Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-05-09

ma ralroau because WITHIN That per1od Igne lslAnd IN
the Bay of Fonseca win be the point of arrival and de-
parture for steamers from San Francisco with passengers
and treasure to and from New York. The poutes by
Honduras and Tehuantepec will be.rivals and IN
less than half century, when population spreads
the valley of the Mississippi and the plains
the Rocky mountains communication with California
from New York win be upon soil, especially in
time of war.
Efforts have been made by designing to tease up
excitement among the lower classesnegroes in particu
lar-as well among those of the Isthmus who should
know better, with the view to provoke outbreak
| amongst them against Americans They believe that
such outbreak would afford sufficient pretext to Com
modore Mervine land his marines and sailors and at
Panama But it is believed they mistaken
in the commander-in-chief if they suppose he will do
thing in the premises that strict necessity and JUS
tice do not demand.
The condition of public feeling here is such that the
presence of naval force in the bay has become con-
slant necessity repress by moral influence any attempt
violence But very small force is enough, for Pa
has not single gun to fire in its defence and its
armed police does not count more than hundred Lazy
little, cigar-smoking barefooted muattoes averaging
about four feet in stature and weighing, and
coutrements included, about hundred pounds per
man. have said this is Heaven-cursed region I
think so because the neyer-ceasng heat and moisture
dwarf all animal progress towards full development and
perfection The energy which belongs to man in tenn
perate is net manifested here; langaor stess
aziness every where perceived among the hy
brd population, which counts all the compexions\ Of
negro Indian, and white, in every possible variety ri
admixture They live chiefly bananas, fish, and ride
Around the whole neghborhood of Panama there is pot
an aggregate of fifty under cultivation. Vegfta
bes brought here for sale from Boston, New
| and San Francisco, and it is only from those sd
that foreigners derive their supplies. The hotels
up preserved meats and vegetables prepared in Fra
and other parts o. the world owing to the very meal
varieties of food found in the market of Panama.
Foreigners resident here very find that they cal
not labor as tey do in temperate chimes that exces
incident to cultivation of the soil is be followed
by facilitating and out too frequently fatal fevers and
other diseases and that the carefully prudent
in observing the rules of health soon lose their
and fall into languid condition There are to be sure
| some exceptions, but they are rare.
Yet for such cause, in such climate the Govern
ment detains public ships in this bay month in and
month out at rate of cost nothing short of three hun
dred thousand dollars year. The independence has
been absent from home three years. lacking months
OF this period eight weary months have been passed
here The ship is very DID, out of repair and it is
fdeny believed that the shipworm has committed such
ravages in bottom that if she does not soon depart
she viii be in condition to be taken to sea at all
Her rate Of leaking has than doubled since her
arrival in this port The period of enlistment of many
of the men has expired, and in the course of four
months that of all will end