The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-01 00:00:00

Robert Peel and M. Guizot are too wise to allow the
matter to betray them into a compromise of peace by
disturbing existing friendly relations.
The Shareholders of the New British Iron Company
held a meeting to-day, at which a report from the pro-
visional Committee was presented, giving a satisfactory
statement of the progress of the works under recent ma-
nagement. In fact, it appears, as was observed by the
Chairman in the course of the business, that every en-
deavour has been made to put the concern in a profitable
train, means having been taken to get rid of the pro-
perty which did not seem likely to promise a return,
and the money laid out in improving that which would.
During the last half-year the manufacture of pig iron
at Rhuabon was 5,135 tons, in Staffordshire 8,329 tons,
and at Abersychan 2,865 tons, making a total of 16,329
tons, which was an average of 628 tons per week. About
800 tons per week was now the average of manufacture ;
before long it was expected it would reach 1,000 tons
per week. No accounts were laid before the meeting,
the terms of the deed of settlement stipulating that
they should be made up on the 30th of September in
each year, but when they are presented the Directors
say they hope to be enabled to declare a dividend. As
far as present prospects are concerned, they regard the
progress of affairs as encouraging, because with the ar-
rangements they have made in Wales, and the neigh-
bourhood of their other properties, they can compete
with the iron masters, and secure a profit even at the
current reduced prices. The works not yet being in
full operation, and • the past duties of the Committee
having in a great degree been devoted to inspection and
improvement, the next meeting appears to be looked
forward to in the belief that it will show a very im-
proved condition of affairs. It was stated that the pre-
sent amount of capital agreed to be called would, under
the terms settled with the old Company, be amply suffi-
cient for the purchase of the property, as well as furnish
funds to carry on operations.
The meeting of the Proprietors of South Sea Stock
will be held to-morrow (this day), to take into conside-
ration the terms offered by the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer. At this meeting it is expected there will be a
contest between the Directors on the one hand, and a
portion of the Proprietors on the other, the former re-
commending that the Company should continue working
on, as at present, after the concessions have been made
to the Government, and the latter being for a dissolution
of the Company altogether. We have yet to learn what
wilt be the arguments in favour of continuance, but the
wishes of the other party have often been expressed.
These would petition Government to incorporate the
Old South Sea Annuities into Reduced Annuities, and
the New South Sea Annuities and the "Annuities,
1751," into Consols, 100/. Consols to be given for 1001.
South Sea Stock, which, with the guarantee fund, would
be 116/. 13s. 4d. Consols for every 100/. South Sea
Stock. There would then, they say, remain the balance
arising from surplus capital, &c., to be divided among
the Proprietors, which would be above 5 per cent. bonus
on the stock, after an allowance to the clerks now em-
ployed. These points, together with the consideration
of the Government proposition, will, from what we learn
out of doors, be discussed at the meeting.
The advantages that would be afforded to commerce
by connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by a
canal that might be navigated by the largest ships are
obvious to all ; and it is the supposition that all scheme •
for such connexion are impracticable that causes them
to be less generally regarded than the benefits they pro-
mise would seem to demand. A passage through Cen-
tral America would throw open an easy and compara-
tively short communication with the north-western coast
of the southern continent, would facilitate the approach
to the Australian colonies, and allow of a new route to
China. However, such appears to be the magnitude of
the undertaking, that there is a general disposition to
look upon all projects for connecting the oceans with
distrust.

Setting aside, however, the general doubt, and ad-
mitting the scheme of communication to be practi-
cable in some shape or other, opinions seem to be di-
vided among three plans—the Panama passage, that
by the Lake of Nicaragua, and that by tne Isthmus of
Tehuantepec, in the Mexican territory. To this last
plan attention has lately been called by Don Jose de
Garay, who has published a pamphlet containing the
results of a survey, undertaken under the auspices
of the Mexican Government, and setting forth his pro-
ject in very full detail. As to the feasibility of the
scheme, on that, of course, we can offer no opinion, but
the pamphlet itself, which is fully illustrated by maps, is
entitled to commendation, as being one of the completest
things of the kind. The foundation of Don Garay's
project is the cessation of the cordillera of mountains
near the source of the Chicapa, and a number of neigh-
bouring rivers. This leaves a table-land about Tarifa,
composed of a soil which is easily excavated, and densely
inhabited by an active population, whose labour can be
obtained at a trifling outlay. Don Garay would cut two
trenches—one from the Oztula to the Chicapa ; another
which, beginning a little above the " Ultimo Rancho,"
would direct the waters to the immediate vicinity of
Tarifa. To explain the workings of the scheme fully
is impossible without reference to accurate maps of the
spot, such as those which accompany the pamphlet, but
the general object is to connect the great river of Coat-
zacoalcos, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico, with
the Chicapa, which flows into the lagunes adjoining the
Pacific, and affording the advantage of an excellent har-
bour. The total cost of the work Don Garay estimates
at 85,000,0001., or upwards of 3,000,0001. sterling.
The advantages which, according to this "survey,"
are offered by Tehuantepec over Panama and Nicaragua,
consist in the nature of the soil, which allows of easy
working, and the healthiness of the place. Panama is
considered almost as a charnel-house, so dangerous is its
climate; while Nicaragua, although fertile, halthy, and
not deficient of population, .would require the excava-
tion of the hardest rock. The pamphlet is worth read-
ing, not only with a view to the examination of the
scheme, but for the local information which it contains.
The following correspondence between the Committee
of Spanish American bondholders and Senor Mosquera,
the Minister for New Granada, contains nothing what-
ever to satisfy the creditors of Colombia. All that they
can learn is, that at present-there is no information to
be obtained from Senor Mosquera:—

