The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-27 00:00:00

ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC RAILWAY

After the lapse of an hour he returned, producing a
letter. It was to the following effect :
" Athlone, March 7, 1854.
"My dear Friend,—l am still very ill. My best thanks
to you for your letter. lam confined to my bed. I wish
you would find out whether Lambert Smith has taken out
administration or probate, or the colonel. lam too ill to
look up the documents I wished you to see.—Yours, &c.
" T. MALONE."
The Chairman said the witness must attend the com-
mittee at their rext meeting.
The committee then adjourned until next day.

The proceedings commenced in this committee on
Friday, by the re-examination of Mr. Win. Auchinleck
Dane, who repeated the statement he made on Thursday
about Colonel Smith having accepted a thousand pounds
worth of bills for Mr. Keogh, in consideration of that
gentleman's promise to procure him a stipendiary ma-
gistracy ; of Mr. Keogh's having neglected to provide
for the bills, and Colonel Smith being ruined in conse-
quence, and obliged to leave the country ; and of Mr.
Keogh's having afterwards procured an appointment in
the Excise for the Colonel's son.
Mr. Lambert Smith said that he had an appointment
in the Customs at Bristol, which he obtained through
his father's interest with Sir J. Young, in Dec. 1845.
His salary was originally 1501. it was now 2001. but he
was otherwise in independent circumstances, His father,
Col. Smith, resided at Athlone from 1831 to 1848 ; he
was Adjutant-Gsneral there and an elector of the borough.
He was the personal friend of Mr. Keogh during many
years. It was originally understood at the contest for
Athlone in 1847, that Mr. Keogh was to be borne harm-
less by Mr. Attwood, but he was not by any means
borne harmless. During the contest it became neces-
sary to find money to carry on the proceedings, and, to
oblige Mr. Keogh, witnesses's father, Colonel Smith,
accepted a bill drawn upon him by that gentleman for
2001., and another for 2501. The amount of the Colo-
nel's engagements for Mr. Keogh was 4501., and not
1,000/, ; and these engagements were entered into partly
for friendship's sake and partly for the s.a..l,ce of.t the cause
of Sir R. Peel, which Mr.
consideration of any
The appointment
were certainly not undertakcorLii-n:y":1;21'
Droinige ofuntf-n-aCrit the time that promise was
alleged to have been made was of the value of 8001.
a-year, so that he wanted no stipendiary magistracy, nor
was there any promise of patronage for any member of
Colonel Smith's family. The bills were not taken up when
they fell due, but they were afterwards provided for,
witness's father paying a portion and Mr. Keogh the
rest. In point of fact, Mr. Keogh was still slightly in
the debt of the representatives of Colonel Smith, who
was dead. Colonel Smith's going to America was not
in any way connected with any non-performance of ob-
ligation on Mr. Keogh's part. It arose solely from his
retirement from the army. When an officer gets over
a certain age, he is not allowed to sell out, except on
condition that he settle in one of the colonies. In that
case he gets two-thirds of the value of his commission at
home, and the other third on settling. So witness's
father was paid 3,0001. in England, and was obliged to
go to Nova Scotia to receive the other 1,500/. Witness
had a brother in the army. He commanded the New
Zealand pensioners. He held no other appointment
under the Government.
At the conclusion of the evidence of Mr. Smith the
room was cleared. On our readmission.
Mr. Keogh, addressing the chairman, said he wished
to inform hiss that it was not his intention any longer
to sit upon the committee. He should remain in the
room for the present, to enable the committee to form a
quorum ; but he should take no part in the proceedings.
Ever since the present line of evidence commenced it
had been his idea that he ought to take the course he
was then taking, and he should apply to the house to
discharge him from further service on the committee,
and to appoint some other member in his place.
