The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-11 00:00:00

LLOYD'S SHIPPLVG.-(THIS DAY.)

LONDON,
A. Ithis
at Noon, 11.—W'ud day
light breeze, and fine.
DEAL, Aug. 10.—Wind, N.E. by E. Arrived—Mace-
donia, Cronstadt, for Bristol ; John Hunter, Sunderland ;
Victory, Newcastle, for Bermuda • Augusta, Shields, for
Venice ; Lively, Shields, for Gadiz ; Premuda, Sunder-
laud, for Bombay ; Bella Donna, do., for Quebec ; Hobe
(brig), do., for the Westward.
FALMOUTH, Aug. 10.—Wind, E. Arrived—Baltasara,
Loudon, for New Zealand. Sailed—Henrietta, St. Peters-
burgh ,• Kron Prondsesse Caroline, Copenhagen ; Calms-
lina, Loudon ; d'Argo, Clyde. Off Port—Holyrood,
China.
PORTSMOUTH, Aug. 10.—Wind, N.B. to S.E. Sailed—
Hendiik Hudson, New York.
OFF COWES, Aug. 10.—Franklin (s), New York, on
freight 850,000 dollars.
WEYMOUTH, Aug. 10. -Wind, E. Arrived—Pomona,
Newcastle, for Genoa. Sailed—Derwentwater, Van Die-
men's Land; Lady Peel, Quebec; Fox, Newfoundland ;
Philomene, Trieste ; Sostern Clausen, Southampton.
GRIMSBY, Aug. 10.—Arrived—Cyrins, Richibucto.
SOUTHWOLD, Aug. 10.—The Bell, from Montrose, has
received considerable damage, having grounded on the bar.
BRIDPORT, Aug. 9.--.-Arrived—Angelo, IbreAl.
LIVERPOOL, Aug. 11 (10.30 a.m.)--Wind, N.N.W.,
mo-
derate, and lino. eArrived.--Dalbeo (a), from Havre ; Gio-
vanilla, Odossa
9 W. Bailed—Lady Ise&
DUNDEE, Aug. .—Wind ,
Puff, Cape ot Good Hope.

Sir,—l trust you will excuse the oldest among the
travellers in both the tropics of America and the steppes
of Siberia, for having so long delayed to thank you for
the information I derived from your interesting journal,
&c., on the junction of the Atlantic with the Pacific.
The position I occupy in this country, and the ardent
desire I feel to finish, before my death, some scientific
works which I had the imprudence to begin, consider-
ably interrupted the even course of my correspondence.
I therefore hope that I shall meet, on your part also,
with that indulgence which your countrymen have shown
me during so long a period.
I have not been beyond the Rio Rimo, which lies east
of the mouth of the Atrato. It was at the time when I
left the island of Cuba, on my way to Lima, by Bogota,
Quito, and the river Amazon, for the purpose of observ-
ing the passage of Mercury through the solar disc. I
was then on friendly terms with a very intelligent mer-
chant, Don Tynacio Tombo, of Cartagena, in America ;
and I recollect that the Casso (treasury convoy) of
Guayaquil was then on its way to Europe, by the road
from Cupica to the Atrato, which was first opened by
the Biscayian pilot Poguerache. Knowing geologically
the interruption of the mountain chains, and the depres-
sion of the range in the eastern part of the Isthmus, my
attention has remained fixed, during this last half cen-
tury, on the Bay of San Miguel, and the route from
Cupica to the Rio Napipi.
Owing to my friendly relations with General Bolivar,
I obtained through him the first line of levels across the
Isthmus of Panama. Ever since the subject has not
ceased to occupy my miiid, as the various works and
maps which I published since 1810 and my correspon-
dence with various statesmen will testify. But all my
striving and urging only led to imperfect trials ; and
projects calculated for a line to the west of the meridian
of Panama and Portobello, none of which ever gained
my confidence. I. had, however, the gratification of
seeing, my views honoured by an eminent member of her
Britannic Majesty's Navy, Captain Fitzroy. (Journal
of the Royal Georgian Society, vol. xx., 2.) The in-
crease of human knowledge, and the immense progress
of science, arts, and industry among the western na-
-1 tions, have given us powers which only call for appli-
cations.

