The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-13 00:00:00

THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, MAY I.—Among the many ques-
tions that engage the observation of a colonial tourist, there is
none that more immediately deserves notice than the oft-dis-
cussed subject of transit over the Isthmus of Panama, and the
connexion of the Atlantic with the Pacific Ocean. I have had
access to various sources of information on these important
points dining my short stay in this island, and I anxiously call
your attention to them, with the hope of impressing
through you on the British public generally the magnitude of
the interests which are at stake, and the necessity of Great
Britain taking the initiative in developing them. Since the
days of Cortes the project of a ship canal connecting the two
oceans has been a favourite speculation with adventurers of
all nations, and privileges have been obtained from the old
Spanish, as well as from the modern New Granada and
Central American Governments, for the purpose of facili-
tating its construction. But all these speculations have
failed, and the idea is too vast for the comprehension of
private individuals. Latterly, in lieu of a ship canal, a
railway has been proposed, but no efficient step has been
taken in the matter, and European capitalists are evidently
not prepared to advance money for such an undertaking.
A bold proposal was made some years since by a Mexican
Company to connect the two oceans by cutting through the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and a survey was effected at
considerable expense by those gentlemen, but I can see
no reason why the narrow and central Isthmus of Panama
should be abandoned for the wider and more diffi-
cult passage of Tehuantepec, or why our shipping communi-
cating with the corresponding port in the Gulf of Mexico
should be exposed, in case of American war, to the attacks
of privateers from Mobile, Pensacola, and the Mississippi,
instead of keeping the open sea towards Portobello or the
Chagres. I will therefore set aside the Mexican speculation
as altogether impracticable, and direct your whole attention to
the only efficient route of the Panama Isthmus.

Without referring to projects which in olden times succes-
sively failed, I will merely state that since 1835 two at-
tempts have been made by speculators to establish a ship
canal, and that privileges were obtained by them from the
New Granada Government, which have since lapsed in conse-
quence of the non-performance of their contracts by the per-
sons alluded to. In 1835 the same Baron Thierry who 'has
since figured in New Zealand, obtained a grant, which subse-
quently formed the basis of the French and Granadan Com-
pany; and in 1836 an American, Colonel Biddle, entered
into engagements which were rendered abortive by the com-
mercial crisis of that year, and the sudden death of the
principal speculator. The French Granadan Company made
an appeal to the money-market for support, but finding no capi-
talists disposed to answer them, they renounced their privilege,
and the subscribers paid. up the fine they had incurred for not
having commenced the undertaking within the period assigned.
The question, therefore, now remains open to all speculators,
and those who may embark in it can have no fear of being
met by prior grants. The Government of New Granada is
free of engagements, and I understand that, while warned
by experience it is determined not to treat with feeble or
unsupported Companies, it is disposed to meet, on the most
liberal footing, any rich substantial Company composed of our
merchant Princes and possesssing the confidence of our Go-
vernment.

I purposely omit any direct notice of the plans proposed by
French speculators for opening communication from the
port of Nicaragua, in Central America by ascending the
river San Juan, traversing the lakes of Nicaragua and Leon,
and cutting a canal thence to the port of Realejo on the Pacific;
because, in my opinion, the undertaking is far beyond the
means of the parties, and capitalists cannot be found to sup-
port. it. _

The British commercial association already in existence
most interested in the transit of the isthmus is undoubtedly
the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company, because its vessels
navigate the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico in every direc-
tion, and because it could, by the establishment of three
or four large steamers in the Pacific, absorb the whole of
the treasure and passengers who now, for want of an official
line of steamers along the North and South American coasts
of the Pacific and facility of transit over the Isthmus, go
round Cape Horn to Europe. It is probably from these con-
siderations, that an intelligent director of the company,
Captain Liot, aided by the Crown Surveyor of Jamaica, has
lately been employed in determining what ports in both
oceans should be fixed on as entreputs, and in what manner
the transit of the isthmus should be effected, so as to meet
the general interests of the commercial world, and the par-
ticular views of the association itself. These gentlemen
having, as I understand, carefully examined the whole line
of both coasts of the isthmus, have chosen the ports of Panama
on the one side, and of Portobello on the other; and they have
likewise determined that the transitshould be effected in a direct

