The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-18 00:00:00

lihn the advantages they had derived from Mr. Duf.
ton's treatment.
The resolutioe, and a vote of Ihanki to the Mayor,
were passed, and the meetieg was then dis3olved.—
Ariis Birmingham Gazette.

-INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
On Tuesday last (Joshua Field, Esq., President,
in the chair) the paper read was " On the Facilities
for a Ship Canal Communication between the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, through the Isthmus
of Panama," by Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd, Assoc.
Inst. C.E.
In treating this subject, which, on account of re-
cent events, has become one of great importance to the
political and the mercantile world, the author brought
to hear all the knowledge and experience acquired
during a lengthened residence in South America,
when serving in the Colombian Engineers, under
General Bolivar, from whom, after much difficulty,
he obtained permission to make the first survey
of the Isthmus, which he accomplished in the most
complete manner, as well as making soundings
throughout the principal rivers and in the chief'
harbours; compiling, at the same time, a
mass of minute and valuable information relative
to the country, which he transmitted to the Royal
Society, in whose archives they were deposited, and
a paper on the subject was published in the Philo-
sophical Transactions in 1830. Thus may Great
Britain claim not only the projection of one of the
greatest works of modern ages, but also for one of
her sons the merit of having, for the pure love of
science, been the first to demonstrate the facility of
the accomplishment of that which so many have since
descanted upon, and, to some extent, appropriated
wkhout acknowledgment.
The general views of the author incline to the
formation of a ship canal, in preference to a railroad;
he denies that there are any obstacles to its accom-
plishment, but, on the contrary, asserts so many
local advantages to exit and to be concentrated nearly
at one point, that in after ages it will be a matter of
wonder why so many generations should have ne-
glected or refused to render them available towards
the establishment of this long coveted communica-
tion between the two oceans.
The paper first reviewed the surveys of Garella, of
Morel, and others who had examined the country
subsequently to Colonel Lloyd. It then examined the
various lines proposed, and gave reasons for preferring
that which, starting from the beautiful bay of Limon,
would proceed by a short canal, through a flat
country, to the River Chagres, thence up the River
Prinidad, as far as its depth would suit, and then
cutting a canal into the Rio Grande, debouching at
Panama. This line, it was contended, in the present
state of the science of engineering, presented no
obstacles, excepting the climate and the expense, to
prevent a canal being cut of sufficient depth and
dimensions to float from the one river to the other the
largest ship in her Majesty's navy.
The climate was stated, from personal experience,
to be quite as good as in any tropical country, except
in some particular spots, where, from local causes,
certain complaints were rife.
The expense could only be accurately estimated by
the survey of experienced engineers; but in a country
abounding in fine timber, and the best building mate-
rials of all kinds, whilst no great chain of mountains,
as has been fancifully depicted on supposititious charts,
had any existence except in the imagination of the
designer, it was only fair to allow that the cost of a
canal of such limited length could not be very great,
and the supply of water might be presumed to he
ample in a climate where there was copious rain for
nine months in each year.
The disadvantages of a railroad in such a humid
climate wets descanted upon at length, and it was
shown that the risk of injury to merchandise from that
cause alone, independent of 'that to be anticipated
from breekage and pilfering during the various trans-
shipments, must induce preference for a canal, through
which vessels should pass from sea to sea without
delay, and continue their voyage to their destination
without breaking bulk.
The means of accomplishing the work were then
fully considered. The proposition for a certain
number of convicts, to be contributed by Great
Britain, France, and America, were shown to be
untenable, but it was argued that a portion of the
convicts from this country might be more advanta-
geously sent there than to our present penal settle
ments. The means of preventing their escape were
shown, and a proposition made for introducing with
them a number of convicts from Bengal, and the other
Presidencies, whose language and habits would
effectually prevent their mingling with the British
convicts, whilst their power of enduring fatigue under
a tropical sun, and during rains, and -their simple
mode of living, would render them valuable pioneers
for the more robust Englishman. .
It was stated, also, that a great deal of native
labour might be obtained at a cheap rate ; sixpence,
or ninepence per day, and his rations, consisting of a
pint of rice, a pound of dried beef, and 'a " gulps
d'aguardiente," being the ordinary pay of a " Peon."
The chief point, however, insisted on by the author
was the great field opened in the Isthmus, for
emigration, for the surplus population of this
country. He contended that it was far preferable
to the Canades, where the poor but industrious
and honest mechanic, or labourer, on arriving, found
that the rich lands he had heard of could only be
reached by a weary journey, and after such hardships,
in a severe climate, as his limited means and broken
strength rendered impossibie for him to bear.
Australia, with its arid trackless wastes, held out
still fewer temptations to the emigrant ; for the ordeal
of misery to be encountered by the majority was such
as to deter all but the stoutest hearts from encounter-
ing it.
The Isthmus had none of the disadvantages. I
was comparatively within an easy distance ; the emi-
grant would be at his destination almost on landing ;
the resources of the country were great, and the pro-
ductions varied aad cheap, whilst the present popula-
tion was infinitely disproportionate to the superficial
area of the country.
This point was strongly insisted on, and it was
argued that a grant of land might be easily obtained,
in liquidation of the debt owing by the Government
of the country, and as the British had once possessed
an establishment there in 1675 to 1690, under
the charter of the " Scotch Darien Company,"
so a footing being again obtained, a barrier of
the most formidable character would be oppposed to
the annexation propensities of our trans Atlantic
brethren, who were making rapid strides towards the
possession of this valuable tract.
Appended to the paper was a copy of the com-
mission granted to Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd, by
General Bolivar, authorising his examination and
survey of the Isthmus and of the rivers, which
had previously been most jealously refused to
every one. This document was alluded to with some
natural pride, as proving that to an English engineer
was due the merit of having been the first to examine
and propose a work of such vital importance to the
whole world, but which had been since claimed,
and, in fact, appropriated by other persona without
acknowledgment.
The discussion upon this interesting subject was
announced to take place at the meeting of January
Bth, as the evening of next Tuesday, December 18th,
would be devoted to reading the annual report, and
to the election of the president, vice-president, and
other members of council.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—In Woolmer's Exeter and nn Gazette
I real the following :—" TorquaY.—The Inspector,
under the Health of Towns Act opened his visitation
of inquiry last week. Much evidence has been heard,
but everybody is asleep as to what is necessary to be
done, or what will be done, or how it can be done.
Many have supposed that he would at least have
given them a little idea as to what the most important
feature of the improvements would consist of. But
no, he sits comfortably in his four-guinea a-day chair,
hears and says nothing." _