Mr. Dane was then recalled to the witness-box. He
said it was known to some of his friends that he had an
eye to contesting the representation of Athlone, and one
of them—a gentleman whose name he would not com-
municate--had given him a memorandum of a great
many things alleged against Mr. Keogh, the gentleman
in possession of the seat, in order that he (witness)
might make any use of it he pleased, should an occasion
arise. The witness then stated to the committee the
substance of the memorandum. It contained the par-
ticulars of a number of small situations and appoint-
ments procured by Mr. Keogh for the relatives of Ath-
lone electors. It also referred to a number of judgments
obtained by the National Bank against Colonel Smith
and Mr. Keogh on their joint and separate bonds, and
contained also some inferences which the writer, as an
individual, drew from what he knew of the matters. It
did not contain any allegation of corruption or place-
selling on Mr. Keogh's part. The witness was desired
to write to Ireland to ask his friend's permission to
communicate his name to the committee.
The proceedings stand adjourned to Tuesday, at 12
o'clock.

_
72,187 15,477
We have stated the ratios roughly, without going
into decimals ; but they are sufficiently accurate to show
that in the one case four-fifths are male adults, and only
one-fifth wome❑ and children, while in the other the
three classes are in nearly equal proportions.
The following will show the countries from which the
immigrants have last come :

England
Scotland
Ireland
Other countries
Australian colonies

Assisted. Unassisted. Total.
.. 5,319 ... 22,810 ... 28,159
.. 7,127 ... 4,687 ... 11,814
. 3,001 ... 1,476 ... 4,477

- ,--• •
. 1,961 ... 1961
. 41,253 ... 48.253

15,477 ... 79,187 ... 94,664
Marriages.-These were as follows in 1852 :-Church
of England, 1,070 ; Presbyterian Church, 281; Wes-
leyan Church, 79 ; Independent Church, 86 ; Baptist
Church, 2 ; Church of Rome, 439 ; Jews' Synagogue,
1 ; Total, 1,958.
Births.-The numbers registered were :-Males, 1,863 ;
females, 1,888. Total, 3,756.
Deaths.-The following were registered :-Males-
adults, 635 ; children, 601. Females-adults, 335 ;
children, 534. Total, 2,105.
Schools.--The total number of 'schools in the province
was 115, at which attended 4,322 boys, 3,519 girls.
Total, 7,841. Aid from Government, 7,7631. 35. 10d. ;
amount paid from school fees, 5,7311. 16s. Bd. Total,
13,495/. Os. 6d.
Churches, Chapels, &c.-The number of churches and
chapels in the colony on the 31st of December, 1852,
was 49, estimated to accommodate 16,060 persons, and
attended generally by 14,520 persons. The churches and
chapels belonged to the following bodies .-Church of
England, 13 ; Presbyterians, 7 ; Wesleyans, 17 ; Inde-
pendents, 3 ; Baptists, 2 ; Roman Catholics, 6 ; Jews'
Synagogue, 1.
Postage.-The number of post-offices in the province
was 46. The following passed through them :- Letters
(ship), 482,326 ; inland, 489,850; newspapers (ship),
321,206 ; inland, 371,631 ; income, 12,4531. 12s. 9d. :
expenditure, 25,312/. Os. Bd.
Agriculture.-The number of acres in crop in the
year ending 31st March, 1853, were-wheat, 16,823 ;
maize, 1 ; barley, 4111 ; oats, 2,9471 ; potatoes,
1,9781 ; sown grasses, 14,1011 ; green food for cattle,
4014 acres. Total acres, 36,663 g. Produce, 498,7041
bushels wheat, 61 bushels maize, 9,431 bushels barley,
96,980 bushels oats, 4,512 tons potatoes, 21,2864 tons
hay ; 401/ acres green food for cattle.
Vineyards.-The number of acres planted with vines
in the year ending 31st March, 1853, was 1974. The
produce was 4,500 gallons of wine and 500 gallons of
brandy.
Live Stock.-The numbers in the colony on 31st De-
cember, 1852, were-horses, 34,021 ; horned cattle,
531,380 ; pigs, 8,995 ; sheep, 5,551,501 ; of which were
within the settled districts, 18,138 horses, 97,527 horned
cattle, 6,234 pigs, and 728,327 sheep.
Tallow and Lard.-One boiling-down establishment,
sheep slaughtered, 8,000 ; horned cattle, 600 ; produce,
2,000 cwts. of tallow.
