96 
cation (also comprised in the grants) presents an opportunity 
of establishing one of the noblest Colonies the Civilized 
world has ever yet v^^itnessed. 
6th. Steam navigation through the Isthmus is an exclusive 
privilege of the enterprise during sixty years. The quantity 
of coals existing in the Republic, and the facility with which 
they might be conveyed to the Isthmus, would offer also con- 
siderable advantages to all vessels proceeding through the 
Isthmus. 
7th. Salt pits are extremely abundant, which might be 
turned to profitable account without any other outlay than the 
bare expenses of conveyance. The N. W. Coast of America 
receives at present its supply from the United States by way 
of Cape Horn. Salt might be sent to the countries in the 
neighbourhood of the line of communication, such as Chiapas 
and Guatemala; as well as to the Havannah and New Orleans, 
where the price generally averages eight or ten dollars per ton. 
Lastly, the country itself can supply thousands of workmen 
at moderate wages, all free labourers, for there is not a single 
slave in all the Republic of Mexico. 
From the consideration of these favourable circumstances 
just enumerated, it is fairly presumable that the communica- 
tion, once opened would be adopted by nearly the w^hole of 
the vessels which at present double the two Capes. 
A most careful investigation shews that there left the ports 
of Great Britain, during the year 1843, 
To double the Cape of Good Hope, 
417 vessels of the aggregate burden of 164,447 tons. 
To double Cape Horn, 
300 vessels, of the aggregate burden of 110,040 tons. 
which, supposing the number of arrivals to equal that of de- 
partures, gives a total amount of 
1,434 vessels . . . and .... 548,974 tons. 
This amount agrees with the results given in the Documens 
sur le Commerce exterienr, published by the minister of com- 
