The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-27
NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.


The Spanish Conquest of America by Arthur
Helps.
Eschyius, with Herman's Emendations Harper's
Classical Library.
Confession, Domestic Story. by w G. Smms.
Cowdery's Moral Lessons
motleys Rise of the Dutch Republic
Harper's Magazine for May
MOTIFS on CENTRAL AMERICA BY E. G.. Squie
Harper and Brothers.
Although the present work is principally intended
to demonstrate the advantages Of Mr.. Squier's pro-
ject OF an inter-oceanic railway through Honduras
il must not be supposed that its inquiries are limited
to the ground proposed TO be covered by it, On the
contrary, the authors well known habit Of exhaust
ing subject has led him to embrace in the exami
nation OF this scheme all the collateral crcum.
stances which can in any way be supposed to bear
upon it. Thus, whilst greater space is necessarily
devoted to the two States, Honduras and San Sal
vador, which viii more Immediately feel its benefits
we lind assembled together a vast body Of facts
nected with the geography, topography, climate
population and resources Of Central America gene
rally. These details have been obtained at the cost
of great personal hardshps and risk for in but few
existing works sufficiently accurate data to be
found to furnish materials for such q work. Even
the geographical features of this beautiful region
were but very inaccurately known before Mr..
Squiers visit. Humboldt could find no map, either
native foreign, which could at all be relied
upon and even in the maps published since
he wrote, the most absurd errors are to be de-
tected. Bailey's map, prepared under the d.
rection o. General Norman, President of the old
federation Of Central America, and which. up
to the time Of Mr. Squier's researches was general
IL considered the most Trustworthy, has been
shown by that gentleman to be but very little more
correct than its predecessors.
In this chaos of geographical as well IS other
facts, In which so important section Of our CONT
nent was involved, the political mission which took
there man OF Mr. Squier's inquiring and philo
sophica turn of mind was godsend to Central
America To him it owes in great degree the po-
liticat and commercial prospects which are now
opening upon it. Whatever may be thought of the
original motive and mshner Of Walkers expedition
there can be no question that to the infusion Of
Anglo-Saxon energy ard enterprise occasioned by
il Central America will be indebted for its future
greatness and prosperity. But for the information
dfused through the labors Of Mt Squier it is more
than probable that that expedition would never have
been attempted Too little was previously known Of
Nicaragua to encourage the spirit Of fbustersm ts
an enterprise with such doubtful results. 1t was
the glowing picture presented by our author OF
the climate and resources of that beautiful
country which is unquestonsbly responsible for
the important political movements in which the
destines of Central America are now involved That
they will turn out to its ultimate advantage have
not the slightest doubt, though for the present
Ghey may be attended with some inconvenience and
suffering to portion of It's population. Chronic
evils oflong standing cannot be cured BY palatves'
and we feel convinced that in this instance the poll
teal scheme propounded by Walker be its personal
motives what they may is the only one that can be
applied with benefit TO the diseased and rotten frame
work of Central American institutions.
The interest created by this experiment naturally
renders public eager for correct information
garding the field Ia which it is to be tried. Mr.
6auiers work Nicaragua and the Political History
OF Central America has n part Gratined this
and his Notes on Central America" complete all
that it is essential for to know for future poll
tical guidance. Az, in the first place. the climate of
this 6ne region has been made the subject of good
deal of controversy far regards its effect on the
health of foreigners. think it useful to extract
from the work before US what appears to be care
fully studied analysis of its variations
CLIMATE OF CENTRAL AMERICA.
Tae reelarities OF Ceatral America In respect OF
ngu- s.on Of surface Will ex, sin he almost srdlsss Va
rety OF climate 20 which have alluded and walsh Ia
where remarkable tbln in that country. Situated
between deg II deg natb aisude were it not -,
Whz. higher than tat OF the Wes. Indies it is the
cms OF tbs coast Is nsrY tie same with That Of the
isnnds alluded and exceedingly Uniform. It is modi-
fed aomewha. BY tie shape position Of Tho shore
and By the proximity of trs ssins well ~ by the
Fre7aiifog Winds TIE he.t thu Pacifi Is not
however op oressve The Atlantic ess perhaps
Aeca1ss CT Any couaoerab!s difference OF temperature
tan Account OF the goater sud purity OF the
Atmospte-e.
In ths aorthern part Of the STATE os Gu.tsss In what
IA oaaed "Lcs Altos" the Highlands, the average
Ia loua In harr fnf tha
Snow sometimes falls in the v1eini OF ,ezssn lpgo
Tao capital Of this department, but soon disappsar.
any consi:srsble length Of time In the vicinity Of the
city Of Gsstenala ths range of the thermom ter Ia from
% deg TO 80 deg sb ut ~ deg OF Fahre nheit
Vera Pss the oepar mens or ana
embracing the coast Yucatan 20 the Gul' OF Ducs
downward lsaoal aod ssuta Tomas hot and unheal
thy The same remark app lea l, less cegree to the
Cape Grseias Dtos favorable circum instance here is
the close approach OF ne mountains TO the sho and
the prevalence for ccnisrsa portion Of the year OF
cool and braeing vnds from the north The STATE Of San
Salvador has .honI on The Parfc, 1t ia smaller than
aay Of tbs ohers su. proporti nay better populated
and 70 general temperature Is probably higher. The
heat however Is Fever oppressive except at few points
tas coast. for ins ance Sou soose San Miguel and
Ia Union all Of which their excessively high ten
psratare to Ices. circumstances Honduras its mans
implies (besg toe plural OF hondura " cepth), has
very diversified surface and consequent diversity OF
temperature. The Innate Il generally delightful, the
average temperature at Teguoigspa Comsyagua, Jut
cAips and Grscias the pliasipi towns. being IA
deg Tbs Department Of s.g via, IN Nicaragua border
Ag o. Honduras has Ike surface and tenn oerature
H principal part OF Nicaragua however, is widely diff
Aeeat " ~ respects ana has topography AMI Climate
peculiarly It's own. The average temperature OF the
great basin OF the lakes ia Cd ut 70 deg so deg
suit n. due 70 lite elevation bat 70 other favorable and
puocying causes which have folly pointed in my
o.sx on taat country Toe population OF Costa Rice
soacsatratd the western or Psc1; slope OF the vol
cAno o. Carriage and, - consequence almost any de-
Tee OF temperature may be obtained according to the
svauoo from the intense heat of the port Of PGnta
AcoAe 70 the ooustsn. spring OF san to the eu
mnal temperature Of the belt the ancient capital
CarAgo The eastern slopes CT Cosa Rics may be said
- Be unizAAbtsd, and the coast from Chrqul lagoon
osrthwn-d 70 sw end unhealthy Indeed the ens tire At
aaic ooAst Of Central America from Truxo do IN ward
embracing tie whole II what "a called the Mos1uto
shore, subject 10 the remark Hence this coast
ia 6nv inbabtan ent fow oraUa