Part 11

To the above should be added all the specie sent both by Great Britain and the United States to the Eastern World, particularly to China, to purchase cargoes, from the States alone about 7,000,000 dolls.; also all the tonnage which goes, or would go, from one coast to another in the three republics of Venezuela, Guatemala, and Mexico. To these states, such a communication would prove of inestimable value, and tend very greatly to add to the revenue to be obtained from the (p. 104) traffic by it. There are other nations, also, besides Great Britain and the United States, which traffic with the quarters of the world already specifically alluded to, particularly France, Spain, and Holland; but no accurate account of such trade has hitherto come in the writer's way; though, taken collectively, it must be to a considerable amount. Moreover, the whole trade between Holland and Java, and between Spain and the Philippine Islands, would pass by the channel under consideration, and the trade which both nations has with these places is well known to be very considerable.

Such as it has been described is the trade at this moment; a sure foundation upon which the magnificent undertaking under consideration would, at the outset, have to build. The increased and increasing communications through the grand thoroughfare goes beyond calculation, and would most certainly exceed every thing that ever has been seen, or that ever can be witnessed, in any other portion of this globe. The trade of mighty empires would sink into insignificance, when compared, in all their present magnitude, with what it would become one hundred years hence. Admitting that it cost 1,000,000_l._ to complete the navigable communication, (and there are good grounds to believe that it could be done for one-half of the sum,) the question or point next to be considered is, what would the revenue be, which could be derived from it? To exact a per centage on the value of the commerce which passes through it would be uncertain, and liable to evasion, and consequently give much trouble, and occasion much vexation; and therefore it would be best to exact so much per ton, the exact extent of which the register of each ship or vessel so passing through the canal would at once and readily determine. The question is, What should the sum so levied, or the toll, actually come to be? Ten shillings per ton would certainly be a moderate sum; and taking it so it will be shown how it will pay at the outset.

_Cost and Revenue._ (p. 105)

Revenue 410,000 tons yearly, at 10_s._ £205,000 -------- Capital 1,000,000_l._ interest 5 per cent £50,000 Dividend in Stock 10 per cent 100,000 Expenses, management, and repairs 20,000 Surplus fund 35,000 ------- £205,000 --------

Thus affording from the outset a fair and profitable return, and which may reasonably be expected to be doubled in a very few years afterwards.

_Conveyance Mails and Passengers._

Hitherto the matter has been considered entirely as relates to the practicability and probable expenditure to be incurred in carrying the Plan into effect, and the remuneration to be obtained from the Plan when completed. It yet remains to show the advantages which will be obtained in the courses and distances by this route, as compared with other routes, and also with the route by the North Pole--even were this latter practicable throughout the year, but which it almost certainly is not. It has elsewhere been shown how a communication across any part of this Isthmus, even by an ordinary road, can be made to extend, and to accelerate the mail communications between Great Britain and all the western coasts of America, and more especially with the most eastern parts of the eastern world, and her own rising empire in New Holland. Nothing calls forth the enterprize and the energies of mankind, equal to the rapidity and regularity of correspondence: and without this, no country can either improve or advance in cultivation or civilization.

The comparative distances by the several lines of communication will stand as follow:--

