Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-04-19

most stupendous and most costly undertaking
sir John Fastaf of merry and immortal memory, offered
to caper for wager Of thousand marks with any body
that would lend him the money and so it is pretty much
with the thoroughbred protector Furnish him with the
means, and he will promise to make canal not only across
the lshmns but any part Of the continent or il re-
quired, he will build bridge over the Pacific to China or do
any thing that he may be asked do but the condition
precedent is invariably that the "thousand marks be forth
coming.
The Government Of New Granada has granted two three
charters authorizing the grantees make roads and canals
from Chages to Panama, one Of whom had either the
means or the intention Of complying with his contract and
to this day there has been believe single square
yard OF earth excavated tree feled stroke struck
under any Of the charters The grantees were spectators
who resored to this device for raising the ,od and they
were in some degree successful sometimes Mr. SALAMos
mentioned by me in former letter. the assignee Of the
Baron THrERRr, who obtained charter, but did nohng
and ne (Mr 81 has done nothing either any purpose
though ne contends upon ground other, that his
charter IL still valid and subsstng He is capitalist have
understood but ne is too wise risk his money
roads and canals in the Ishmus. He knows the ground
too WELL He is endeavong, have heard prevail upon
the French Government to back him in way other
and the fate Of his application viii depend probably good
deal upon the report Of the engineers sent to the Ishmus
But the Government Of New Granada contends that he has
forfeited his charter and the stands at present
is due to Mr. s. say that he engaged originally this
erpse believe, in good faith, and with the intention Of
doing something.
Much ADLER men than myself have written recently upon the
subject of the canal the Ishmus-Mr. WHEATON, M.
CHEvALIER and Others and they nearly all favor the opn
ion, more less emphatcay, that it is important practical
bic, of very difficult achievement and that the utility Of it
fha bovo
ent view of the NATTER and which, though frankly expressed
should have kept myself believe, least should
not have written any thing about it if had not been that
circumstances have put it casually in my power form my
opinions from actual personal observation and inquiry the
very goundan advantage not possessed believe, by Mr.
w. and Mons. c.. and such is my respect fol Mr.. WIS
opinion Mr G. do not know that feel to bealmost pre-
sumptuous to differ with him. Baron Humboldt visited the
sthmus forty years ago more, but at that time do not
think there much discussion, if any, about shpcana
though the idea not He mentions the sub
ect rather in general and PEASANT sort Of expresses
decisive opinion believe and do not think he made
any particular surveys examinations estimates Of cost
with reference to shpcanal Had he made them, and then
pronounced the canal be practicable reasonable expense
be Of great utility and that the stock would yield remu
neratng dividend, there would not be found many pre-
sume that would venture aagn the correctness Of his
illusions; certainly should not.
pamphlet Of considerable length has been lately published
at Panama by Fenchman residing there, en- DExAIS,)
in which the subject of artificial communication the
shmus discussed, and the writer decides unhesitangly
against canal and in favor of good road be constructed
from And far think his opinion
canal is vastly preferable, be sure could il be made at
moderate by powerful Governments, and be transferred
in perpetuity all the nations Of the earth that all the
world could pass through for nothing for trfe But
this be expected take place. that which is desa
BILE must be abandoned postponed and that adopted which
practicable road would be Of great in the sthmus
and would facilitate foreign commerce considerably perhaps
but cannot suppose that it would realize the golden
pectatons of NJ Denan, who INDUCES, think in uto
plan ideas well M Chevaer He says that good road
would increase the value OF the property the shmus to the
Of between four and FIVE hundred millions of dollars
will not contradict this but desperately incredulous,
and though should be most happy hear of this
augmentation of wealth for the hospabe Isthmenans yet
cannot persuade myself that it take place from the
construction of road, supposng il to be good the
best parts Of great national road the Cumberland But
live in age of wonders and M Denains ancpations
coue de they are, may day be verified, and
will then be prepared doubt whether Of the gorgeous
descriptions of wealth and magnfcence with in the
Arabian Nights quite the cons they generally consi
dered by matersfac persons be- The Ishmus with all
its soil and every species of property be found it visible
and tangible, real personal Mixed suppose
coed in value forty fifty millions Of dollars and this think
rather high valuation. Can it be possible then, that
single road cost M. Denain says think more
than hundred thousand dollars will add four hundred mil
lions to that value am afraid not.
For upwards Of three hundred years the Ishmus Of Panama
has been the subject Of almost ncessant speculation It
menced, believe, with Fernando Corez who was at first
confident that there must be strait through it, having
persuaded himself that the Almighty had made continent
Of such length without leaving opening between the
two and similar notion prevailed to great extent
among the learned in EUROPE Presently But the specu
latists wrong, they often We have the CONT
nenl50 degrees nearly in length, thousand mIes-bu
artificial is likely TO puzzle the ingenuity Of all Chris
tendon.
Sir Walter Raleigh said that the Ithmus was the KEYS of
the world " and may have appeared be in his day.
when the doubling of the Cape Of Good Hope and Of Horn
considered TO be daring and perou achievements But
for century past when they doubled every day. and by
any kind of craft and by any kind Of navigator the mpor
lance Of passage through the Ihmus has been greatly dm
nished
To decide the question Of sp-canal tho Ishnus
ought be decided that the decision may be founded upon
reagabe data and perfectly satisfactory, requires in my
opinion qualifications be found united probably in
single individual living Besides the scientific requirements
that will be requisite vast and varied and most
would he necessary for, to make canal with
n -I l.