforded that a considerable extension of the pre-
miscs had been found necessary. Large subscriptions Using
been made by her Majesty, Prince Albert, the nobility art
public generally, these extensions had been resolved on, and
are now in active progress, and will give about double the
amount of accommodation at present possessed. The Pint
Lord of the Admiralty, the l'ort Admiral, the Commindery
in-Chief, the Colonel Commandant of Marino, and other
officials, were elected ex officio members of the committee
of management; and other business having been transacted,
the meeting broke up.
THE, NUMBER OF VESSELS WHICH PASSED TUB
Rousso in the first six months of the present year amounted
to 6,636, being 993 less than in the corresponding period of
1861.

THE COLLISION OFF WAPPlNG.—Yesterday a re•
spcctable jury was empanelled before Mr. William 'taker,
jun., deputy coroner, in the board-room of St. th ow.*
Workhouse, Old Gravel-lane, to inquire into the eirnumt
stances rispecting the death of Patrick Sullivan, aged tn, •
ballsat-heaver, who on Wednesday last was drowlik off
Wapping, while in a boat with four other men, wlaele ,attl•
in consequence of a collision with the Father Thum s,
gate steamer, the property of the Herne Bay Ste.tni tom-
party. The particulars of the accident have aircioly
peered in the Empress, and the jury, after a cire:.L.,i in-
vestigation, returned a verdict of " Accidental death.

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