Imports and Exports in 1852.-The total imports for
the year 1852 were-from Great Britain, 1,752,216/.
from New Zealand, 25,499/. ; other British colonies,
2,102,2971. ; South Sea Islands, 2261. ; United States of
America, 60,363/. ; foreign States, 129,101. Total,
4,069,742/. The total exports were as follows :-Pro-
duce or manufacture of Victoria, 7,337,9251. ; ditto, the
United Kingdom, 54,8981. ; ditto, British possessions,
6,434/. ditto foreign States, 52,2921. In all 7,451,5491.
The exports were to the following places :-To Great
Britain, 6,198,4331. ; New Zealand, 1,7751. ; other Bri-
tish colonies, 1,232,2351. ; to foreign States, 10,1051.
Grain, &c.-The quantity and value of grain, &c.,
imported into Victoria during the year 1852 were as
follows : - Wheat, 87,570 bushels ; maize, 81,182
bushels;; barley, oats, and peas, 254,803 bushels ; flour
and bread, 23,101 tons ; rice, 960,9201bs ; potatoes,
3,475 tons; malt, 2,621 bushels. Total value, 564,8811.
Quantity and value exported in 1852 :-Wheat, 25,249
bushels ; barley, oats, and peas, 627 bushels ; rice,
31,696 lbs. ; potatoes, 34 tons. Total value. 12,3041.
Live Stock.-Imported, 3,841 horses, 824 sheep, 430
cattle ; total value, 31,3051. Exported, horses 29,
horned cattle 4,645, sheep 24,876, pigs 10 ; total value,
36,1291.
Hides and Leather.-Value imperted :-Manufs.c-
-55,„.„,, _ ss,
____, , uumal3 u....,,u, vu leatuer,
6,469/. ; total value, 109,9581. Value exported :-
Hides, 7,523/. ; manufactured leather, 2,256/. ; unmanu-
factured leather, 663/. ; total value, 10,4421.
Wool.---Exported, quantity, 20,047,453 lbs. ; value,
1,062,787/.
Tallow.-Exported, quantity, 1,995 tons 4 cwt. ;
value, 60,2611.
Gold.--Native gold exported in 1852-1,988,526
ounces 10 dwts. 13 grs. ; value, 6,135,728/.
Oil.-Exported, Black, 160 gallons, 401. ; salad,
2,210 gallons, 5171. Total value, 5571.
Vessels Built and Registered in 1852.-Vessels built :
-2 schooners, 182 tons ; 1 sloop, 21 tons. Vessels
registered :-3 barques, 628 tons ; 10 brigs, 1,474 tons ;
9 brigantines, 1,171 tons ; 1 hermaphrodite, 139 tons ;
31 schooners, 2,360 tons ' • 7 sloops and cutters, 172
tons ; 1 steamer, 44 tons. Totals-built, 3 vessels, 203
tons ; registered, 62 vessels, 5,988 tons, 399 men.
Land Sales.-Quantity of land sold in Victoria in
1852, 258,144 acres 1 rood 7 perches ; number of pur-
chasers, 3,134 • amount of purchase money received,
701,1721. 7s. id.
Mortgages on Land.-Number and amount registered
in 1852 :-Town lands, 111, 90,4681. is. id. ; country
lands, 166, 129,8941. Os. 6d. ; town and country lands,
5, 13,421/. Totals :-Number of mortgages, 281 ;
am0unt,233,7831.
Auction Duty in 1852.-Amount of duty, 6,8061
Bs. 4d. Amount of sales, 1,361,365/.
Preferable Liens on Wool Registered in 1852.-Num
ber of liens, 42 ; sheep, 542,810. Amount, 49,766/
6s. sd.
Mortgages on Live Stock Registered in 1852.-Num-
ber, 70 • sheep, 245,102 ; cattle, 11,228 ; horses, 80.
Amount lent, 124,5821.
