95 
great Pacific Ocean, through the Isthmus, would perform the 
voyage in a much shorter period than those following the 
present track by the Cape of Good Hope, and it is equally 
well known that this voyage would be performed through 
regions always exempt from dangers, and at all times of the 
year, which is scarcely practicable round the Capes. Its local 
resources would enable ships to renew their provisions half- 
way to the Indian Seas, and thus allow them to take on board 
a greater quantity of merchandise. 
3rd. Ships from Europe, bound to the north-western coast of 
America, would save a distance of nearly 6,500 miles, and those 
of the United States from 9,000 to 12,000. And the coasts of 
the Oregon territory, the Californias, Mexico, Peru, and Chili, 
that is, an extent of nearly eight thousand miles, from Nootka 
Bay to Cape Horn, would receive a new existence, and be easily 
accessible to the superabundant population of all the world. 
4th. The cerealia which those countries can produce, the hides, 
fish oil and whalebone, cotton, indigo, sugar, coffee, cocoa, cochi- 
neal, sae-morse ivory, rich furs, precious metals, &c. present so 
many branches to the speculator. And the spontaneous pro- 
ducts of the Isthmus, are wax, silk, caoutchouc, pepper, sarsa- 
parilla, vanilla, gums, and resins, tortoise-shell, coral and 
pearls. But among all these productions, the timber of its 
immense forests deserves particular mention. Its abundance 
is such, that the only limit which can be assigned to the supply 
it may yield is the demand for centuries to come. From the 
fir, the oak, the cedar, and every description of building timber, 
to the dye and fine woods, their profusion is absolutely incre- 
dible. None of the countries which at present supply these 
species of woods could compete with the Isthmus, where they 
are found on the very banks of the rivers which serve for their 
transport. 
5th. The territories, assigned to the Projector in fee simple 
by the Mexican government, occupy an extent of 5Q Mexican 
leagues in length by 20 in width ; that is, 1,120 square leagues, 
each containing 4,340 acres, thus making a total amount of 
nearly five millions of acres. This with the right of making 
settlements within 50 leagues on either hand of the communi- 
