May 28, 18G0.] CENTRAL AMERICA. 173 



of Canada, it is only a question of time how soon its vast capabilities 

 and resources will be developed, and that position assumed when, 

 as a British colony, it will also become instrumental in carrying. 

 British institutions, associations, and civilisation across the continent 

 of America. 



Dawson's Expedition. — The expedition under Mr. S. J. Dawson, c.E., 

 undertaken with a view of ascertaining the best route from Fort 

 William to the River Saskatchewan, has resulted in giving us con- 

 siderable information and several maps of the countiy. 



In a paper addressed to the President and Council of the Society, 

 our associate, Captain M. H. Synge, e,.e., who for several years has 

 devoted much attention to this subject, earnestly appeals to the 

 Society in favour of the British North American Eoute, as shorter, 

 quicker, more favourable as to winds and currents, more salubrious, 

 more comprehensive, inviolable, perfect in its water-communication, 

 and causing the colonization of British North America in great part. 

 Captain Synge briefly adverts to the enhanced value of the project 

 caused by the events of the last few years. 



Mexico. — Our learned Corresponding Member, Professor Paul 

 Chaix, of Geneva, has forwarded to us an interesting account of an 

 excursion to an ancient volcano in Mexico, which will appear in 

 the next volume of our Journal. 



Central America. — Honduras Interoceanic Baihoay. — From a Eeport 

 which has recently been published, it appears that the survey has 

 established the following facts — that Port Cortez, on the Atlantic 

 (lat. 15-49 N.) and Fonseca, on the Pacific (lat. 13*21 N.), are both 

 first-class harbours ; that across Honduras is a perfectly practicable 

 route for a railway of 220 miles in length to connect those harbours. 

 Mr. Trautwine, the superintending engineer, reports that the result 

 of the survey is the establishment of the interesting and important 

 fact that there exists through Honduras a perfectly feasible route 

 for a railway, with natural harbours at its ocean termini, the exist- 

 ence of which must be regarded as a controlling feature in an enter- 

 prise like that proposed, and which derives peculiar importance 

 from the fact, that throughout the entire extent of Central America 

 there occurs no similar instance in combination with a route so 

 favourable as that developed in the survey.* Colonel Stanton, r.e., 

 reports that the harbours are unexceptionable, and that the road 

 can be constructed without any sharper curves or heavier grades 

 than are to be found on existing lines over which locomotives work 

 without difficulty. 



* See * President's Address' for 1859, p. ccviii. 

 VOL. lY. 



