The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-09 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OT THR TIMES.

Srß,—l have seen, with some regret, and I may say
disappointment, the observations appearing in your City
Article of this day on the subject of the proposed navi-
gation across the Isthmus of Darien.

Any observations appearing to emanate from you are
entitled to so much weight, that I need not say it be-
hoves any one, writing under your authority, to be very
cautious in the opinions he expresses, lest in doing so he
should damage or retard objects of public utility, which
it is your whole policy and system to encourage and
support.

The article I refer to impugns the principle and pro-
spects of the Darien undertaking substantially in three
assumed positions, all based on a comparison with the
proposed canal from St. Juan to the Gulf of Fonseca,
known popularly as the Nicaragua Canal. The writer
states, first, that the proposed navigation across the
Isthmus of Darien must be subsidiary to the Nicaragua
Canal. He states, secondly, that that canal can be
executed "so as to admit large ocean steamers, such as
the Northern Light, for less than 4,000,0001. sterling ;"
and he infers, thirdly, from these statements, that the
navigation across the Isthmus of Darien will not pay,
while he assumes that the Nicaragua Canal would be
remunerative.

These positions, I venture to say, are in many re-
spects based upon incorrect data, and I think I shall
have no difficulty in satisfying you on that point.
The necessity of a communication by sea between the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans being strongly felt both in
the United States and in this country, it was recently
proposed to construct a canal commencing at St. Juan,
on the shore of the Atlantic, and proceeding through the
Lake of Nicaragua to the Gulf of Fonseca, on the Pa-
cific. It was ascertained that this work could be exe-
cuted with a depth of waterway of about 12 feet at an
estimated cost of 4.000,000/. sterling, but, on further
considering the subject, it appeared that this depth,
though sufficient for the coasting and local traffic, was
not adequate to the more general demands of commerce;
and it was, therefore, subsequently proposed to increase
the depth to 17 feet, which was found to involve an in-
crease of the cost to upwards of 6,000,000/. sterling.
The sufficiency of the depth thus increased was, however,
considered so questionable, both by the English and
American engineers to whom the matter was referred,
that it was proposed to extend it to 20 feet ; but this
alteration raised the estimate to about 10,000,000/. ster-
ling. In the policy of the original proposition various
capitalists and individuals of great eminence in this
country and in the United States concurred, upon the
principle that the communication was expedient if it could
be obtained at commensurate cost ; but further delibe-
ration, and especially the increase of expense attendant
on increased depth, threw great doubt on the policy of
the measure, especially as 20 feet was still greatly
below the requirements of commerce, which nothing
short of a depth of 30 feet could satisfy, the draught of
vessels of the largest class at present being 28 feet.
Moreover, it appeared that in this work there would not
be less in the whole than upwards of 100 miles of cana-
lized river, besides much necessary expenditure in the
lake of a very serious character. The passage was 195
miles in length ; there were 28 locks in its course ; the
period of transit was calculated at about six days ; the
country was very unhealthy ; and the annual cost of
maintaining the canal very great. Under any circum-
stances, the canal could not be constructed to carry
ships of all sizes, and at best, therefore, it constituted
only a partial and imperfect work. Minor drawbacks
connected with the position of the canal were felt, which
it is not necessary here to notice.
It was in this state of the inquiry that my attention
was drawn to the subject, accompanied by a suggestion
that a means existed of opening the communication
between the two oceans, which would accommodate the
whole present and future traffic of the world at a cost
not materially, if at all, eveeding the proposed imper-
fect and incomplete measure. It appeared to me that
an object so vast was of importance sufficient to justify
some expense and labour, and I resolved on despatch-
ing engineers to the spot. Mr. Gisborne accordingly
proceeded thither with his assistant, Mr. Ford ; and,
though it is true, in some sense, as the writer states
that " the land had not been actually surveyed,"
he examined the locality, he fathomed the water on both
sides, and went over the ground, so far at least as to satisfy
himself of the height of the summit level and the nature
of the soil. Mr. Gisborne's qualifications for such an
I investigation are well known, from his long experience
under Government in canal and other works, and his
reputation is staked upon the correctness of his state-
ments. He reported (and his report is published) to the
effect that an open navigation only 30 miles in length of
30 feet depth and 150 feet wide, terminating in a good
harbour on each side, affording passage in one tide for
vessels, not only of the largest modern construction, but
admitting of the increase now in contemplation, can be
constructed at a cost not exceeding, on a high estimate,
12,000,000/. sterling.
That the conclusion thus arrived at is not as abso-

