THE ISTHMUS. 



231 



the Pacific and Atlantic by canals of communi- 

 cation. It is needless to observe, as a mezzo 

 terminer of less though still of immense import- 

 ance, that the construction of commonly good 

 roads and the mere improvement of old ones 

 already in use, would decidedly increase the 

 commercial prosperity of this region, and of 

 Central America, in which benefit other nations 

 would participate. But taking it for granted 

 that the nati\res of those countries possess suffi- 

 cient science, can command cheap labour, and 

 have abundant materials if they desire to make 

 roads, without the aid of foreign assistance, it 

 will, I think, be more useful to draw the atten- 

 tion of Europe to some undertaking for joining 

 the two seas by a water communication. 



The position of all the points that are sup- 

 posed to be practicable is confined to the coun- 

 tries which are situated between the 5th and 

 18th degrees of north latitude, in the several 

 states of Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and 

 Choco. I propose to consider each of these m 



