20 
Fifthly, The calculation of Mr. Garella takes no account of 
the time required for the execution of the work ; the expense 
of conveying European Artizans to the spot, and the heavy sa- 
laries they must receive to compensate the risk of life they run 
at Panama ; nor the cost of transmission of funds to pay the 
expenses ; nor the M'eight of a heavy administration to super- 
intend the works. 
It may therefore be taken for proved from Mr. Garella's 
report ; first, that a railroad over any one of the proposed com- 
munications across the American Isthmus would be profitless 
to all the world, even to the Atlantic and Pacific Mail Packet 
Companies ; and secondly that the cutting a Ship Canal across 
the Isthmus of Panama is not only beyond the resources of na- 
tions such as England, France, or the United States, but it may 
be said to be almost an impossibility. 
The isthmus of Nicaragua possesses a fertile territory, a 
healthy climate, and is not deficient in population. Towards 
the north, the lake of Nicaragua communicates with the Atlan- 
tic by means of the river St. John, and to the south, only a 
small distance separates tliis lake from the shore of the Pacific. 
Thus the isthmus of Nicaragua seems to offer many advan- 
tages ; but upon a more minute examination there appear 
many difficulties, and these of an almost insurmountable 
nature. 
From the report published by command of the government 
of the state of Nicaragua in reference to the exploration of that 
isthmus, effected during the years 1837 and 1838 by Mr. J. 
Bailey, it seems that the course of the river St. John with all 
its windings is about 93 miles in length, six and a half of which 
are obstructed by four rapids, caused by ledges of rocks stretch- 
ing (icross the whole width of the river. These obstacles, and 
the long course of the river were considered such formidable 
impediments as to suggest the construction of a canal as an 
easier o})eration than that of rendering the river itself navi- 
gable. 
Towards the south, a distance of nearly 17 miles between 
the lake and the Pacific, the territory is occupied by a chain 
of mountains which, although not very elevated, would occa- 
