Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-03
JUNCTION OF ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS

this subject addressed by Baron ALEXANDER VoN
HUMBOLDT to Mr. LIONEL Osborne, of London
SIR; trust you viii the oldest among the
yeers in both the tropics Of America and the steppes
pf Siberia for having long delayed 10 thank you for
the information derived from your interesting journal
&C. on the junction Of the Atlantic with the Pacific The
position occupy in this country and the ardent desire
feel TO hnsh before my death, scientific works
winch had the imprndence TO begin, considerably inter-
ruped the even course of my correspondence there
fore hope that shall meet your part also, with that
indulgence which your countrymen have shown me dur
ing so long period.
have not been beyond the Rio Rimo which lies east
OF the mouth OF the Atrato. 1t at the time when
left the island Of Cuba my way to Lima by Bogota
quito ana the river Amazon for the purpose Of observ
ing the passage Of Mercury through the solar disc
then on friendly terms with very intelligent merchant
Don Tynacio Tombo, Of Carthagena, in America and
recolect that the Casso Treasury convoy of Guayaqu
was then on Its way to Europe by the road from Capca
to the Atrato, which first opened by the Discayian
pilot Poguerache Knowing geologicay the interruption
Of the mountain chains and the depression of the range
in the eastern part Of the Ihmus my attention has
NAMED hxed during this last half century on the Bay Of
San Miguel and the route from Cupca TO the Rio
Napipi.
Owing to my friendly relations with Gen Bolivar. OBJ
tanned through him the first line of levels the Isth
mus OF Panama Ever since the subject has not ceased
to occupy my mind the various works and maps which
published since 1910 and my correspondence with va
rous statesmen viii testify But all my striving and
urging only led to imperfect trials and projects cacu
lated for line to the of the meridian of Panama
and Portobeo, of which gained my confidence
had however, the qualification of SEEING views
ored by eminent member Of her Britannia Maiestys
Navy, Capt Fitzroy Journal of the Royal Georgian
Society, VOL Xxx, The increase Of human knowledge
and the immense progress Of science arts and industry
among the western nations, have given powers which
only call fer application.
Every thing depends upon energy and perseverance.
therefore congratulate you, sir and your courageous
friend Mr. Cullen, well Sir Charles Fox, Mr. Hen
derson and Mr. Brassey for having given your names to
so noble an undertaking | have always considered
firstly, the opening OF oceanic canal without locks
and, secondly the cut at Huchnecoca, in the valley Of
Mexico, (Which is comparatively smaller scale,
may be from the map and section published
events calculated highly improve the relations between
the different families of the human species. In fact such
work the you contemplate will bring Eastern
Asia TO the nations Of Europe and America 1t
will render the whole globe easy to be travelled
over this little GLOBE of which Christopher Columbus
ia Of his letters the Queen Of Spain said % Ell
aundo cspoco.n
1t will facilitate the diffusion Of productions especially
of precious metals of which the relative value q to Is
Soy would change too suddenly without this "permea-
i bility' of the world.
AS early as the discovery of the new continent civil
cation had spread in direction from north TO south,
those portions of America which lie opposite ASIA
those on the European side being then occupied by bar
barous hunting tribes
The finest harbors the most precious products like
wise found in the west.
Even the OF the air by their direction,
tribute towards the preponderaDce Of West American
power the rich countries Of Asia The increasing
Importance Of the of America promises ba
lance future time the surprising progress of the
Atlantic States, provided the Western States keep them
selves free from that hdeous disease slavery of coored
! people
Indeed sir feel the most ardent wishes for the happy
success Of this oceanic canal The attention which the
public Of the two continents bestow already upon your
undertaking will increase you viii be enabled
assisted by further explorations and survey extending
al details, and carried by great number OF ex
perenced men, publish large scale maps and
tons Of the line fixed upon between Puerto Escoces and
the Gulf of San Miguel The changes which the
Of the undertaking is to effect In the international
of the world will only disturb such people as
in the Of their views oppose themselves to
the natural and proydental of events and shed
tears over the unfortunate discovery of America The
Rio Huaxacuaco with its portage to the Rio Chimalapa,
Tehuantepec OF which published the first map after
the Itineraries discovered by in the archives OF the
Vice Kingdom Of Mexico will always be Of great i'm
porance owing to its position opposite louisiana in the
Gulf of Mexico, which has all the appearance Of
becoming cluusu-a lake Of the United States
The nature Of the soil, however, does not allow grea
works TO be carried out in that locality; besides yoI
know the difficulties impeding any canazation recti
caton Of rivers of great length and the great varia
tons Of the volume Of water, in the river San Juan
But railway would be great advantage TO the Southern
, States
The great interest which every one at the present tins
takes in the canazaton Of the Isthmus recalls similar
fact to my memory reminding Of the sudden interest
created by the discovery Of guano. the first who
brought guano TO Europe OF which Klaproth and Vau-
quelin published analysis Daring forty years
preached but always vain the usefulness OF this sub
stance, and in vain did recommend its employment in
ertilizing the fields in Europe; but it is only fifteen
eighteen years since has at last become great article
Of commerce.
beg Of you my dear sir, to present my kind remem-
brances the excellent and able Mr. Petermann, and
to, &c. ALEXANDER Won HUMBOLDT
r. s. not surprised at the difference between the
level you found at Turbaco and my statement. To
this however, had prudenty added doubtful barome-
rical observation" See my " Recueil Reservations
Astronomiques ct dc Measures Baromeriques," vol J. p
1891 The fact that the gas issuing from the little vol
at Tur5aco is nnammable in its natural state has
already been communicated by Col Acosa. journal p.
Col II appears that the gaseous fluid which issues from
the salses is not the at all times find in my jour
nal that in 1901 the fame Of any burning substance
suddenly extngushed being thrown into bottle con-
tanning air from those little volcanoes Parrot Also in
the mud volcanoes in the island Of Tanan, found only
azote although the gas emitted would burn at other
times. See my Relation Historique," VOL Is, chap
20, PIP. 367-37l1
FIRE IN GEoRoErowS.-0n Friday night, soon after IL
o'clock 1t was discovered that the grocery and ship
chandery Water street. Georgetown the property Of Mr.
Jos. NJ PEARSON, fire. The fre had taken good
hold in the interior Of the premises before the engines Of
town or city could be got to play upon it. and good
deal Of natural hesitation felt by the fremen and
others to keep the burning building in consequence
Of belief that gunpowder stored within This was
in fact true and explosions took place. Of which the
second blew OF the roof and the side Of the store To
the east Of the store but under the roof Mr. FEAR
son had warehouse which also burnt out, very little