The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-23 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

At a meeting of the Society of Arts, held yesterday,
T. M. Weguelin, Esq., Governor of the Bank of Eng-
land, in the chair,
The paper read was—" On Central America, and the
Proposed Honduras Inter-oceanic Railway," by Mr. E.
G. Squier. The attention of the meeting was first drawn
to the peculiarly advantageous geographical position of
Central America, which, in fact, almost realises the
ancient idea of " the centre of the world." Mr. Squier
drew attention to the fact that certain points where the
continent is most contracted in width are coincident with
those where the great mountain chain at the Cordilleras
is greatly depressed, or entirely interrupted, thus afford-
ing facilities for those ways of communication between
the oceans which have become among the desiderata of
modern times. Ever since the discovery of America by
Columbus the short and ea•y passage to the Indies
had been eagerly sought for, but geographical research
early demonstrated that to this the American continent
present: an unbroken harder. From this period the
daring of man began to c.intemplate the Titanic enter.
pride of cutting through the continent, and opening
an artificial water communication between the two
oceans. But the engineering science of that day was
unequal to the task, and for all the purposes of rapid
communication the Monarchs of Spain depended upon
those roads across the continent which their inability to
convert it into canals had compelled them to accept, the
principal traffic being across the Isthmus of Panama. As
early as the year 1556, however, the insalubrity and
other disadvantages of this route led to the presentation
of memorials against it to the King of Spain, which led
to a complete examination of, and favourable report
i-
upon the Honduras route, by Antonelli, the first elani,
neer of that day. Mr. Squier then proceeded
.toreex
that while occupying the position of iiiplomateicn, ferpewseans-
tative of the United States in Central America,
theerl Honduras
led to the impression of the feasibility
same time after-
wards,route for an inter oceanic railway,
proceeded to a careful examination
by
ranges of mountsins
in conju. tion with sotironneanonihtnere gentlemen,
country.
thies
traversed in various directniou
base of the Cordilleras, the
radiating from the corona
w_ll,l
rn is east by south ; but after
it turns due north, foraiivg
general course of
passing the plain of 0
irnieuyy,a)f, atnhde
jitxat,,lcsooraetix,-
the plain of Cornaya.o., mu extending
Rio
the Montecillas. At thea eastern base of their M'ontecillaa
range lies
tending due sou
er constituting a grant tranverse `alley, reaching
due north is the valleythistboef
fromalt°g seaeth so sea. It is this plain and its dependent valley,
constituting a natural cut through the Cordilleras, which
afford the avenue necessai, for the construction of the
proposed Honduras lute. -?ceanic Railway The line
of the proposed work COMIDCZIC?S at Puerto Cabaiios,
on
the Bay of Honduras, in lat. 15 49 N, and long. 87 57
W., aid runs nearly due E ,nth across the continent to
the Bay of Fonseca, on the Pacific, iu let. 13 21 N., and
long. 87 35 W. Its total length from anchorag, t
anchorage, is 148 geographical tn,les, equal to about 161
statute miles. It lies wboily in the State of Honduras.
The advantages of the ports at the extremities of the
proposed lines were then consiiiere Puerto Caballoa
being described as a good harbour, of great CA-
pacity, sufficient depth of water, and ee,y of
ten-
trance and exit ; while the Bay of Fonseca i
been justly spoken of as a const,ilation of ports. Tt,e
proposed lino does not present any serious engineering
difficulties, no where involving a gradient of more than
00 to 00 Net to the mile. A. certain supply of the ne•

1 cessary labour may be depended upon from the local
population, and the climate is such that foreign jab,
may be employed, if desirable. Mr. Squier th'3ntorich
upon the various resources of the country t ha t would bp
developed by the proposed railway, part';ic:ularly t. 47.
silver mines, which are unsurpassed in the at count set,
richness of their ores. The relative advAn tages of
railway and a canal were then discussed, alai', some i .
teresting statistics of the commerce of the Ps cific we
given. The saving, both of time and distax ,ce, which
this line would afford over the Panama and otl'her routes
is considerable, as well as the advantages 0
.at would,
probably, be ultirnate:y afforded for the tran mission of
intelligence. After speaking of the favoura ble terms
upon which the charter had been granted by tt .e govern.
matinent of Honduras, Mr. Squier concluded by congratu-
-1 the society upon the, probable happy siilution of
those differences in respect to Central America that have
so long disturbed the friendly relations between the
Ifnited States and Great Britain.
A discussion ensued, in which Mr. Trelaway Bauu•
dere and Mr. Thomas Webster, F.R.S., took Day t_

R OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Lcseee, Mr. C. Dillon.
THIS !EVENING will 1-e produced an entirely new and
original combinati'on of burlesque and pantomime, entitled
CONRAD AND MET/ORA;
er, Harlequin Corsair and the Little Fairy at the llottnin of
V"' Sea. The burlesque opening by W. Bronh, Fsq.,
'onndf'd upon the ballet of Le Corsair, as produced at Her
"'NegtY's Theatre. The harlegninade upon things in gene-
ral The new and magnificent scenery painted lar Mr. F.
Fenton. Characters in the opening :
Conrad (the Corsair) Miss Viroolgar
Birbarto this lieutenant)
Mr. J. L. Toole
Seyde Pasha .
n Striani .......................... Mr. Barrett
ynesiff,
... ...............
..... Mr. Holston
M .edora ...... .......................... Mr. S. Calhacm
(nlnar ...... Mrs. Charles ninon
znliern Mrs. B. White
submarine......... ... JMeselsviieliPeyder
Serena
YM.l73TMomarMeaWtthilet7s and
Clowns
Mr. H. Marshall
......... ...Mr. Stilt
••• .Mr. J Marshall
The Brothers Nelson.
Miss Clara Morgan and
MIN Ladd.
To be preceded by THE KING'S MUSKETEERS. D'Ar.
tagnan, Mr. C. Dillon.
The box-office open daily, from it to 5, under the super,
ntendeec© of Hr. Chatterton, jun.
Carriages conveying parties t a the Private Boxes to set
dawn at th‘l State ontranco in Buzleigh-street
A Morning Performanco every Saturday, at 2 o'clock.

Pantalo4 ~
Harlequin
Purilms
Colunibinos