lutely certain as if " every foot of the land had been the
subject of precise estimate," as the writer assumes of
the Nicaragua route, I freely admit ; but I think you
will agree with me that the information obtained affords
a very strong and cogent reason for concluding that the
proposed selection of the Nicaragua route was a mistake,
and that attention ought to be directed to this portion
of the Isthmus.

It is obvious that if a means exist of opening a pas-
sage for the whole commerce of the world, navigable at
all times, it must be greatly preferable to a close canal,
which can accommodate ships only of a certain tonnage.
It is further obvious that if that passage, once opened,
can be maintained without cost, if it admits of transit in
six hours instead of as many days, if it is free from the
impediment of lock and canal navigation, and enjoys a
good harbour at each terminus, it must be in principle
greatly preferable. But if all this can be effected at
little more than the cost of the proposed lesser work,
with a depth of 30 feet instead of 20, I think you will
agree with me that it will never, as the writer of the
article assumes, be subsidiary to the Nicaragua route ;
and even that, as regards this latter project, there is no
fear that English or American capitalists will ever enter
on a work so inherently imperfect and inadequate.
Moreover, if the one which can only accommodate a
portion of the traffic will pay, as assumed, it is clear that
the other, which will accommodate the whole, must do
so in a much higher degree.
You will observe that, for the present, all the contem-
plated proceedings of the company proposed to be esta-
blished are preliminary only. It is not suggested that
it shall enter into costly measures without mature con-
sideration and adequate support ; but I venture to pre-
dict that the result of further proceedings will be to con-
firm the conclusion already arrived at ; and I am sure
that on the result no one more than yourself will be re-
joiced to find that English capital has not been embarked
in an undertaking so unsatisfactory as the
.Nicaragua
Canal, when there exist the means of opening out a
passage for the traffic of the world without let or hin-
drance through a way prepared by nature for an opera-
tion so entirely effective, and so completely within the
power and skill of the human race, as already. evinced in
a much higher degree, and in works physically much
more difficult.
I have written this letter in great haste, and must
apologise if it betrays intrinsic evidence of this fact, while

I must further express my regret at having been thus
compelled, contrary to my wishes, to enter upon this
comparison. . _ _

I am, Sir, your obedient, humble servant,
CHARLES FOX,
8, New-street, Spring-gardens, Feb. 8.

