486 CALDWELL'S EXPLORATION OF DARIEN. [June 22, 1857. 



same place that Dr. Caldwell did, with the best Admiralty maps before him, 

 and intending to proceed to the east coast, found that he was steering towards 

 a point really 25 miles to the north of it; the geographical error in the position 

 of Caledonia having misled him that mnch. This error was corrected by the 

 surveys which were undertaken in 1853. With respect to Dr. Caldwell's 

 paper, all the information he had collected was evidently wrong. The summit 

 of the range was within five or six miles of the Atlantic ; and that range con- 

 sisted of mountains from 900 to 1000 feet high. There was a map upon the 

 table, the official map sent there from the Admiralty, which showed the dif- 

 ferent heights taken by instrumental observations, with spirit levels, or moun- 

 tain barometers. As to a ship-canal across this portion of the isthmus, he 

 (Mr. Gisbome) really considered it to be an absurdity. The ridge was like a 

 backbone. He had walked along the top of it for miles and miles together, and 

 it was so narrow that few men could walk along it abreast. 



The President. — Is there not any point of depression ? 



Mr. Gisborne. — There is none. The sources of all the rivers were from 500 

 to 700 feet above the level of the sea ; it was, therefore, impossible to suppose 

 that there could be any break in the mountains below 700 feet. That alone 

 would render the question of a canal in this spot impossible. He had levelled 

 the range instrumentally and barometrically, and there was no point in it 

 that was less than 900 feet high. This might be taken as an established fact. 

 He had also made a survey of the Caledonia, with the object of following the 

 traces of the Americans, who, under Lieut. Strain, were upon that river in a 

 state of starvation. He had with him a copy of a map of the river, made by 

 a Spanish officer 130 years ago, and the survey made by himself placed a 

 position within a short distance of the spot where the Spaniards had placed it 

 so many years before. Now that his own surveys had been completed, and 

 the report placed in the possession of the Society, he hoped they would let it 

 go forth to the world that a ship-canal across the Isthmus of Darien, as far 

 as geographical difficulties were concerned, was perfectly impossible. 



Fifteenth Meeting, June 22nd, 1857. — \_Final Meeting of the SessionJ] 



Sm EODERICK I. MURCHISON, President, in the Chair. 



Presentations. — Horace and Philip Smith, Esqrs., were presented upon 

 their election. 



Elections. — M. de la Roquette, Vice-President of the Geographical 

 Society of Paris, as an Efonorai'y Member, and M. Malte-Brun, Secretary of 

 the Geographical Society of Paris, as a Corresponding Member. Commander 

 E. Burstal, r.n. ; Capt. H. Caldwell, r.n. ; the Rev. H. J. Hose, Warden 

 of St. Paul's College, Sydney ; the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, m.p. ; and 

 Messrs. J. W. Brett; G. M. M. Esmeade; William Evans, m.p.; F. P. 

 B. Martin; T. A. Noddall, r.n. ; and A. D. White, were elected Fellows. 



Donations. — The folio vising were among the donations received 

 since the former meeting : — ' Index to the Ordnance Survey of Lan- 

 cashire;' * Blackie's Imperial Atlas of Modern Geography;' 'Ob- 

 servations made at the Magnetical and Meteorological Observatory 



