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

We without diminshng their merit would recall to-day
one Of the uuest glores Of our literature tho popnlss
BY excelIeaoe IN whose sseet verses breathe always
tho pure aroma OF woman's heart AMI moves . soul
he senior. Coronado Is sns pos:sss Of nature 10 her
compositions tho creaou IL besaned, taking the nts Of
she Is besides Tie poeesc Of the domestic circle Tue
tes Of ho iAuiy-the sentiments most Intimate aud -
cred Of he-have been sung BY tho Sonora Coronsdo
wish simplicity and charm which y beyond our en-
The sonora Donna Carolina Coronado d doubtless one
Of ne most .ympsshesc name. Of our aers.ure, and
tho lustre ct our arts.
All which being duly set forth, we are prepared
to dive again and come up next week.
The Isthmus or Daxien Canal.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON rIMss.
England, France and the United States Of America,
in December, 1858, to survey the proposed canal
route across the lsthmus OF Darien from Caledonia
bay the Atlantic coast TO the Gulf Of San Miguel
on that OF the Pacific is generally supposed to have
proved complete failure, and, indeed, the circum-
stance that Of the engineers engaged In 1t have
made any report would seem to justify that suppose
ton. It can, however, be easily shown that notwth
standing the deporsble misnanagement Of the expe-
ditto n, and the very hasty and incomplete examina
ton made of the}country lwtha tunnel Of three miles
In length canal between these two points is pract-
cable. The only published accounts Of the expedi-
ton are Commander Prevosts "oHicial report" in
the Journal Of the Royal Geographical Society for
1866, ana pamphlet by DR.. Cullen, entitled
the Mismanaged DaIien Expedition Of 1854, pub
lished by Effnham Wilson. Commander Prevost's
report has no bearing on the question Of tho pract
cab)ity Of the canal the course he took from the
Pacific side was three points OF the compass west
ward Of the proper route. Appended TO 1t, however
rate map, compiled, believe, by Captain Fitzroy
and Mr.. Arrowsmith, in which the longitude OF
each coast Is corrected in accordance with the
surveys Of Commander Parsons and Captain Keliett.
The rivers Sucubt and Chuquanaqua are in it laid
down from an accurate Spanish survey, found in
the archives of Bogota. The levels those taken
by Mr.. Osborne and his assistants, hessrs, Ben
nett, Armstrong, Devenish, and Bond From this
map and section the following facts appear to be
tablished:--
/. The harbors on both coasts are admirably
adapted for termini Of grand ship canal
tions and is navgable to the mouth of the Lara.
3. From the Junction Of the Lara with the Savanna
TO the Chuquanaqua, opposite the mouth Of the
Sucubt, distance Of twelve miles, the country Is
difficulties, nor for that distance would any deep
cutting be required in the construction of q canal
4. The next stage, from the Chuqnanaqua TO the
confluence OF the rivers Asnati and Sucubt, dis
lance Of nine miles, the country ID Of the same
character.
S. From the confluence Of the Asnati and sucubti
for the next six miles, TO the little Indian hamlet
of Sucubti there is no difficulty to be surmounted.
rises from $50 feet to an elevation Of 420 feet
T. In the next three miles, in the direction Of the
Atlantic, the ground rises into peak $50 feet high,
so that here Q tunnel would be required.
s. From the foot Of this peak TO the Atlantic ses-
board. distance of only two miles, the ground is
very lew, and presents no difficulty Whatsoever.
Q. The whole length Of the canal to be cut would
be IS miles
Such are the fActs, and II should be borne in mind
that in the map and section which have mentioned
above the existence OF valley across the Cordillera
is not taken into account, and regret to say no
and distinctly seen IL from Caledonia bay and taken
the beaaing Of its entrance, which was nearly due
west OF Isla del Orc or Golden Island. The noun
tain which, according TO Mr.. Osborne, would re-
quire unrelling, il southeast oft This mountain,
DR.. Cullen says, Is called Agls by the Indians.
The country being overgrown BY dense forest
Of tail trees and high brushwood, and Mr.. Osborne
having made only very hurried examination Of y,
the valley remained unseen by him, and its exs.
tence was therefore ignored. II L., however, very
plainly marked on Commander Parsons survey Of
Caledonia bay and Port Escoses, 1864, lately pub.
liahed 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
Golden Island. This would show that the mountaia
running parallel 70 the shore Of Caledonia bay, In
stead OF being, a. is generally supposed, part Of an
unbroken range, ID really isolated
MI. GBDOrne nlubeu IN y ictttr W OOmuhuucr
Hancock, dated Her Msjcstys ship Espiegio, Gale
donia Bay, April 4, 1854, says:-"l am quite aware
that in now concluding my surveying operations
there ID great deal Of Interesting information still
wanting, and that the examination Of the Isthmus
is not near SO perfect As had hoped TO make L."
Commander Provost, In despatch to Rear Adj
mral Fairfax Moresby, @ b, at Caao, dated Her
Majesty's ship vrago, Savanna river, JAM z, 1861,
says:-"Fordng the river, (the Chuquanaqua,) we
began TO ascend, entering as We supposed, the CIR
dera, 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 lwere able
TO see, though ndistinctly, over the surrounding
country, which showed the ranges OF Mills 70 broken,
assuming sugArloaf form, apparently having mar
row passes OF 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 TO Jus
tify her hajestys government Ia sending few yes
sells Of war 10 Caledonia Bay and the Gulf OF San
Miguel whence parties Of sailors, marines and cngi
neer might be landed TO survey the -four or ave
miles OF ground which separate the head waters Of
the Aelaseniqua and the Sucubti, and which are,
believe, traversed by valley. have the honor TO
be, sir, your obedent humble servant,
WILLIAM MDKRMoTT, N. D., Surgeon r. n,
Late Of her Msjestys ship Epiegle, on the Dsrien
expedition.
23 NoRrHuDERLAxD STREET, Strand, Dec. 8.