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK

The official report says :—Change of temperature has
produced a great increase in the mortality. The present
return shows that the deaths in London, which scarcely
exceeded 1,000 in any of the four weeks of January, rose
in the week that ended sth February to 1,220. The
mean weekly temperature in December of last year was
about 48 deg., in the two following weeks of January it
was 45 deg., it then fell to 41.9 deg., and in the last two
weeks it declined to 371 deg. and 36.5 deg. On Tues-
day last week the mean temperature was only 31.6 deg.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1843-52
the average number of deaths was 1,058, which, if raised
in proportion to increase of population, would give a
mortality of 1,164 for last week. Hence it appears that
the mortality, which for many weeks has been below the
estimated amount, now exceeds it.
The increase arises chiefly from diseases of the respira7
tory organs (principally bronchitis and pneumonia),
which having been fatal in the two preceding weeks in
171 and 199 cases, have now risen to 250. Phthisis in
the same period carried off 134, 138, and 151 persons;
and 49, 40, and 64 children died of hooping-cough.
The following cases were registered in the week :—At
47, Church-street, Bethnal-green, a woman, aged 68
years, died on Ist February, of "summer cholera and
chronic diarrhcea (18 weeks) ; disease of intestinal canal,
atrophy, an4.,,exhaustion (10 weeks)." .And at 1, Sum-
mer-street On lit Febr-Aary, the son of an
omnibus driver, aged 3 years, died of cholera, diarrhoea
(30 hours).
In the church sub-district of Bethnal-green, at 15,
Wolverly-street, the son of a weaver, aged one year,
died on 28th January of " variola (12 days), unvacci-
nated." Mr. Briggs states that the father and another
child are very ill with the disease, and neither of them
has been vaccinated. At 1, Regent-street, Mile-end
Old Town Lower, the son of a fishmonger, aged 15
weeks, died on 31st January of " variola (10 days), not
vaccinated." Mr. Castleden mentions that four other
children in this family have been severely attacked with
small-pox after vaccination, but that they were all re-
covering. Of 11 persons who died of this disease three
were adults, and one was a woman who had been
vaccinated.
At 9, Henry-street, Hampstead-road, on the 2d and
4th February, the daughter of a carter, aged 6 years,
and his son, aged 10 years, died of " scarlatina maligna,
with putrid sore throat." Mr. Day, the medical at-
tendant on these cases, makes the following report :
"At the rear of the premises, 9, Henry-street, stand
some cottages in one of which the two deaths occurred.
The room is a small one, and, I believe was occupied by
five individuals ; all its inmates have been more or less
affected with sore throat produced by effluvia emanating
from the dying and dead, for no perfect ventilation could
be obtained, owing to the back room being occupied by
other persons. I have suffered from sore throat myself,
and also a young man who visited there. I should have
made a more accurate survey of the dwelling, but was
deterred by a ferocious dog kept by the occupier of the
adjoining apartment to the terror and annoyance of the
neighbours "

In the sub-district of Waterloo (2d part), Lambeth, at
13, Cheltenham-place, on 2d February, the wife of a
tailor, aged 20 years, died of typhus" (about 14 days).
The informant of this death was requested by the medi-
cal attendant to state that it is to be attributed to the
unwholesome smells that pervade the house. Whence
these arise is at present unknown. The deceased had
twice suffered previously from the same disease.
In Dover-road, Charlton, the son of a labourer aged
one and a half years, died on 30th January, of "malig-
nant scarlatina," (5 days). The medical attendant re-
marks :—" The house in which this child died is wholly
unfit for human habitation. About a year and a half
ago three children died from malignant disease of the
throat in a cottage adjoining." Mr. Clark, the deputy •
registrar of Peckham, states that scarlatina is very
severe at present in the neighbourhood of Rye-lane,
where also a fatal case occurred on 30th January.
In St. Giles, Cripplegate, at 7, Garter-court, a
brewer's workman, aged 39 years, died of " bronchitis,
pneumonia." (Post mort.) The deputy registrar observes
that " this is the fourth death that has occurred in the
same family since March, 1852 ; the only sleeping apart-
ment is a small room, damp, and without chimney or
other means of ventilation."

The following deaths occurred in the London Fever
Hospital in the week :—On 31st January, a woman,
aged 64 years, from Half-moon-court, Holborn, "typhus.
In hospital 3days." On 3d February, a female-servant,
aged 17 years, from Lumley-court, St. Martin's, " bron-
chitis. In hospital 9 days." On 3d February, a female,
about 30 years, from the Holborn Workhouse, " typhus.
In hospital one day." On sth February, a nurse, aged
44 years, from Sydney-grove, City-road, "typhus. In
hospital 18 days."
Mr. Joseph, registrarof the rectory sub-district, Mary-
lebone, snakes the following observations : "The
return for the past week will probably show a large in-
crease in the number of deaths ; at all events there has
been an increase so far as my district is concerned. The
deaths in Marylebone workhouse, during the winter,
have averaged from 7 to 10 weekly, a low rate in com-
parison of the deaths of former years. This week, how-
ever, has produced 24, and the majority of these were
from diseases of the respiratory organs, clearly showing
that the recent sudden and severe alterations of tempe-
rature have proved especially disastrous to persons suf-
fering from such diseases. These deaths have been at
all ages, from the infant of 7 days to the old man of 90.
In the wards where these cases have been treated,
warmth as well as ventilation have been especially cared
for." In the sub-district 40 deaths were registered in
the week.