Geo. Miles. Falmouth, direct to Rialejo 4650 Rialejo to Colombia River 3000 ---- 7650 ---- London to Icy Cape, over the North Pole 3870 (p. 106) Icy Cape to Colombia River, by Oonoolashka 2745 ---- 6615 ---- London to Icy Cape, over the Pole 3870 Icy Cape to Canton 4200 ---- 8070 ---- Falmouth direct to Gulf Papagayo 4650 Papagayo to Canton, by Owhyhee 9350 ---- 14,000 ------ London to Icy Cape, over the Pole 3870 Icy Cape to Sydney, New South Wales 6600 ---- 10,470 ------ Falmouth to Rialejo, by Jamaica 5530 Rialejo direct to Sydney, New South Wales 7400 ---- 12,930 ------ Falmouth to Colombia River, by L. Nicaragua 8345 Ditto ditto Cape Horn 13,100 ------ 4755 diff. ------ Falmouth to Sydney direct, westward 12,400 Ditto to ditto, by Cape of Good Hope 6,205 Cape to Sydney direct 6,470 ----- 12,670 ------ Falmouth to Cape Good Hope 6205 Cape Good Hope to Trincomalee 4720 Trincomalee to Batavia 1750 Batavia to Sydney, by Hobart Town 4085 ---- 16,760 ------ Falmouth to Rialejo, by Fayal, &c. 5530 Rialejo to Canton, by Owhyhee 9300 ---- 14,830 ------ Rialejo to Sydney, New South Wales, by Otaheite 7500 Panama to Sydney 7900 ---- 15,400 ------ Falmouth to Cape of Good Hope 6205 (p. 107) Cape of Good Hope to Trincomalee 4640 Trincomalee to Canton, by Batavia 3580 ---- 14,425 ------ Falmouth to Rialejo 5530 Rialejo to Pekin 8000 ---- 14,130 ------ Falmouth to Cape of Good Hope 6205 Cape of Good Hope to Pekin, by Canton, &c. 9660 ---- 15,865 ------ Falmouth to Port Culebra, by Barbadoes, &c. 5530 Port Culebra to Jeddo, Japan 7250 ---- 12,780 ------ Falmouth to Cape of Good Hope, by Madeira 6205 Cape of Good Hope by Batavia, &c. to Jeddo 8300 ---- 14,505 ------ Falmouth to Rialejo by Barbadoes, &c. 5530 Rialejo to Manilla 8860 ---- 14,390 ------ Falmouth to Cape of Good Hope, by Madeira 6205 Cape of Good Hope to Manilla, by Batavia 6720 ---- 12,925 ------ Falmouth to Rialejo, by Barbadoes, &c. 5530 Rialejo to Kamschatka 6000 ---- 11,530 ------ Falmouth to Cape of Good Hope, by Madeira 6205 Cape of Good Hope to Batavia 5200 Batavia to Kamschatka by Canton 4530 ---- 15,935 ------ London to Icy Cape, over the Pole 3870 Icy Cape to Kamschatka 1280 ---- 5,150 ------

Thus it is evident, that were the passage over the North Pole open (p. 108) and practicable at all seasons, but which it is not, the route by it would be so much shorter for every part from Europe to the ports in Asia and in America, situated on the Northern Pacific, as to be vastly preferable; but when it is recollected that this passage can only be open for a very few months in the course of the year--and also considering the winds and the weather which, during that brief space of time, would certainly be met with in the northern route, and the utter impossibility that there would be of procuring any assistance in that route, should accidents occur,--it is clear, that vessels would almost as speedily, and certainly much more safely, run over the distances by the western route, even to the places more near; while, as regards those which are more distant, there can and need be no comparison drawn.

It will also from these references be observed, that the distances to all the eastern parts of Asia, and the north-west coast of America, are, with a very few exceptions (in these, too, the distances are nearly equal), nearer than the distances would be, either taken by the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, the only routes always open; while, considering the winds and the seas which are met with in either of these routes, it is plain that ships would run over the distance by the western route through central America, even to the most distant parts in eastern Asia that have been adverted to, sooner and much easier than they could do by either of the former. The saving of insurance alone in the route by the mild tropical climates, and also of wear and tear in ships by the same channel, compared to what all these would amount to in the navigation by the other routes, to say nothing of the saving of time in voyages, would be objects of great importance to commercial and nautical men.

APPENDIX--No I (p. 109)

Places Lat. Long.