Everything depends upon energy and perseverance.
I therefore congratulate you, sir, and your courageous
friend Mr. Cullen, as well as Sir Charles Fox, Mr. Hen-
derson, and Mr. Brassey, for having given your names
to so noble an undertaking. I have always considered,
firstly, the opening of an oceanic canal without locks,
and secondly, the cut at iluchnecoca, in the valley of
Mexico (which is on a comparatively smaller scale, as
may be seen from the map and section published), as
two events calculated highly to improve the relations
between the different families of the human species. In
fact, such a work as the one you contemplate will bring
Eastern Asia nearer to the nations of Europe and Ame-
rica. It will render the whole globe more easy to be
travelled over; this little globe, cf which Christopher
Columbus, in one of his letters to the Queen of Spain,
said—" El munclo &Tom."
It will facilitate the diffusion of productions, espe-
cially of precious metals, of which the relative value (1
to 15 5.6) would change too suddenly without this "per-
meability" of the world.
As early as the discovery of the new continent, civili-
sation had spread, in a direction from north to south,
over those portions of America which lie opposite to
Asia, those on the European side being then occupied
by barbarous hunting tribes.
The finest harbours, the most precious products, are
likewise found in the west.
Even the currents of the air, by their direction, con-
tribute towards the preponderance of West American
power over the rich countries of Asia. The increasing
importance of the west coast of America promises to
balance, at some future time, the surprising progress of
the Atlantic States, provided the western States keep
themselves free from that hideous disease—slavery of
coloured people.
Indeed, sir, I feel the most ardent wishes for the
happy success of this oceanic canal. The attention
which the public of the two continents bestow already
upon your undertaking, will increase as soon as you
will be enabled, assisted by farther explorations, and
a survey extending over all details, and carried on
by a great number of experienced men, to publish, on
a large scale, maps and sections of the line fixed
upon between Puerto Escoces and the Gulf of San
Miguel. The changes which the success of the under-
taking is sure to effect in the international commerce of
the world, will only disturb such people as in the nar-
rowness
upurfo:r. of
unfortunate
etieai views
co course
r opposese
discovery
o fofe vAeinitesr,themselvescaam.i t
amid shed
ihleeo the
d Riot tears
a naturalru
over.
athned
cualeo with its postage to the Rio Chitnalapa (Tehuan-
tepec), of which I published the first map after the
itinerariesKingdon i‘
l ixio,
discoveredec by me in the archives the Vice
Kingdom always be of gire
owing to its ?'r m
position opposite Louisiata,lit importance,ntlieG Gulf of
ot
Mexico, which has all the appearance of soon becoming
a mare clausum—a lake of the United States. The na-
ture of the soil, however, does not allow great works to
be carried out in that locality ; besides, you know the
difficulties impeding any canalisation or rectification of
rivers of great length, and the great variations of the
volume of water, as in the river San Juan. But a rail-
way would be a great advantage to the southern states.
The great interest which every one at the present time
takes in the canalisation of the Isthmus, recalls a similar
fact to my memory, reminding me of the sudden interest
created by the discovery of guano. I was the first who
brought guano to Europe, of which Klaproth and .Vau-
quelin published an analysis. During forty years
_I
preached, but alwaAQ in vain, the usefulness of this sub-
stance, and in vain did I recommend its employment in
fertilising the fields in Europe. But it is only
15
_ ,nr
ld
years since it has at last become a great article of

merce.
I beg of you, my dear sir, to present my kind remem-
brances to the excellent and able Mr. Petermann, and
to, &c., ALEXANDSR VON HUMBOLDT.
P.S.—I am not surprised at the difference between
the level you found at Turbaco, and my own statement.
To this, however, I had prudently added "doubtful ba-
rometrical observation." (See my Reeueil d'Obseruutions
A strommique.9 et de Af marts Barametrques, vol. 1., p.
229.) The fact that the gas issuing from the little vol-
canoes at Turbaco is infi.mmable in its natural state
p. 65). It appears that the gaseous fluid which issue's
has already been communicatel,s,.biulyiti,in,Ctoiofilbe.zetAv:
from the salses is not the same at all times. I find in
thrown into
my journa
• l that in 1i
extinguished
xoftlri
ignu theti
oil
rang sub-
sotatbnoactltesl eo7i(s);lttahiel' innigu suddenlyda volcanoes in the island or;
found only azote, although the
.I.,:as emitted would burn
(See my Rela.ton .H istorique, vol. xv.,
at other times.
c. 29, pp. 367-371.) iv:cbsattlaine( ji: r n

NEW CHURCH AT BROOKLET-HILL PARK, FOREST.
HILL —The Conservative Land Society has reserved a
portion of land, on the summit of the Brockley-hill Park
Estate, near the Crystal Palace, for the site of a new
church, Subscriptions for the endowment have been
already promised hy
many shareholders. The proposed
church will be surrounded by an ornamental garden,
with walks, shrubberies, &c., for the
.special use of the
Alottees on the terrace, which commands one of the
finest views in all Kent.
DEPARTURE OF THE PACIFIC.—LIVERPOOL, WEDNES-
DAY.--About three o'clock this afternoon; the United
States mail steam-ship Pacific, Capt. Ezra Nye sailed
from the Mersey for New York, with the usual mails
for the United States and British possessions in North
America, 170 passengers, and a large end valuably
cargo of Inerokezdiee on freight.