Mr. Rixon, the Registrar of the sub-district of Wool-
wich Arsenal, says :—" Between the 19th and 24th of
January inclusive, 6 deaths occurred in the Royal
Ordnance Hospital. Ido not remember that so great a
mortality ever occurred before in a single week amongst
the military since the commencement of the registra-
tion. Three or 4 deaths have taken place in a week, but
the number seldom exceeds 4 or 5 in a month."

Last week the births of 827 boys and 732 girls, in all
1,559 children were registered in London. In the eight
corresponding weeks of the years 1845-52 the average
number was 1,507.

At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.782 in. ; the
mean daily reading on Monday and Tuesday was above
30 in. The mean temperatnre of the week was 36.5 deg.
which is 1.3 deg. below the average of the same week in
38 years. The mean daily temperature fell from 39.1
deg. on Sunday to 31.6 deg. on Tuesday, or 6.1 deg.
below the average of the same day ; and it continued,
though not to the same extent, below the average during
the rest of the week. The wind blew from the north-
east at the end of the week, but the air was for the most
part calm. The mean dew point temperature was 31-5
deg.

THE FATAL UPSETTING OF THE NORTHUMBERLAND
LIFE-BOAT.—The inquiry which has been going on for
several days before Mr. Peirce, the coroner, and jury,
respecting the fate of the six unhappy fellows who pe-
rished by the capsizing of the Rhyl life-boat, was brought
to a close at a late hour on Monday. One of the ques-
tions involved in the inquiry was the security of the
the celebrated Northumberland prize life-boat. The craft
was placed on the station at the instance of the Shipwrecked
Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society, and
this being the third instance where they have upset, the
other two being at Lytham, near Liverpool, and Carnar-
von, naturally led to much apprehension amongst the
many life-boat crews. As is known, the boat is the build
of Messrs. Beeching & Sons, of Great Yarmouth, and was
selected out of 280 models for the 1001. prize so benevo-
lently offered by the Duke of Northumberland. It is
26 feet long, and 6 feet 6 inches broad, and is sister boat
to the one tested at Woolwich Dockyard, a short time
since, in the presence of Rear-Admiral Hope, Lord H.
Cholmondeley, M.P., Capts. Barlow, Miller, Lean,
Washington, Ward, &c. Her righting powers were
proved by upsetting her under a crane, and her stability
by placing eleven men standing on her gunwale, which
only brought it alip. After a great deal of evidence was
received, detailing the unhappy particulars, which we
have already fully reported, and likewise showing that a
different construction of life-boat is necessary for different
stations, the jury returned the following special verdict :
—" That the deceased men were accidentally drowned
by the upsetting of the Rhyl life-boat; at the same time
they (the jury) are of opinion that this boat is not suit-
able for this station ; and with respect to the life-belts,
they consider that they were wholly inefficient for the
intended purpose." The protracted proceedings then
terminated.
GOLD IN DEVON.--The Albatross, 100 tons, cutter,
is to proceed from this port to Barnstaple, with the first
portion of the machinery connected with the Poltimore
Gold Mine, near North Melton, which is being manu-
factured at the the foundry of Messrs. Mare and Co., of
Plymouth. After landing the machinery, the vessel is
mtoorceonmvienyeltooo tLoinvserpofool, auriferouswhere it
gossan
to be red
anfrom meucePod iltin-
bulk, at the works of Messrs. Rawlinson and Watson,
who have already tried a small sample, in which the
existence of gold was perfectly clear, and these gentle-
men desire to try a quantity before determining on the
average yield. The question of " Gold in England "
e s ti
n consequently
position, now
and as stuhme es
Poltimorea ver very important
Company
act a nd
wiselyi te
yield
nbrinogfi point to an issue, as regards profitable
precious metal from' gossan.
nthgetile
Our talented
townsman, Mr. Oxland, chemist and metallurgist, is en-
gaged to test the gossan, and, in addition, to examine
the slag which is found near the Poltimore mine in some
abundance, and so determine, if practicable, whether the
ancients smelted these for copper or for gold, of which
works there is not the slightest tradition, although the
fact of reduction establishments having existed cannot
for a moment be doubted, from the slag which is met
with in three or four places in the neighbourhood of
North Molton, on the prgperty of Lord Poltimore.—
Devonport Independent.

