The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-10 00:00:00

combination of experience, energy, and every possible

adjunct which the resources of a wealthy company
place at their disposal.
The directors have, it appears, entered into a con-
tract or agreement for the purchase of a freehold pro-
perty in the province of Choco, upwards of 70 miles
in length, and varying from 20 to GO miles in width,

comprising an area of more than 1,500,000 acres,
upon which many surface mines have already been
discovered, not of gold only, but also of silver, platina,
cinnabar, and other products. A deposit of 5,0001. is

to be at once paid, the balance of the purchase-money

being payable in the shares of the company ; satisfac-
tory security must, however, be given to
the directors for the refunding of the de-

posit in the event of the reports and represen-
tations already) made not being fully confirmed,
after the most stringent and searching investigation,
by approved agents, selected, nominated, and sent out
on behalf of the company : other treaties are also
said to be in progress, from which the most important
results may be anticipated.
It is not, however, merely from a consideration of
the quantity of gold embedded in the soil, and which
may be discovered and brought to light, that the ad-
vantages of the present undertaking can be fairly
estimated or appreciated. We must bear in mind
that the principal ports of New Granada, Santa
Martha, and Carthagena are within twenty-five
days' sail of our own shores. Early and regular in-
formation may thus be anticipated on all points con-
nected with the affairs of the company, and full and
efficient control may be maintained in all
matters requiring the manager's attention.
But there is another feature of singular importance
connected with the present undertaking which in-
duces us to regard it with peculiar interest. The
contemplated junction of the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans has long attracted the attention of geogra-
phers and parties interested in trade and commerce
throughout the world. Some have advocated the
construction of a railway, while many have thought
that a ship canal would afford the most extraordinary
advantages, by enabling vessels to pass from ocean to
ocean without unloading, or what is technically
termed " breaking bulk," by which considerable time
and great expense would be saved, and the maritime
intercourse of the nations of the earth materially pro-
moted, the enormous circuit round Cape Horn being
thereby entirely avoided. We are by no means in-
clined to depreciate the benefits derivable from a
judiciously planned railway. We believe that there
would be ample employment both for railway and
canal, and that both would prove remunerative; but if
we were to be restricted to one of the two, we con-
fess an unhesitating preference for the canal.
Now the canal, if constructed, would lie in the
immediate vicinity of the district selected as the scene
of the company's operations. In his considerations on
the Great Isthmus of Central America, read
by Captain FITZROY, R.N., before the Royal
Geographical Society in November, 1850, that
gallant and experienced officer declared that,
"of all the comparatively well-known routes,
it has been shown that the Atrato and Cupica line
seems to be the most suitable for a canal, and the
Panama route for a railway, or road ; and the reasons
for that opinion are fully set:forth by Captain Ferzaor.
He says—" Fro na the inner part of the Gulf of
Darien (called Candelaria, Choco or Culata), up the
river Atrato, and along part of the river Naipi or
Naipipi, and thence across to Cupica Bay, is a dis-
tance of 114 miles (by estimation), of which about
19 only are overland. Two-thirds of this distance
(76 miles) are said to be now navigable for large
ships, and half the other third (or 19 miles) by
loaded boats. It is supposed that a canal may be
excavated through the small remaining distance (19
miles) without extraordinary difficulty ; and it is
proved that it might open into an excellent port—that
of Cupica, in whbsh are coves, perfectly sheltered, with
deep water in the:, close to the shore. Cupica Bay is
spacious, but open to the south-west. In that lati-
tude, however (6 cr.eg. N.), south-west winds are seldom
strong ; very rarely do they cause disaster ; and, as
evidence that this bay is not affected much by them,
it may be mentimaed that trees grow down to the
water's edge alon3 the beach, and that there are no
indications of a heavy surf having been known.
There is shelter far any ships in sufficient water on
each side of the bah:7, land-locked. The recent survey,
by Admiralty ords r, is quite satisfactory, as to the
purely hydrograpt ical part; but of course it does not
show the topograp: by of the adjacent district beyond
the coast. Other concurrent testimony shows that
betweea the pars] y navigable portion of Naipi and
the Bay of Cupics , there is a tract of comparatively
low land, through which a canal may be cut. That a
road of any kind u 'ay be made there readily, is shown
by the fact that Is boat has been dragged across in a
few hours."
These vitally important points have not escaped
the notice of the directors of the New Gra-
nada Company. Clearly perceiving how greatly
the value of the a urrounding property would be en-
hanced, and the independence of the surrounding
country secured try the construction of such a canal,
which would ens u ,re the support of all the maritime
powers of the globe—aware of the Conven-
tion (the Bul:wer treaty) between England
and America, they endeavoured to carry out the
project in its integrity. On further inquiry they
found that " a concession had already been granted
by the Governrns Ent of New Granada for the con-
struction of the cs mai on advantageous terms, and that
certain beneficial modifications are even now under
consideration." Under these circumstances, the di-
rectors lost no tin se in entering into negotiations with
the concessionai:r es, in order to participate in the
auspicious spec a lation. Arrangements were ac-
cordingly entere d into, and we find that " a careful
survey and estimate of the expense of constructing
the canal is in course of preparation, under the joint
superintendence of the concessionaires and the di-
rectors," and also that the shareholders of the New
Granada Compaq are to be secured a clear
moiety of all the advantages which may be derived
from the concession, whether arising from its sale or
from an optional pro rata participation, by the indi-
vidual shareholders of the New Granada Company,
in the shares of the company which shall undertake
the construction c f the canal.
These are matters deserving of the serious conside-
ration of every person anxious to obtain a favourable
investment for his capital, and at the same time to
promote one of the greatest and most important un-
dertakings that has ever been contemplated for the
benefit of mankind, without reference to creed or
nation.

