The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-08 00:00:00

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SU2I:

your paper of the 16th ult. you did me the
honour to make some remarks, in its leading article, on
a few thoughts I had put together in the shape of a letter
to my friend the author of " The Clockmuker " (merely
for the perusal of friends, and such influential persons
as could find time to read and reflect on such a subject)
on an Atlantic and Pacific Railway communication.
Those thoughts were hastily and enthusiastically
written, but time and cool reflection have only tended to
strengthen the conviction of their correctness, and to im-
press my mind the more deeply with their importance.
Again, therefore, I venture to call your attention to the
subject, although as yet no other London journal has
echoed your kind voice; but whether we are right or
whether we are wrong, there are many points that must
be, and that before long, brought to the serious consiJer-
ation of the British public.
In the Times of the 13th ult. we have a long and in-
teresting article on the various projects (suggested
during the last half century) for opening a communica-
tion between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. There
are four paragraphs of that article to which I would re-
quest particular attention, commencing severally—
" To adventurous minds;
" This state of affairs ;
"A few days back;
" Important however.
In the first paragraph we read—" Each projector has
made a point of declaring all to be impracticable except
his own." Now, Sir, lam anxious to draw the attention
of the editor of the Times to the few thoughts I have
written on this subject, and which are now published,
and if he can spare me the time, I would request his at-
tention to a small pamphlet I have had the pleasure to
forward to him. In that pamphlet Ido not think he will
find an insinuation even of the impracticability of any pro-
ject ever brought forward for a communication between
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. I would also wish to
call his attention to a pamphlet published by Lieutenant
Millington Henry Synge, of the Royal Engineers, called
" Canada in 1845,' and although that officer dues not
actually propose a communication, he strongly points out
both its possibility and its probability, and I do not ob-
serve that he in any way alludes to the practicability or '
otherwise of any former projected scheme.
In the fourth paragraph of the article of the Times, to
which I have alluded, we read—" A railroad from the
Mississippi, already talked of, would at once furnish an
outlet for all the produce of the States to the easter❑
seas, but England has no such resource." Surely, Sir,
these few last words have escaped from the press of the
Times without permission; for such a decision against
England cannot be considered otherwise than, to say the
least of it, rather premature. For my own part, I be-
lieve that Great Britain, as an empire, is now in the quiet
possession of territory—most valuable and magnificent
territory—through which could be constructed (at an im-
mense gain to herself) as good, as short, and as practi-
cable a line of communication as it is possible to make
between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. And further, I
believe with Lieut. Synge,
" That there is a field open to an almost illimitable
capital of labour.
" That the systematic development of the resources of
British North America will, so far from being a drain
on Great Britain, be of immediate advantage to her.
" That such development entails the natural enduring
and perfect union between Great Britain and that part
of her empire."
In the fourth paragraph also of the article in the Times,
to which I have alluded, we read—" It is impossible to
look at the map and not to perceive that it is of far more
importance to England."

I am most happy to agree in this with the Times, and
if the editor Rill do me the favour to look at the small
map attached to the pamphlet on the subject of the
" Atlantic and Pacific Railway," he will perhaps, as it
is somewhat different from the maps commonly in use,
be more strongly impressed with the importance of this
subject as regards England, or rather we should say the
British empire.
In the Times of the 2d instant, the City article refers
to that of the 13th ult., then relates some historic facts
connected with the Nicaragua route, informiag us
that the report (as far as it went) of the
special agent, sent by General Jackson, was ad-
verse to the Panama route, again alluding to
the railroad from the Mississippi to the St. Francisco,
and then concludes with an extract from Mr. Stephens'
most interesting work, in which that author eloquently
and cleverly trios to excite the jealousy and pride of other
nations. "If," the extract says, " Europe is indifferent,
it would be glory surpassing the conquest of kingdoms
to make this greatest enterprise ever attempted by the
human force entirely our own." Now, Sir, I may per-
haps be excused from making an extract from a private
letter, since such opinions have had great influence in in-
ducing me to appear before the public, and here I
must take the opportunity of saying, as regards myself—
" Pardon, gentles all,
The flat, unraised spirit, that hath dar'd,
On this unworthy scaffold, to bring forth
So great an object."
Thus runs the extract from my private letter:—" The
conception is a magnificent one, and carrying it into
effect would be a crowning glory to Great Britain." I
must not trust myself to continue, for your space and
time are both valuable.—l have the honour to remain,
Sir, your most obedient, obliged servant,