Convictions in 1852.-At Melbourne, felonies, 300 ;
misdemeanours, 92. At Geelong Circuit Court, felonies,
32 ; misdemeanours, 3. At Portland Circuit Court,
felonies, 16 ; misdemeanours, 4. At Castlemaine, felo-
nies, 20 ; misdemeanours, 4. Total felonies, 368 ; total
misdemeanours, 103. Total convictions, 471.
Executions.-Two men for murder. They were Pro-
offtestaences.nts, and they were under sentence for previous
Litigation in 1852.-Cases tried at Melbourne, 75, of
which 40 were defended, and 13 undefended, before
juries of four, and 22 special, before juries of twelve.
At Geelong the cases were 5, of which 3 were defended,
and 1 undefended, before juries of four, and 1 special
before a jury of twelve.
Mills.-There were in the colony, in 1852, the follow-
ing mills for grinding and dressing grain, &c. :-City of
Melbourne : 3 steam, 1 water, 5 saw. County of
Bourke : 2 steam, 4 water. County of Grant : 1 steam,
1 water. Town of Geelong : 2 steam. Police district
of Belfast : 1 steam, 1 water. Police District of Alber-
ton : 1 water. Police district of Kilmore : 2 steam.
Police District of Geelong : 2 steam. Commissioners'
District of the Murray : 1 water. Commissioners' Dis-
trict of Western Port : 3 steam, 3 water. Total mills, 33.
Manufactories, Works, &c., in 1852.-In Melbourne,
10 breweries, 20 coach manufactories, 3 tanneries, 4
engineers establishments, 2 foundries, 2 ship-builders'
establishments. County of Bourke : 1 boiling-down
establishment. Town of Geelong : 2 breweries, 1 soda-
water manufactory, 1 boiling-down establishment. Po-
lice District of Portland : 1 tannery, 1 wool-washing
establishment, 1 boiling-down do. Police District of
Belfast: 2 tanneries, 1 boiling-down establishment.
Police District of Buninyong : 1 boiling-down establish-
ment. Commissioners' District Western Port : 1 brew-
ery, 3 tanneries ; only 1 boiling-down establishment was
at work.
Quarries.-14 limestone, 1 freestone, 1 sandstone, 6
granitestone : total 22.
Revenue in 1853.-General revenue : customs, 319, OK/.
17s. 7d.; portand harbour dues, 11, 7861.35. 3d.; rents (ex-
clusive of land), 3,0591. 75. 6d. ; assessment on stock,
14,3621. 7s. 9d. ; auction duty, 6,8061. Bs. 4d. ; licenses,
11,5641. 4s Bd. ; postage, 12,453/. 12s. 9d. ; fines and
forfeitures, 17,4811. 13s. 3d. ; fees of office, 9,0621. ls.
2d. ; reimbursements in aid of expenses incurred by
Government, 1,5831. 11s. ; sale of Government property,
1091. 7s. 6d. ; miscellaneous receipts, 681. 12s. 10d. ;
proceeds of gold licenses, 398,1591. 12s. Bd. ; escort fees,
36,1021. 19s. 9d. ; treasury and custody fees, 4,582/. 17s.
7d. ; total general revenue and receipts, 846,2141. 17s.
7d. Territorial Revenue-Proceeds of the sale of land
and town allotments, 703,855/. 13s. lid. ; leases and
licenses to occupy Crown lands, 23,8151. is. 7d. ; licen-
ses to cut timber, &c., on Crown lands, 1,719/.ilss. 6d. ;
proceeds of the sale of Government property, 5131. 12s.
7d. ; supplies furnished to emigrant vessels, 449/. 7s. 9d.;
stoppages and repayments for rations, 462/. 19s. Id. ;
miscellaneous receipts, 1501. Os. id. Total territorial
revenue and receipts, 730,9661. 10s. 6d. Total revenue
and receipts, 1,577,181/. Bs. ld.
Expenditure of the colony.-Civil establishment,
93,273/. ss. 7d. ; judicial establishment, 18,9901. 7s. 7d. ;
police establishment, 51,726/. 13s. 4d. ; gaol and penal
establishment, 24,782/. 12s. ; medical establishment,
4,3811. Bs.; ecclesiastical establishment, 4,219/. 16s. 7d.