Falmouth 50° 8' N. 5° 1' W. Terceira, Azores 38° 38' 23" -- 27° 12' 48" -- Halifax, Nova Scotia 44° 39' -- 63° 33' -- New York 40° 42' -- 74° 2' -- Bermuda, Town 32° 22' -- 64° 33' -- Madeira, Funchall 32° 47' 42" -- 16° 55' 30" -- Teneriffe, St Cruz 28° 28' 00" -- 16° 15' -- Lisbon 38° 24' -- 9° 13' -- Cadiz 36° 31' -- 6° 18' -- Gibraltar 36° 6' 20' -- 5° 20' 53" -- Nassau, New Providence 25° 5' -- 77° 18' -- Turk's Islands 21° 6' 71° 15' 20° 13' 69° 28' Crooked Island 22° 44' -- 73° 54' -- Havannah 23° 9' 26" -- 82° 20' -- St. Jago, Cuba 19° 57' 39" -- 76° 2' 45" -- Cape Nichola Mole 19° 49' 20" -- 73° 27' 30" -- St. John's, Porto Rico 18° 29' 10" -- 65° 39' -- St. Thomas 18° 21' 5" -- 64° 57' 50" -- Kingston, Jamaica 17° 57' 57" -- 76° 46' 10" -- Vera Cruz 19° 12' 15" -- 96° 7' 12" -- Tampico 22° 15' 56" -- 97° 52' -- Honduras, Belize 17° 29' 29" -- 88° 11' 15" -- Chagre 9° 18' 40" -- 79° 55' -- Panama 8° 57' 30" -- 79° 29' 20" -- Carthagena 10° 26' -- 75° 37' 5" -- Laguayra 10° 37' -- 67° 1' 35" -- Demerara, George Town 6° 49' -- 58° 11' -- Barbadoes, Bridgetown 13° 5' 30" -- 59° 43' 15" -- Antigua, E. H. 17° 3' -- 61° 50' -- Trinidad, Port of Spain 10° 38' 42" -- 61° 59' 30" -- Cape St Roque 5° 28' S. 35° 17' -- Maranham 2° 28' -- 44° 16' -- Pernambuco 8° 41' -- 34° 51' -- Bahia 12° 55' -- 38° 30' -- (p. 110) Rio de Janeiro 22° 54' 15" -- 43° 15' 50" -- Monte Video 34° 53' 30" -- 56° 16' -- Buenos Ayres 34° 16' -- 58° 24' -- Salt Key, middle, Turk's Island 21° 20' -- 71° 4' -- Crooked Island, Castle Island 22° 7' 30" -- 74° 18' 45" -- Trinidad de Cuba 21° 43' -- 80° -- Cape Antonio 21° 54' -- 84° 57' -- Montego Bay, Jamaica 18° 32' -- 78° 2' -- St. John's, Newfoundland 47° 34' -- 52° 38' -- St. John's, New Brunswick 45° 15' -- 66° 2' 19" -- Quebec 46° 47' 30" -- 71° 10' -- Montreal 45° 46' -- 70° 35' --

_Distances and Bearings of Places_.

Places Geo. Miles.

