EFFORTS TO MAKE THE CANAL. 415 



means of a treaty, " effectually to secure its advantages 

 to the two nations." 



A charge d'affaires was appointed by our government, 

 who was specially instructed to assure the government 

 of Central America of the deep interest taken by that 

 of the United States in the execution of an undertaking 



so highly calculated to diffuse an extensive influence 

 on the affairs of mankind," and to investigate with the 

 greatest care the facilities offered by the route, and to 

 remit the information to the United States. 



Unfortunately, being far removed from the capital, 

 none of our diplomatic agents ever visited the spot ; but 

 in 1826, as appears by documents accompanying the 

 report of a committee of the House of Representatives 

 on a memorial praying the aid of the government of 

 the United States in procuring the construction of a ship 

 channel or navigable canal across the isthmus between 

 North and South America," a contract was made by 

 the government of Central America with the agent of a 

 New- York company, under the name, style, and des- 

 ignation of the " Central American and United States* 

 Atlantic and Pacific Canal Company." The names of 

 Dewitt Clinton and others of the most distinguished men 

 of that day appear as associates, but the scheme fell 

 through. 



In 1830 the government of Central America made 

 another contract with a society of the Netherlands, un- 

 der the special patronage of the King of Holland, who 

 embarked in it a large amount of his private fortune ; 

 but, owing to the difficulties between Holland and Bel- 

 gium, and the separation of the two countries, this also 

 fell through. 



On the third of March, 1835, a resolution passed the 

 Senate of the United States, " that the president be re- 