Miscellaneous-Charitable allowances, 7,9411. 10s. Bd. ;
education, 7,5911. 7s. lid. ; public works and buildings,
96,977/. ss. 10d. ; military, 2,873/. 17s. 3d. ; gold
workings, 146,3351. 3s. ld. ; all other miscellaneous dis-
bursement, 5,9221. 9s. 2d. Total charge on the general
revenue, 495,015/. 17s. Charged on the territorial reve-
nue-Survey, 'sale, and management of Crown lands, 1
25,567/. is. 4d ; immigration, 222,6101. 15s. 10d. ;
aborigines, 1,658/. 19s. sd. ; special grants from the ter-
ritorial revenue, 18,2241. 12s. 3d. ; miscellaneous pay.

COMMUNICATION.

What the North-Western Passage was to the early
European adventurers in the Arctic regions, the line of
railway communication between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans now is to cur practical friends in the United
States. There is this difference, however, between the
two, that the former—as the experience of two hundred
and fifty years has shown—was a problem of most un-
certain and difficultsolution, whereas the latter is a dis-
tinct and intelligible plan, dependent only for its execu-
tion upon those details of construction which the re-
sources of existing science have placed within the reach
of modern enterprise.
The earliest project for establishing the desired route,
and the most obvious one in relation merely to the ac-
tual distance between the two oceans, wag the transit
across the Isthmus of Panama. Next came the line
which included the ascent of the river San Juan de Ni-
caragua, the passage of the great lake of that name, and
a canal or railway communication from La Palma, on
the lake, to Port San Juan, on the Pacific. To this suc-
ceeded the proposed arrangement for crossing the conti-
nent of Central America by way of the Isthmus of Tehu-
antepec. And now a fourth plan is on the tapis, called
"The Honduras Interoceanic Railway," which, so far
as the initiatory proceedings enable us to judge, appears
likely to be looked upon with greater favour by the
people of the United States than any of the other routes.
That chief obstacle that seemed to oppose itself to the
construction of a railway across the State of Honduras
was the lofty chain of the Cordilleras, the great and ap-
parently continuous elevation of which presented, it
was supposed, insurmountable engineering difficulties.
Unless a transverse pass existed in the Cordilleras, all
hope of access to the Pacific by piercing that mountain
range was shut out ; and so recently as down to the close
of the year 1852, no certain information on this impor-
tant point had been obtained. The existence of such a
pass was, however, conjectured by those who believed
that an available route might be discovered between one
of the ports on the northern coast of Honduras and
the Bay of Fonseca, or Conchagua, on the Pacific.
To survey this line and report on its practicability,
the projectors in the early part of last year sent out
two agents, Mr. E. G. Squier, a highly intelligent tra-
veller, and Lieut. Jeffers, of the United States navy. It
is from the preliminary notes to a report on the proposed
Honduras Interoceanic Railway, which have only very
recently been published in New York by the first-named
gentleman, that we have derived the information which
we now proceed to lay before the public.
The spot selected for the northern terminus of this
projected railway is Puerto Caballos, in the Bay of Hon-
duras, not far from Omoa. In respect of capacity and
security, it is stated to be the best post on the Atlantic
between New York and Rio Janeiro ; it is easy of en-
trance and exit, and the locality is considered highly
favourable for the establishment of a large city. The
Bay of Fonseca, the southern extremity, is indisputably
the largest, and in all respects the best, harbour on
the Pacific coast of the American continent. The
distance between the two ports is 150 miles, in a direc-
tion due north and south, and the proposed route, which
nearly coincides with the meridan, and lies between the
parallels of 87 and 88 deg. W.L., nowhere varies five
miles from a right line. After traversing a portion of
the department of Omoa, the route crosses the river
Ulua at a short distance below its junction with the
Humuya, which latter it skirts on its right or eastern
bank to the city of Comayagua, the capital of Honduras,
situated nearly midway between the two oceans. The
line then ascends the valley of the Humuya till it
reaches the Cordilleras (which here bear the name of the
Lep iterique mountains), and may be conducted by two
separate passes into the valley of the Goascoran, until it
reaches the Pacific, either at the town of La Union, or
the island of Sacate Grande, both in the Bay of Fon-
seca. The latter is considered the preferable point, as
La Union is in the Republic of Salvador.