MINISTERIAL EXPLANATIONS.—It is confidently
stated that no formal Ministerial statement is likely to be
made before Monday next, when, in both Houses of Parlia-
ment, new explanations from Lord Derby and his colleagues
may be looked for--all decidedly in favour of a " protective "
policy. Mr. Disraeli is not likely to be returned to Parlia-
ment in time to take his seat in the House of Commons by
Friday night.—Morning Paper.
The meeting of Liberal Members of the House of
Commons, invited by Lord J. Russell to a conference on the
present position of public affairs, is to be held on Thursday,
at twelve o'clock, at his Lordships' residence, Chesham-
place.
APPROACHING MARRIAGES IN HIGH LIFE.—It is
understood that the Duka of Ne*castle is about to lead to
the altar Miss Hughes, Vie accomplished niece of Mr. Quintin
Dick, M.P. The Marquis of Bath is said to be the accepted
suitor for the hand of the Lady Harriet Hamilton, eldest
daughter of the Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn. The
Viscount ande e,
vill eleitst son of the Duke of Manchester,
is understood to be about to marry a German lady of high
rank and large fortune.
OPENING OF THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH TO Dori-
CASTER,-It was stated in the last half-yearly report of the
directors of the Great :S'orthern Railway Company that ar-
rangements had been made with the Electric Telegraph
Company for the exteu ,sion of their system along the Great
Northern line, and that the communication was already
established between L. )ndon and Peterborough. Since then
the utmost expedition has been used in order to complete the
communication to Donlcaster in time for the Spring Meeting,
north
and yesterday (Tuesi lay) afternoon this object was accom-
plished.,,e by a junction r of two out of the four wins between
t rborough and Do ocaster. The only other station between
those two points at wi dch the telegraph is at present working
telegraph
miles distance
is at Boston, where ti le temporary plant of the railway com-
pany is established. ;Chore is at present no communication
throughout
of Doncaster, b lit it is intended to complete the work
company
the line ;ts soon as possible. The rates of the
pa2ny ar
tionate charge' fora,6d. ; above 100 miles, ss. • and a propor-
tionate twenty words and under 100
pany undertake any
greater number of words.' The corn-
country, and, Sit munications with all parts of the
system will be a great as Doncaster is, the extension of their
district. convenience to the town and adjacent

The newly-appoL Ited
Vicero for Ireland and the
y
Countess of Eglinton lf ft St. James's-square yesterday morn-
ing, en route for Dub] in Castle. The Ladies Montgomerie
will follow on Monday next.

The Earl of Harc Iwicke (the Postmaster-General)
has taken the Earl of Eglinton's mansion
Noble Earl's appoints lent to the Viceroyalty), St. James's-
square, for the seasm . (vacant by the