Sergeant Quinnear, P 1, deposed that since the last
examination, he, accompanied by his superintendent
(Mr. Lund), had visited the residence of the debedised
Mr. Jones. In the back parlour, in which the deceased
was represented to have died, they found stains of blood
on the lining of the couch at the top or head part.
There was a small bed placed on this couch, and on two
places on this bed marks of blood were quite visible.
The prisoner here exclaimed—" No, no ! I say no."
Sergeant Quinnear—On removing a coloured cotton
case from a pillow used on the couch, and turning it
inside out, we found evident marks of blood on it, which

some one had endeavoured to remove by washing, but
which were notwithstanding still quite observable.
Prisoner—They are not stains of blood, they are stains
of porter.
Quinnear—Since the last examination, I have seen
Collins, a gardener, who had been examined before the
coroner, and who swore that he had seen the deceased
fall in his own garden with some violence against the
wall. I have asked this person to point out the spot
where he saw the deceased fall, but it is quite impossible
lie could have hit his head against the wall, or injured
himself. •

Mr. Solomons objected to this hearsay evidence, and
he opinion founded upon it, being placed on the depo-
dons.

Mr. Elliott—lt will not appear on the depositions.
The solicitor engaged for the prosecution might call
Collins if he thought proper.
Quinnear—We found the house in a shocking state ;
it stunk most offensively. Heaps of soiled and half-
washed clothes were in every part of it.
Mr. John Neale deposed that the silver snuff-box and
other articles had been pawned on the 13th of last month
by the prisoner.

Prisoner—l did pawn the things, and the property is
my own, though Jones may swear to it if he dares. The
articles were purchased for and presented to me.
Mr. William Jones, the nephew of the deceased,, said
that to the best of his belief the watch and other articles
produced belonged to his uncle.
Prisoner—Then you have sworn to a lie. They are
smi - Pwl4*l34as mell?hvye t;kouernuaner, eanodathiasoTthhee
watch and othes things.
Witness—The watch I saw hanging up in my uncle's
room the last time I was with him. I particularly
noticed the paper inside, and • saw the name of Hunter
on it as it now appears. The snuff-box he was then
using, and gave me a pinch of snuff out of it, and the
wrist-buttons were worn by him at the time.
Mr. Solomons here remarked that a question might
arise as to whether the prisoner was not entitled to the
property as residuary legatee.
Prisoner : Independent of that, it is my property.
Mr. Elliott observed that the prisoner had no right to
possess herself of the property without the sanction of
the executor.

Mr. John Ebsworth, clerk to Messrs. Sealling and
Son, solicitors, produced an official copy of the last will
and testament of Mr. William Jones, of No. 4, Spring.
field Cottages, Acre-lane, Brixton, hich he compared
with the original will to-day. It was a correct copy of
that will ; and there was a memorandum of probate
granted the 24th of January, 1853. The will bequeathed
1,0001. Three-and-a-Half per Cent. Stock, and 3001.
sterling ; and Elizabeth Vickers, house-keeper to the
testator, is made the residuary legatee.
The prisoner was here asked if she had anything to
say to the charge, and Mr. Solomons replied in the ne-
gative, upon which Mr. Elliott committed her for the
wilful murder of her late master, Mr. William Jones.