I see by 1-1 and 12 Vict., chap. 63, art. 7, that each
of the superintending inspectors is to have 'three
guineas per diem for pay, which Parliament (i e. my
pocket) is to provide, as well as travelling and other
expenses ! !!"
Will you, or some other public journalist, oblige
by informing me what the gross cost of the Public
Health Act of 1848 will be, together with the sani-
tary and sewers commissions, &c. &c. &c. ? I fear
they will collectively cost me something like a million
sterling per annum, for which I have really nothing
to show!--I am, Sir, &c.
London, Dec. 12. JOHN BULL.

FOUR LIVES LOST.—On Friday night lest an
awful accident occurred at Ballymartin, near Kilkeel. A
poor man, his wife, and two children, lived in a miser-
able hut beside the sea shore. The hut was old and
delapidated, inflict, not fit for the residence of human
beings; but, though the occupier, who was very poor,
had been repeatedly advised to go into the workhouse,
he would not—preferring, with an honest but mistaken
pride, to earn his bread by his own industry, and pre-
sure his freedom. Friday night was an exceedingly
tempestuous one. The man and his family had gone to
rest, all of them sleeping in the one bed; when the house
Ml on them, and the %hole four were killed. The next
day their bodies were dug out from the ruins. The poor
fellow was found in a sitting posture, with one of the
children in his arms, as if he had been rising to make
his escape. His wife had the other child. An inquest
was held on the bodies, and a verdict in accordance with
the facts returned.

---
THE CHOLERA IN LONDON AND PARIS.—From
the official returns just published it appears that the
number of deaths in Paris from this epidemic amounted
to 10,950, or, inclusive of those which took place in the
civil and miiitary hospitals, to 20,000. The most fatal
month was June, when 5,769 perished. In London the
most fatal month was September, when 6,644 fell victims.
Mr. Garcia is appointed Solicitor• General at
Trinidad.