The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-03 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—As no plan has yet been decided on with regard
to the disposal of our convicts, permit me to suggest for
consideration the propriety of sending out such of them
as may volunteer for the purpose to the Isthmus of
Darien, to clear a road across it in the line of the pro-
posed canal, and afterwards to cut the canal itself. The
voyage to Darien being very short, the expense of send-
ing out the convicts would be very small, whilst by this
plan the community would be relieved of a dangerous
class, and the convicts themselves be enabled to expiate
their offences by executing the great work of an inter-
oceanic canal, and thus conferring a lasting benefit on
the world.

I anticipate, however, two objections to the plan. It
will be said, first, that the Government of New Granada
may object to allowing the convicts to be introduced
into the territory ; and next, that the climate is un-
healthy.
With regard to the first objection, it is sufficient to say
that the Government of New Granada is very desirous
that the oisual should be cut, and that it is quite a matt( r
of indifference to it by what clasii.of persons the work
be done.

The 200 men sent from Carthage to Darien by that
Government in 1354 were convicts under a guard of
soldiers. It is greatly to be regretted that those men,
whose chains were removed when they arrived in Darien,
and who were very anxious to do something, were kept
in a state of complete inaction on the beach, Caledonia
Bay, for almost the whole time the expedition lasted.
Had they been properly employed they would have cut
a road across the Isthmus, and decided the question of
the practicability of the canal.
As to the climate, it results from the experience of
Dr. Ross, of the Virago, Dr. Brownlow, of the Cyane,
and myself, that the popular idea of its unhealthiness is
quite erroneous. N9t a single case of sickness occurred
amongst any of the parties sent on shore from the
Espiegle, Cyane, and Chimere, whilst the patients who
were on the sick lists of those vessels, on their arrival in
Darien, rapidly convalesced. Indeed it was remarked
by all the medical officers that the crews of the vessels
were in better condition on our leaving Darien than
when we arrived there. _

From all the inquiries I made amongst the natives I
could not ascertain that any particular form of fever or
other disease prevailed amongst them, and from their
appearanc. I should say they are a very healthy race.

Mr. Lionel Gisborne, in a letter to Lord

Wharncliffe, chairman of the Atlantic and Pacific Com-
pany, dated May, 1854, says :—" There have been
altogether, in this surveying expedition, 900 persons
subjected to climate influences, some along the coast
and some in the interior, and I believe I am correct in
stating that not a single case of illness during the whole
period of our stay, and that the only casualties were a
scorpion bite I received, and an accident to a marine
from the Espiegle, who was confined to his hammock
for a few days from falling upon the stump of a tree."
The opinion of the healthiness of the climate expressed
by Dr. Cullen, in his work on Darien (pp. 83 —88) and
deduced from the consideration of the physical aspect
of the tract of country which he proposed for the line of
the canal has thus been borne out by subsequent expe-
rience.

Several instances of !great longevity amongst both
Indian and negro inhabitants of Darien are cited by
Dr. Cullen.

Amongst the documents copied from the archives of
Bogota by Mr. T. C, Vincent, of Rood-lane, there is a
very interesting diary, kept by Sergeant Gabriel Morales,
who, with Serjeants Miguel Antonio Delgado, and
Miguel Quintana, commanded an expedition of 150
foot soldiers, sent by the Governor of Darien, Lieut.-
Colonel Andres de Ariza, against the Indians. The
sergeant started from Principe, on the Savana, to the
Chuqeanaqua, and Morti went thenee to the Lncubti,
and returned after an absence in the forest of 15 days,
in the height of the rainy season. His diary concludes
thus—" 25th July.—At 12 o'clock in the day we entered
Principe, at which hour we presented ourselves to our
governor, delivering to him this diary, and informing
Wm, by word of mouth, that the whole of the troops
and natives attached to the expedition had returned in
perfect health, in the midst of such terribly unfavourable
weather as they had unceasingly encountered, there not
having been one fine day ; and that all had used their
best endeavours to fall in with the enemy, and returned
disconsolate at not having succeeded therein.—Puerto
del Principe, 25th July, 1786.—Gabriel Morales, at
the request of the Sergeants Miguel Antonio Delgado
and Miguel Quintana, Quintin Villagra.—lt is a copy
whereof I bear testimony,—Amze." It is a copy of
the original extract in these archives.
JUAN OSCAR LEVY,
Keeper of the Archives of the Government.
Bogota, 10th June, 1852.
The above evidence is, I think, sufficient to answer
any objection to the plan on the ground of the sup.
posed unhealthiness of Darien.
Trusting that this suggestion may be deemed deserv-
ing of consideration, now that our streets are co infested
with dangerous criminals,
I have the honour, &c.,

WILLIAM I.N.t
23, Northumberland-street, Strand,
Jan. 1, 1857.

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, JAN. 2.

The continued rise of cotton places both manufac-
turers and merchants in a difficulty, because the cost of
production is approaching a point which must seriously
limit the use of cotton fabrics. The business done in
our market this morning has consequently been on a
small scale. This is particularly noticeable in the de-
mand for long cloth, T cloths, and domestics, for all of
which transactions have been confined to limited quan-
tities. There is still a moderate demand for printirg
cloths, and sellers are firm in requiring full rates. For
all kinds of shirtings the market is very firm, prices
being rather higher than last week. The heavier makes
of 40-inch for China have been less inquired for in con-
sequence of the news from Canton. In yarns buyers
have been unwilling to give the increased rate of id. to
per lb. required to cover the extra cost of cotton,
but sellers are well under orders for the present, with
light stocks, and are indifferent about new business un-
less the buyer is content to accept the new terms. The
demand is from all markets, home and foreign, and a
large trade would be done at easier rates.