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.
party in the province of Choco, upwards of 70 miles
in length, and varying from 20 to 60 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 he 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 FITZROY.
He says—" From 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 which are coves, perfectly sheltered, with
deep water in them, close to the shore. Cupica Bay is
spacious, but open to the south-west. In that lati-
tude, however (6 deg. 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 mentioned that trees grow down to the
water's edge along the beach, and that there are no
indications of a 'heavy surf having been known.
There is shelter for any ships in sufficient water on
each side of the bay-, land-locked. The recent survey,
by Admiralty order, is quite satisfactory, as to the
purely hydrograph ical part ; but of course it does not
show the topograp'ny of the adjacent district beyond
the coast. Other concurrent testimony shows that
betweea the partly navigable portion of Naipi and
the Bay of Cupica, there is a tract of comparatively
low land, through. which a canal may be cut.. That a
road of any kind to ay be made there readily, is shown
by the fact that a 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 surrounding property would be en-
hanced, and the independence of the surrounding
country secured by the construction of such a canal,
which would ensure the support of all the maritime
powers of the globe—aware of the Conven-
tion (the Bulw er 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 Government of New Granada for the con-
struction of the ce.-aal on advantageous terms, and that
certain beneficial •modifications are even now under
consideration." Lrnder these circumstances, the di-
rectors lost no timl3 in entering into negotiations with
the concessionaires, in order to participate in the
auspicious speculation. Arrangements were ac-
cordingly entered 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 o.f the concessionaires and the di-
rectors," and also that the shareholders of the New
Granada Compan :7 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 due company which shall undertake
the construction of the canal.

These are matte i s deserving of the serious conside-
ration of every per:son 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 hits ever been contemplated for the
benefit of mankind, without reference to creed or
nation.

MINISTERIAL 3EXPLANATIONS.—It is confidently
stated that no formiLl Ministerial statement is likely to be
made before Monday next, when, in both Houses of Parlia-
ment, new explanati.ons from Lord Derby and his colleagues
may be looked for—rial decidedly in favour of a " protective "
policy. Mr. Disraeli is not likely to be returned to Parlia-
ment in time to talue his seat in the House of Commons by
Friday night.—Monting 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 Lordship.' residence, Chesham-
place.
APPROACHING WARRIAGES IN HIGH LIFE.—It is
understood that the Duke of Newcastle is about to lead to
the altar Miss Hrigh,, the accomplished niece of Mr. Quintin
Dick, ALP. 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 Mandeville, eldest son of the Dake of Manchester,
is understood to be about to marry a German lady of high
rank and large fortun e.
OPENING OF TH E; ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH TO DON-
CASTER, —lt was stet act in the last half-yearly report of the
directors of the Great Northern Railway Company that ar-
rangements had been made with the Electric Telegraph
Company for the extension of their system along the Great
Northern line, and that the communication was already
established between London and Peterborough. Since then
the utmost expedition has been used in order to complete the
communication to Domcaster in time for the Spring Meeting,
and yesterday (Tuesd.ay) afternoon this object was accom-
plished by a junction of two out of the four wires between
Peterborough and Domcaster. The only other station between
N those,t,wo points at which the telegraph is at present working
at IlootstDo Boston,
cwashteerre, the t temporaryplant
ed to
o thef railway com-
pany
is established. T hare is at present no communication
north
complete th
of
the work
the
throughout the line a s soon as possible. The ratese
pany undergo telegraph company
miles distancrae
tionate charge' f's. ar,a—for twenty words and under 100
6(1„. ; above 100 miles, 55.; and a propor-
aker an
aPPo;blted Viceroy
Y greater number of words. The com-
country, and communications with all parts of the
system will be a
ma Postmaster-General)
as Doncaster is, the extension of their
district, great: convenience to the town and adjacent
The newly-
Countess of Eglinton Left SL Jam '
ing, en route for Dublin Castle. James _square yesterday morn-
for Ireland and the
will follow on Monday
.next. e. The Ladies Montgomerie
Tile Earl of Hard wicke (the p
has taken the Earl of Eglinton's aster-General)
Noble garl's appointmq nt to the Viceroyalty),
square, for the NAND. r°YaltY), St. James's-
(vacant by the