293 



different routes round the Cape of Good Hope, 

 round Cape Horn, or across a cut of the isthmus 

 of central America, we must carefully distinguish 

 between the objects of trade, and the nations 

 engaged in it. The problem respecting the 

 way presents itself in a manner altogether dif- 

 ferent to an English merchant, and to an Anglo- 

 American ; as the problem regarding Chili? 

 must be differently solved by those who trade 

 directly with India and China, or those whose 

 speculations are directed either towards north- 

 ern Peru and the western coast of Guatimala 

 and Mexico, towards China, after having visited 

 the north-west coast of America, or towards the 

 fishery of Cachelot in the Pacific Ocean. These 

 three latter objects of the navigation of the 

 nations of Europe and of the United States, 

 would be the most indubitably benefited by the 

 cutting of an American isthmus. From Boston 

 to Nootka # , the antient centre of the fur-trade 

 in otter skins, on the north-west coast of Ame- 

 rica, across the projected canal of Nicaragua, 

 will be 2100 marine leagues ; the same voyage 

 is 5,200 leagues, if made, as it has been hitherto, 



* In these estimates of distance, T have supposed, con- 

 jointly with M. Beauteinps Beaupre" (engineer in chief of the 

 royal marine), the way to be nearly straight ; this was suffi- 

 cient to obtain comparative numbers. If itinerary distances 

 are desired, we must augment the passages according to the 

 contrariety of winds and currents, one-third or one-seventh. 



