PROBABLE COST OF THE CANAL. 417 



tiinately, from the difficulty of procuring a conveyance 

 to the River San Juan, the agent went to Panama 

 first, from adverse circumstances never reached Nica- 

 ragua, and died on his return to this country, before he 

 reached Washington ; but, from his imperfect report, it 

 appears to be the result of his observations that a ship 

 canal was not practicable across the Isthmus of Pana- 

 ma. It is therefore valuable as turning attention, which 

 was before divided between the two routes, exclusively 

 to that by the Lake of Nicaragua. In regard to this 

 route much has been written, many speculations and 

 even estimates of the cost of constructing the canal 

 have been made, but the actual knowledge on the sub- 

 ject has been very limited. In fact, the foregoing notes 

 from Mr. Bailey's survey are the most reliable data 

 that have ever been published. I can but hope that the 

 same liberal spirit which prompted the sending out of an 

 agent may induce our government to procure from Mr. 

 Bailey and give to the world the whole of his maps and 

 drawings. 



As yet the subject of this communication has not 

 taken any strong hold upon the public mind. It will be 

 discussed, frowned upon, sneered at, and condemned as 

 visionary and impracticable. Many in established bu- 

 siness will oppose it as deranging the course of their 

 trade. Capitalists will not risk their money in an unset- 

 tled and revolutionary country. The pioneers will be 

 denounced and ridiculed as Clinton was when he staked 

 his political fortunes upon the big ditch" that was to 

 connect the Hudson with Lake Erie ; but, if the peace 

 of Europe be not disturbed, I am persuaded that the time 

 is not far distant when the attention of the whole civil- 

 ized and mercantile world will be directed toward it ; 

 and steamboats will give the first impulse. In less than 



Vol. 1.-3 G 