" la, Austin-friars, July 25.
" Sir,—The Committee of Spanish American bond-
holders having received numerous applications in re-
spect to the claims of the British creditors of your Go-
vernment, I request you will inform me whether any and
what steps have been taken to carry into effect the
agreement which the agents of the bondholders con-
cluded with the Government in March, 1842.
" The agents of the bondholders wrote to the Com-
mittee under date of the 24th of March, 1843, stating
that a project of law was then before Congress to em-
power the Executive to arrange the settlement of the
foreign debt.

" gince then the Committee have received no official
communication from their agents ; and they are there-
fore anxious to learn, for the satisfaction of the bond-
holders, what measures have been taken, either by the
Legislature or the Executive, with a view to the adjust-
ment of this long-pending negotiation.
" The Committee take this opportunity of requesting
that you will also inform them what is the total amount
of the imemittrAnces received by you towards the payment
of the interest on that portion of the Colombian debt
assigned to New. Granada.

• " I have the honour to be, &c.,
• "G. R. ROBINSON, Chairman.
" M, M. Mosquera, Esq., &c."
" 52, Baker-street, Portman-square, July 29.
" Dear Sir,—ln reply to your letter of the 26th inst.,
which was delivered to me on Saturday last, I have the
honour to inform you that up to the present day I have
received no order or communication from my Govern-
ment which would enable me to reply to the questions
you put to me ; but as I do receive any, I shall hasten
to bring the same under your notice.
" I have the honour, &c.,
"G. R. Robinson, Esq. "M. M. MOSQUERA."

LORD ELLENBOROUGH.—One of her Majesty's
steam-sloops on the Mediterranean station is to proceed im-
mediately to Alexandria, to embark Lord Ellenborough, and
convey his Lordship thence to Malta and Marseilles.

DETERMINED SUICIDE OF A PERSON UNKNOWN.—
On Tuesday afternoon, at five o'clock, Mr. Wakley, M. P.,
held an inquest at the Caledonian Arms, Princess-street,
Edgware-road, on the body of a man whose name and con-
nections are wholly unknown, bat who has resided for the
last three months at No. 30, in the above-named street. Ro •
bert Draper mid he resided at 30, Princess-street, and had
slept in the same bed as deceased for the last three months.
Between the hour of one and half-past one on Sunday morn-
ing, on coming home and going to the room in which de-
ceased and himself slept, he found an impediment to his open-
ing the room door, and on putting his foot inside, he found
something lying on the floor. He called up the landlord,
who brought a light, and on entering they found the de-
ceased lying on the floor, apparently dead, and on a surgeon
being sent for, he pronounced him to have been dead some
hours. Witness understood since that he had taken a
large quantity of poison. Witness left deceased in
bed at eight o'clock on Saturday morning; and when found
he had nothing on him but his shirt and a yellow silk hand-
kerchief tied round his head. No one knew his name or
what he was; but he was supposed to be a valet out of place.
He was very mysterious in his manners, and never conversed
with any one. By the Coroner—l was afraid to sleep with
hiin, for I frequently woke in the night and found him out of
bed, leaning on his hands, with his eyes stedfastly glaring at
me. On one occasion on getting out of bed I found a razor,
half open, lying on the floor; but on questioning deceased
about it, he denied that he had placed it there. I often
thought he was notright in his mind. The Coroner inquired
if no means had been used, either by the constable or police
to' trace 'out who deceased was? -Cotton, the summoning
officer replied, that a diligent search had been made, and that
nothing had been found by which he could be identified, ex-
cept W. L. S. marked on his linen, and the following writing,
inclosing four sovereigns in paper:' " Please to pay for a
coffin out of this money for me," then followed something
else, which neither the Coroner nor jury could decipher.
Verdict—" Temporary Insanity."
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAlL-
WAY.—Between 11 and 12 o'clock on Sunday night, James
Smith, the driver, was killed near Iver-bridge, near West
Drayton, where the body now lies. It is supposed that the
unfortunate man was going along the luggage to speak to the
guard. I3ia head presented a most appalling spectacle.