line between these places. The selection of Panama and Porto-
bello reflects credit on the judgment of Captain Liot and
his companion, because in the time of Spanish dominion
they were the corresponding ports for the transmission and
shipment of specie, and because they can be made at very
little expense safe and commodious harbours. From the
former communication can be easily held with Guayaquil,
Lima, and Valparaiso, to the south ; and Acapulco, Son
Blas, and Mazatlan and Realejo, to the north ; and the lat-
ter is easy of access to the splendid steamers of the company,
who can, if necessary, run from the Land's-end to Portobello
in 23 days' direct steaming, or in 28 days, touching at Bar-
badoes and Jamaica. It was at first proposed that the port of
Chagres should be the terminus at the Atlantic side, as the
river was considered navigable to a considerable distance in the
isthmus, and the transit would be so far advanced ; but on close
examination the harbour and the river were found to be im-
impracticable, and Portobello, as I have shown, was selected.
The next point which engaged the attention of Captain Liot
was, " In what manner is the transit to be effected, and is there
no more practicable mode than the enormously expensive one of
a railway or ship canal?" For the purpose of determining this
material question, a survey was made of the intervening ground,
the engineer cutting his way by compass through forest and
bosh, and the result was the obtaining a choice of three lines,
either of which can be made available. In coming from
Panama the surveyor followed as far as possible the remains of
the old Spanish causeway connecting that place with Perto-
bello, but found it broken up and overrun with timber, and the
line itself, being carried, as the crow flies, over hill and dale,
is in all respects objectionable. He therefore struck out anew
road, which winding round the base of hills, and approaching
as near a level as any English turnpike-road, makes the whole
distance from port to port only 55 miles.
The agents of the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company
having now fixed on two suitable ports, and reduced the dis-
tance between them to 55 miles, determined instead of pro-
posing a ship canal or a railroad, either of which would demand
an immense outlay of money, and give rise to political embarass-
ments, to recommend the practicable and cheap passage of
a macadamized road, for the formation of which the ground
is perfectly suitable, anti the materials of construction to be
found on the spot. One is struck with the prudence of this
recommendation, because of its cheapness and practicability,
and because that same road can in the course of time be made
available for steam-carriage purposes, for the atmospheric
pressure railway, or fur the ordinary tram road. I understand
maps and plans have been sent home, explanatory of all these
points, and it is hoped that the company Kill at once take the
initiative by establishing steam communication along the shores
of the Pacific, and effect a temporary mode of transit over the
isthmus during the two years which the surveyor says it will
take to lay down a macadamized road. The temporary mode
of transit can be effected from Panama by mules as far as
Cruces, a distance of eighteen miles, and thence by canoe
descending the river Chagres to the port of that name. Of
course the passage up stream will be more tedious, but it
must be borne in mind that the valuable freight of specie and
the majority of passengers come from the Panama side of the
isthmus.
The question of transit at last assumes a tangible shape, and
I hope to state, ere long, that the Macadam road has been com-
menced.— 2 im cs.

DEATH FROM THE BITE OF A POISONOUS INSECT.
—Yesterday Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Queen's Head,
High street, Poplar, on the body of Robert Smith, aged 67 years,
a labourer in the West India Docks. About a fortnight since the
deceased was employed in what is termed the "transporting gang,"
in moving the ship from one part of the dock to another. On his
return home he supposed he had been bitten by a gnat, and the
irritation which ensued was so violent as to cause him to rub the
afflicted part to a degree which caused alarming symptoms, and
the arm became swollen. He was subsequently conveyed to the
London Hospital, and having been relieved, afterwards became an
out-patient. In a short time, however, further al.rming symptoms
appeared, and Mr. Bloomfield, a surgeon, of Poplar, was called in
on Monday morning last, but he died the same day. Mr. Bloom-
field stated that when he was called in the deceased laboured under
difficulty of breathing, and had an intermittent pulse, accompanied
by delirium. From the symptoms witness attributed death to the
bite of tome poisonous insect from the tropical climates. Verdict
—" That death was caused by some poisonous insect."
GOLDSMITHS' CoMPA:r•Y.—Yesterday, pursuant to
annual custom the master and wardens of this Company proceeded
to distribute the munificent sums left for charitable purposes to
four freemen of the Goldsmiths' Company, and maimed soldiers,
by P. Shelley, Esq. A grand banquet was afterwards partaken of
by the Court of the Company.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, June 12.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack
at Five o'clock.

