April 28, 1856.] KELLEY. 63 



The President said that this group of islands was interesting from the 

 growing importance of steam navigation in the Pacific Ocean. The islands 

 themselves are insignificant, hut, from their situation, they may become very 

 important as a coaling-station for vessels trading between America and 

 China. Commodore Perry had pointed out their importance in this respect. 

 The priority of discovery is, according to that gentleman, a matter of question 

 between Great Britain and America. The Commodore had blamed him for not 

 giving the credit of discovery to a (supposed) American captain, who is said to 

 have seen the southern group of the Bonin Islands ; but the islands, referred to 

 in this statement, were situated to the S. of the Bonin Islands, and some of 

 them, especially Sulphur Island, had teen seen by Captain Cook, and others, 

 before the Americans became an independent nation. When Admiral Beechey 

 took possession of these islands in 1827, he had no knowledge that Captain 

 Coffin had seen any of them.* At that time, he found only two seamen upon 

 them ; the population has since considerably increased. 



3. On the Connection between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, via 

 the Atrato and Truando Rivers. By Mr. F. M. Keixey, of New 

 York. 



In describing various routes for effecting the long-desired junction of 

 the Atlantic and Pacific, through the great American isthmus, Baron 

 Humboldt had, fifty years ago, pointed to the river Atrato, and to the 

 depressions said to exist in the mountain range between that river and 

 the Pacific. Captain FitzRoy and others had also contributed more 

 recent information on the same subject in the Journal of the Society ; 

 but, up to the year 1852, no actual surveys had been attempted. In that 

 year, Mr. Kelley of New York, and other gentlemen, despatched a sur- 

 veying party, under Mr. Trautwine, c.e., to survey and level the 

 Atrato to its sources, and to pursue the work across the dividing ridge, 

 and along the most practicable waters, to the Pacific, with a view to the 

 construction of a ship canal. Mr. Trautwine, with his party, surveyed 

 the mouths and course of the Atrato, and extended his inquiries along its 

 western branch, the Quito, and across the dividing ridge, along the Baudo 

 and the San Juan, to the Pacific. The Raspadura Canal, which was 

 said to connect the Atrato and the San Juan, was unknown, and, if it 

 ever existed, could have been nothing more than a canoe-slide between 

 two streams. During the journey '* astronomical observations for lati- 

 tude were made as often as the usually obscured state of the heavens 

 would allow. Altitudes were taken by the spirit-level and barometer ; 

 the width of the river, by angles from a measured base ; and dis- 

 tances along the streams, by repeated observations of the rate of the 

 boats' passages." This survey was immediately followed by two others, 

 despatched at Mr. Kelley's sole expense, under Mr. Porter and Mr. 

 Lane, civil engineers, accompanied by assistants, and fully equipped. 



♦ See R. G. See. Journal, vol. xxv. p. cxiv. 



