The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-27

We without diminishing their merit would recall today
enc Of hs .rsest sl1res Of our literature the popa.
~ excellence, In whose sseet verses breathe always
the pure aroma OF . woman's heart, AMI moves soul
mpressiorable o sensitive plant, luminous as star
The Sonora Coronado the poetess Of nature 10 her
compositions the creation bcsuaed, taking tho tins OF
she is besides the poetess Of the domestic circle
ties Of ke atay-the sentiments most Intimate aud 81
cred OF Me-have been sung by tho Sonora Coronsdo
with simplicity and . charm which II beyond our en-
c0miumr.
The sonora Donna Carolina Coronado Is doubtless
beat worthy the consideration Of al those
the lustre Of our arts.
All which being duly set forth we are prepared
to dive again and come up next week.
The Isthmus OF Darien Canal.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON TIMss.
The expedition sent out by the governments OF
England, France and the United States Of America,
in December, 1853, TO survey the proposed canal
route across the Isthmus Of Darien from Caledonia
bay on the Atlantic coast to the Gulf Of San Miguel
on that OF the Pacific, is generally supposed to nave
proved complete failure, and, indeed, the circun-
stance that of the engineers engaged in it have
made any report would seem to justify that SUPPOSE
tion 1t can, however, be easily shown that notwith-
standing the depl0rabe acknowledgement OF the expe-
ditic n and the very hasty and incomplete examina-
ton made OF thecountry with tunnel OF three miles
cable. The only published accounts of the expedi-
ton are Commander Prevosts "official report" in
the Journal Of the Royal Geographical Society for
1866, ana a pamphlet by Dr: Cullen, entitled
lished by Efinham Wilson. Commander Prevost's
report has bearing the question OF the pacti-
cabiity Of the canal the course he took from the
Pacific side was three points Of The compass west
there Is a section of the isthnus, and very accu-
rate map, compiled, l believe, by Captain Ftzroy
and Mr.. Arrow smith, in which the longitude OF
each coast Is corrected in accordance with the
ava fC Commander paraDns and CaptaiU kellptt
The rivers Sucubi and Chuquanaqua are in it laid
down from an accurate Spanish survey found IN
the archives of Bogota. The levels are those taken
by Mr.. Osborne and his assistants, Messrs, Ben
nett, Armstrong, Devensh, and Bond. From this
map and section the following facts appear to be es
tablshed:-
i. The harbors on both coasts are admirably
adapted for termini Of a grand ship canal.
2. The Savanna river is quite free from obstruc-
tions, and is navigable to the mouth of the Lara.
3. From the junction of the Lara with the Savanna
to the Chuquanaqua, opposite the mouth OF the
Sucubti distance of twelve miles, the country is
of such a character as to present no engineering
difficulties nor for that distance would any deep
cutting be required in the construction of canal.
4. Tire next stage, from the Chuqnanaqua to the
confluence of the rivers Asnati and Sucubti dis
lance OF nine miles, the country is Of the same
character.
S. From the confluence Of the Asnati and sucubt
for the next six miles, to the little Indian hamlet
of Sucubti, there is no difficulty to be surmounted.
6. For the next three miles the land gradually
rises from $50 feet to an elevation of 42o fees-
Z. In the next three miles, in the direction of the
Atlantic the ground rises into peak $50 feet high
70 that here tunnel would be required.
s. From the foot OF this peak 70 the Atlantic sea-
board. distance of only two miles, the ground is
very lew, and presents no difficulty whatsoever.
.. The whole length OF the canal TO be cut would
be IS miles
Such are the facts, and 1t should be borne in mind
that in the map and section which have mentioned
above the existence OF valley across the Cordillera
taxi late nnnt and Il IN M
search was made for il. l myself have repeatedly
and distinctly il from Caledonia bay and taken
the beaiing Of its entrance, which was nearly due
west Of lsla del Orc or Golden Island. The noun
quire tunr cling, is southeast oft This mountain,
DR.. Cullen says, is called Agla by the Indians.
The country being overgrown by dense forest
of tall trees and high brushwood, and Mr.. Osborne
having made only very hurried examination Of it,
the valley remained unseen by him, and its exis.
tence was therefore ignored. Ii Is, however very
plainly marked on Commander Parsons survey Of
Caledonia bay and Port Escoees, 1854, lately pub
shed by the photographic Office
Again Dr. Ross, who accompanied Commander
Provost, In conversation which had with him
few weeks ago, distinctly informed me that he de-
scended into another valley transverse TO theCordil
era several miles b the northwest Of that opposite
Golden leland. This would show that the mountain
running parallel TO the shore Of Caledonia bay, in
stead Of being as Is generally supposed, part Of an
unbroken range, Is really isolated.
Mr.. Osborne himself in q letter to Commander
Hancock, dated Her Msestys ship Espiege, Gale
donia Bay, April 4, 1854, says:-"l am quite aware
that in now concluding my surveying operations
there Ia great deal Of Interesting information still
wanting, and that the examination Of the lsthmus
is not near so perfect as had hoped to make IL"
Commander Provost, In despatch to Rear Ad.
mral Fairfax Moresby, G D., at Callao, dated Her
Majestys ship yingo, Savanna river, Jan. Z, ls5i.
says:-"Fording the river, (the Chuquanaqua,) we
began to ascend, entering as we supposed, the Cnr.
dern and during our progress passed over several
hills, the highest OF which we estimated
at seven and eight hundred feet in height
From this and other SUBMITS we Awere able
to see, though ndistinctly, over the surrounding
country which showed the ranges OF hills TO broken,
assuming sugarloaf FORM apparently having mar
row passes or valleys at their bases along which
several rivers and mountain streams may find their
way into the Atlantic
In fine think there are sufficient grounds 10 jus
tify her Majestys government in sending few YES
sells OF war 10 Caledonia Bay and the Gulf OF San
Miguel whence parties Of sailors marines and engi-
neers might be landed to survey the four or 6ve
| miles Of ground which separate the head waters Of
the Aglaseniqua and the Sucubti, and which are, l
believe, traversed by valley have the honor 70
| be, sir, your obedient humble servant
WILLIAM MDERMoTT, M. D., Surgeon II. N,
Late Of her Msestys ship Espiegle, on the Darien
expedition.
20 NORTHUMBERLAND STREET, Strand, Dec. s.