BAIL IN ERROR.
The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the third reading
of the Bail in Error Bill.—Agreed to.
DEODANDS ABOLITION BILL.
The report of this Bill was brought up and laid upon
the table.

TENANTS' COMPENSATION BILL.
Lord PORTMAN rose to present a Bill " On the sub-
ject of the expediency of providing compensation to
tenants of lands for improvements thereon in certain
cases." He said it was with considerable difficulty he
addressed their Lordships, after the statement which his
Noble Friend (Lord Stanley) had made last Monday
eveninir. There was a great difference between his
(Lord 'Portman's) Bill and that of his Noble Friend,
that whereas his (Lord Portman's) Bill contained only
four clauses, that proposed by his Noble Friend con-
tained a great number. Their Lordships, it would be
recollected, had assented to the principle of his Bill,
and it was entrusted to a Select Committee ;
but when in Committee he was convinced it
would not be right to carry forward the Bill, as in

providing for the evils it Was intended to remedy, it
would produce others of a greater magnitude.
He had taken some pains during the recess by inquiries
in all parts of England to obtain information with re-
spect to the subject, and to make suggestions which did
not occur to the members of the Committee. Although
landowners generally were disposed to make and con-
sent to improvements on their property, yet,
there were some landowners who would not
consent to such improvements if they interfered with
their property to any material extent. He had no doubt
their Lordships were of opinion that it was better to
have improvements effected by agreements between the
landowner and renter of land, which would be binding on
the heirs of both, than by any other plan.
Under the present system there was great difficulty in
inducing a tenant, whose lease had nearly expired, to
make improvements by drainage or otherwise on the
land which he held by lease, on account of the uncer-
tainty of the tenuro, and an impression that some other
person would reap the advantage. The difficulty seemed
to be this—that they had no law by which they could
secure compensation to a tenant who had laid out
money on the land which he occupied. It ought not to
be left to the option of the landowner, but ought to be
secured to him by legal means. These means
appeared to him to be—a well-arranged lease
between the parties • and by an Act of the
Legislature, he proposed that it should be lawful of a
renter of land to demand compensation within six
months of the expiration of his lease, if for three
years or upwards, according to the custom of
the country with regard to value, and that similar powers
should be given to the landowner and his agent,
thus giving security to both parties, and that in
the event of any dispute it should be referred to two per-
sons, one of whom should be a justice of the peace, and
in the event of their decision being unsatisfactory, there
should be an appeal to the quarter sessions, or to one of
the courts of law. No regulation could be made as to
the amount of compensation, as that must depend on cir-
cumstances.
The Bill was then read a first time.

Lord DACRE postponed the second reading of his
Game Bill from Monday next till Tuesday.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 12.
The SPAMHER took the Chair at the usual hour.
NEW WRIT.

On the motion of Mr. YOUNG, a new writ was
ordered for the county of Edinburgh, Mr. Ramsay having
accepted the Chiltern Hundreds
CALEDONIAN RAILWAY BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
DUNDEE AND PERTH RAILWAY BILL.

The Bill was read a third time and passed.
CLYDESDALE JUNCTION RAILWAY BILL.

This Bill was read a third time and passed.
Mr. F. MAULE presented a petition from Edinburgh,
in favour of the Bill for the abolition of tests in the
Scotch Universities.

Lord ASHLEY presented a petition from Lancashire
in favour of a ten hours' Bill ; also a petition from the
physicians at Bridport against the medical Bill ; and
a petition from Wales praying that, if local courts should
be established there, the evidence in those courts should
be taken in Welsh.
IRISH BANKING BILL.

Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN, seeing the Right Honourable
Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his place,
wished to ask him if he would postpone the Irish Bank-
ing Bill for a week, in order to afford the Irish public
that which they had not yet had, viz., an opportunity of
considering the provisions of the measure ? (Hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied
that the Bill had been printed early in May, that the
amendments which had been introduced into it had been
introduced in concert with the bankers of Ireland, and
with other persons in that country interested in the
subject, and that he saw no reason for any further
postponement at this late period of the session.
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN asked if it was intended to
proceed with the discussion on the Irish Banking Bill
to-night ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
arrangement was, that the report should be brought up
to-night, and the discussion should be taken on the third
reading.
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN hoped the subject would not
be brought on at a late hour.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said they
would see to what hour the other business before the
House extended.