THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA, 247 



no respect impair her military strength^ whilst 

 it exalted her to an enviable position among 

 commercial nations. 



The making of small canals^ railways^ or 

 better roads in other regions of iVmerica would 

 be of the greatest importance to the states 

 through which they would be carried^ without, 

 however, producing so immediate and direct an 

 influence upon the general interests of mankind; 

 but communications even of this limited nature, 

 if carried into operation in the Isthmus of Pa- 

 nama, must, from the peculiar position of that 

 territory, effect the happiest consequences to 

 all nations engaged in trade. 



Geographically, it would be nearly the 

 shortest possible route from Europe, North 

 America, a great part of Asia, as well as from 

 Africa, to every port on the western coast of 

 the New World. The want of junction, there- 

 fore, by means of a larger canal fit for ships, 

 would be in a great degree compensated by an 

 immense saving in time by the greater cer- 

 tainty of good and safe passages in a voyage 

 from Panama to Canton, Australia, and every 