"All the materials necessary for the construction of
the road exist," says Mr. Squier, "on the line. There
are inexhaustible quantities of the finest white and blue
marble and sandstone, as also of the best pine, oak, and
other varieties of useful timber. The country, with the
exception perhaps of a narrow belt on the northern
coast, is eminently cool and salubrious, and proper for
the employment of extra-tropical labour. In the latter
respect (that of labour) the proposed line is eminently
favoured ; for whatever amount may be required may be
obtained from the mahogany-cuttings on the coast."
As the greatest apprehended difficulty was expect.
ed in the Cordilleras, it was to the examination
of that chain that Mr. Squier gave his first atten-
tion. Commencing his reconnoisance on the Pacific side,
he ascended the valley of the Goascoran, which con-
ducted him to the pass of Raucho Chiquito, at an eleva-
tion of 2,800 feet above the level of the sea. This spot
is a natural meadow, or savannah, upwards of "a mile
wide, opening north and south, and skirted on the right
bank and left by high mountains. Here are two streams,
rising only 200 yards apart, and running in opposite di-
rections ; one of them is the source of the Goascoran,
which falls into the Bay of Fonseca—the other that of
the Humuya, which joins the Ulua and discharges itself
44t1 Puerto Ca-
hallos. Mr. Squier was of opinion that this surnm;s -
to reach which the maximum grades would nowhere ex-
ceed 80 feet in the mile, and that only for short dis-
tances—was not unfavourable to the construction of the
line, and this opinion was confirmed by the professional
dictum of Lieutenant Jeffers ; but being inclined to think
that a lower pass might be found, he sought one some-
where further to the westward, in the parallel valley of
Cururu, or Guajoca, where, in a savannah like the first,
the Atlantic and Pacific water ilowalso from twin sources,
at an elevation of 100 feet less than the pass of Raucho
Chiquito. " The relative advantages of thete two passes,"
observes Lieutenant Jeffers, "can only be established
by a detailed survey. The pass of Rancho Cuiquito
presents more favourable ground for the descent to the
plain ; that of Guajoca, a better route from the valley
of the Raucho Grande, with a less elevation." The dis-
tance by the pass of Guajoca is also described as being
rather longer, and deviating more from a right line,
than that by Racho Chiquito. But whichever route
may be eventually decided upon, both are sufficiently
direct. " The country is open and free of dense forests,
thus avoiding, in a great degree, the expense of clearing
and grubbing; there is an abundance of fine timber on
the hills skirting the line ; the rock, where excavations
are to be made in it, is a soft sandstone, which may be
cut almost as readily as clay, with the advantage of ad-
mitting of vertical walls, and not requiring ballast for
the road bed ; abundance of fine marble and other stone
for abutments and mortar ; a country cool and entirely
salubrious ; the magnificent Bay of Fonseca, where men,
tools, and provisions may be sent by sea, for one base of
operations, and the great and fertile plain of Comayagua,
in the very centre of the work, for the other." The
longer division of the line, from Puerto Caballos to
Comayagua, offers numerous facilities for the construc-
tion of a railway. " Quite fifty- miles will be over a level
plain, or an ascent so gentle as hardly to be perceived,
and on that portion of the line which lies on the bank of
the Humuya the alternation of cut and fill is highly
favourable." Another great advantage in forming the
northern section of the road is the navigability of the
river Ulua and Humuya, which may be ascended by
vessels drawing seven feet of water, for half the year, as
high as the mouth of the Rio Blanco, which is called
half-way from Comayagua to the coast. For fight
steamers the Humuya is navigable to the mouth of the
Sulaco, some distance higher up.
