The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-14 00:00:00

PANAMA.

two miles long, and three-quarters of a mile broad.
It rises abruptly to a moderate elevation, and pos-
sesses a salubrious and drier clime than Panama.
The islands in the Pacific appended to the
Isthmus, at the disposal of the Government, are
those situated in the Gulf and Bay of Nlontij4,
and are Quibo or Coiba, Cebaco, Gobernadora, &e.
The first mentioned, Coiba, is of very considerable
extent, about sixty miles in circumference. Of all
the waste lands at the disposal of the Government,
this island is by far the most valuable part ; its soil
is capable of yielding profusely all the tropical pro-
ductions in sufficient quantity to sustain a very large
population. It is in parts covered with the most
enormous timber; its elevation is gradual and well
fitted for culture—it is watered with numerous
streams—possesses three ports, one of them at the
mouth of a large river, which is perfectly secure and
capacious.

The commerce of Panama is at the lowest ebb.
The causes that have brought about its decay
were the uncertain, dilatory, and dangerous con-
veyance of merchandise across the Isthmus. From
the want of security and despatch this way, the
route by Cape Horn came, in consequence, to be
looked after, the navigation became better known,
and, ultimately, has been adopted to all the ports
in the Pacific. The commerce of the southern
coast of Mexico, Central America, the Equador,
and Peru, owing to the alleged cause of defective
and dangerous mode of transport, has been turned
from this its former channel. The transit trade to
Guayaquil, in the Equador, and to Paita, in Peru,
is all that is left to the Isthmus, and this falls off
from year to year.
The population of Panama is about 7,000, in
which there is considerable proportion of people of
colour, and many negroes.
The establishment of steam navigation by the Pa-
cific and Atlantic Companies, is hailed by the Pana
menos with joy and enthusiasm, to the successful re-
sults of which they would cheerfully contribute all in
their power. They already see, through the vista of
hope their ancient splendour restored, and hear their
public offices again resounding to the din of busi-
ness, the jingle of doubloons and dollars, of bars
of gold and silver, as in the time of the Spanish
galleons. They have lately passed a law granting
liberally several privileges to the vessels of the
Royal Mail Steam-packet Company of London,
which I have transmitted to Mr. M'Queen,
through his agent at Jamaica, in anticipation of
the approach of the steamers in October.
Mines of excellent coal have been found in the
Isthmus at Hirigin, in the province of Veragtias,
hitherto undiscovered, situated two degrees west of
of this city. Within these few days the dis-
covery of another mine, at a short distance from
Panama, has been communicated to me. At
Bocas•del-Toro, on the Atlantic side of the Isth-
mus, being north and south with the locality of
the mine at Chiriqui, coal is also found. It is,
therefore, not improbable that the vein is exten-
sive. A couple of weeks ago the Pacific Steam
Navigation Company's packet schooner Lord
Abinger, arrived here with instructions to me, as
agent of the Company at Panama, to procure per-
mission from this Government for the vessel to
proceed to Chiriqui, to take in some fifty to one
hundred tons of the coal. On application the per-
mission was granted, and I am now awaiting with
anxiety the report of a scientific person, who came
in the vessel for the express purpose of exploring
this mine, and determining its extent and the
quality of the coal.

In submitting the preceding loose and imper-
fect sketch of this interesting country, I must claim
your indulgence. It has been written in a hurry
from my other occupations ; its only recommenda-
tion is, that the simple facts it contains are drawn
from authentic sources and personal observation.
Without dealing in Utopian visions, I will say
that no country possesses more vast natural re-
sources, and the elements of individual and national
wealth are nowhere to be found more prodigally
bestowed than in this favoured region ; but it is
melancholy to contemplate this magnificent and
fertile soil, as it now is, under the withering influ-
ence of depopulation and •misrule. Would that
the British bondholders, whose claims you have so
ably and eloquently defended in your pamphlet on
the subject of the South American loans, were to
take into consideration how the Isthmus might be
made available to the extinguishment of the debt of
New Granada, which, in my humble opinion, will
be postponed eternally, unless such a measure be
resorted to. It is delusion to trust to the surplus
of their revenue, so managed as it is, or to the se-
questration of any of its branches, for the repay-
ment of British capital so generotisly lavished upon
these republics.