The terms upon which the Honduras Interoceanic
Railway Company have obtained the concession of
the line from the Government of Honduras are more
liberal and comprehensive than have yet been granted
in that part of the world for a similar purpose. " The
property of the company in the proposed road," says
Mr. Squier, "is perpetual, but the charter is limited to
seventy years from the date of thee completion and open-
ing of the road, for which we are allowed eight years in
any event—or more, if any unforeseen obstacle, such as
epidemics or war, should interpose to delay the work.
The Tehuantepec (Garay) grant is for sixty years, the
Panama for forty-nine; and in both cases the road
reverts to the State. We do not possess so large a
concession of land as Garay, but we get enough. We
have, in the first place, a strip four hundred yards wide
from sea to sea, covering alike both public and
private lands ; next, an unconditional grant of
upwards of eight hundred square miles, in a part of the
State the richest in soil and precious woods ; and, finally,
we have the right of locating and b uying 900 square
miles more, at the maximum price of 15 cents per acre,
payable in the stocks of the company at par. In addi-
tion to this, the State grants to each man who comes to
work on the road, if single, 50 acres, if married, 75 acres
of land. * * Our ports on both sides are to be made
free ports in perpetuity ; no passports are ever to be re-
quired from passengers over the road; and all goods
and property in transitu are to pass free of all kinds
of duties, and exempt from inspection and detention
of every kind. * * * All emigrants coming out
under the auspices of the company, or settling on its
land, are exempt for ten years from all taxes and from
all civil or military service, as are also all persons in the
employ of the company, be they native or foreign. We
are r?quirgehdfrtoeigphaywt,he State no money until the work
is finished, and then only one dollar for each through
ipnasgstehnrgoeur, with a nominal sum for registering or mark-
The advantages which this proposed line of communi-
cation will afford to those who travel by it are stated to
be the avoidance of the expense and trouble caused by
the numerous transhipments, whether by Panama, Nica-
ragua, or Tehuantepec ; and the saving of distance
between the Atlantic ports of the United States
and California, Oregon, the Sandwich Islands, and the
centres of Oriental trade, by not less than 1,250 miles
over Panama, 800 to 900 over Nicaragua, and from 60
to 100 over Tehuantepec, following the line which the
company, holding the charter for a road over the latter
isthmus are obliged to follow.
We may add that the port of Puerto Caballos, which
has been selected as the northern terminus for the pro-
posed Honduras, Interoceanic Railway, is in close proxi-
mity to the British possessions on the coast of Yuca-
tan, of which Belize is the capital, and to the islands of
Ruatan, Bonacca, and Utile, known by the name of
the Bay of Islands.

ARRIVALS OP BULLION.—The arrivals of bullio❑ dur.
ing the week, including the gold by the Sydney, have
amounted to about 460,000/., of which about 60,0001.
was silver. Tha exports are estimated at about the
same sum, almont entirely in gold to the Continent.

(Front the Manchester Guardian of Saturday.)
MANCHESTER, March 23.—We have still to report a
progressive depression in the state of our market—more
marked
day
. Meantime,this wee k
wtihta l
hn
diminishingast d , to-ay
contracts
a canyts previous
in la n d
spinners and manufacturers are becoming more anxious
to sell. In these descriptions of cloths, the fall of prices
s therefore much greater than in fabrics suitable for the
East, or than in most other kinds. In yarns, the decline
is very slow and gradual, not perhaps exceeding id. per lb.
during the week in mule and water for exportation.
Throughout the market, however, the downward tend-
ency is increasingly manifest, and is still, as has long
been the case, more decided in yarns and goods for
home use, than in such as are prepared for shipment.
Under these circumstances, and with the raw material
relatively very dear, a disposition to resort to short-time
is showing itself among the trade.
BRADFORD, MARCH, 23.—W00l : The inactivity still
continues in our market, as for several weeks past, and
prices are almost nominal.
NOTTINGHAM, March 23.—There is not any improve-
ment in the condition of either the hosiery or lace
trades, each remaining in pretty much the same condi-
tion we have reported them for many weeks past.
LEICESTER, March 23.—Except for the demand for
cotton goods for the shipping season, our market has
not been so flat for two years past as at present.
Worsted spinners are doing as little as possible ; a fur-
ther reduction of a half-penny per lb. has taken place
this week.