Falmouth to Lisbon S. 14° W. 730 Ditto Gibraltar S. 4° W. 820 Ditto Teneriffe S. 22° W. 1410 Ditto Madeira S. 27° W. 1170 Ditto Terceira S. 54° W. 1180 Ditto New York S. 79-1/2° W. 3000 Madeira to Barbadoes S. 63° W. 2600 Terceira to Barbadoes S. 49° W. 2340 Ditto Antigua S. 54° W. 2200 Ditto St. Thomas S. 59° W. 2350 Madeira to St. Thomas S. 72° W. 2800 Ditto Cape Nichola Mole S. 75° W. 3000 Terceira to Cape Nichola Mole S. 65° W. 2700 Falmouth to Barbadoes S. 50° W. 3500 Ditto St. Thomas S. 57° W. 3500 Ditto Cape Nichola Mole S. 61° W. 3800 Ditto Fayal S. 55° W. 1230 Fayal to Barbadoes S. 47-1/2° W. 2255 Ditto Cape Nichola Mole S. 64-1/2° W. 2600 Ditto St. John's, Newfoundland N. 63° W. 1180 Ditto Port Praya, Cape Verde S. 11° E. 1545 Cape Verde to Pernambuco S. 26° W. 1530 Ditto Rio de Janeiro S. 27° W. 2550 Fayal to New York N. 86-1/2° W. 2020 (p. 111) Terceira to Rio de Janeiro, by Bahia, &c. S. 13° W. 3900 Ditto Halifax N. 77° W. 1730 Halifax to New York S. 83° W. 520 New York to Nassau, N. P. S. 10° W. 950 Nassau to Cape Nichola Mole S. 56° E. 380 Havannah to Vera Cruz S. 73° W. 800 New York to Havannah S. 22° W. 1140 Jamaica to Chagre, direct S. 21° W. 550 Chagre to Panama S. 50° E. 33 Kingston to River St. Juan S. 46° W. 585 River St. Juan to Rialejo N. 66° W. 235 Leon to Rialejo N. 66° W. 21 Madeira to Rio de Janeiro S. 24° W. 3700 Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Ayres S. 47° W. 1060 St. Thomas, to Cape Nichola Mole N. 80° W. 470 Ditto to Crooked Island Castle N. 67° W. 580 Ditto Turk's Island N. 62° W. 380 Turk's Island to Jamaica, direct S. 58° W. 380 Ditto Havannah N. 80° W. 630 Ditto Jamaica, by St. Jago de Cuba 820 Crooked Island to Cape Nichola S. 19° W. 146 Ditto Jamaica S. 29° W. 285 Ditto Havannah N. 82° W. 445 Barbadoes to 40 miles E. of Alto Vela N. 68° W. 700 Forty miles E. of Alto Vela to Jamaica, direct N. 85° W. 330 Add by calling at Jacmel 50 Jamaica to Santa Martha S. 20° E. 425 Santa Martha to Carthagena 90 Carthagena to Chagre 290 Montego Bay, Jamaica, to Trinidad de Cuba N. 40-1/2° W. 172 Trinidad de Cuba to Honduras S. 61° W. 520 Kingston, Jamaica, to Cape Antonio N. 63° W. 520 Cape Antonio to Havannah N. 63° E. 164 Falmouth to St. John's, Newfoundland S. 86-1/2° W. 2040 St John's, Newfoundland, to Halifax S. 73° W. 605 Falmouth to Halifax S. 82-1/2° W. 2550 Fayal to Halifax N. 77° W. 1640 Halifax to St. John's, New Brunswick N. 71° W. 111 St. John's, New Brunswick, to Quebec N. 66° W. 230 Quebec to Montreal S. 58° W. 116 New York to Quebec, direct N. 19° E. 390 Ditto Montreal, direct N. 4° E. 305

_Comparative Distances of Places._ (p. 112)

Geo. Miles. Falmouth to Terceira 1180 Terceira to Barbadoes 2340 ---- 3520

Falmouth to Madeira 1170 Madeira to Barbadoes 2600 ---- 3770

Falmouth to Teneriffe, by Madeira 1410 Teneriffe to Barbadoes 2570 ---- 3980

Falmouth to Madeira, by Lisbon 1260 Madeira to Barbadoes 2600 ---- 3860

Falmouth to Fayal 1230 Fayal to Barbadoes 2255 ---- 3485

Falmouth to Fayal 1230 Fayal to Cape Nichola Mole 2600 ---- 3830

Falmouth to Terceira 1180 Terceira to St. Thomas 2350 ---- 3530

Falmouth to Terceira 1180 Terceira to Cape Nichola Mole 2700 ---- 3880

Falmouth to Madeira 1170 Madeira to St. Thomas 2800 ---- 3970

Falmouth to Madeira 1170 Madeira to Cape Nichola Mole 3000 ---- 4170

Madeira to Rio de Janeiro 3700 Ditto, by Pernambuco and Bahia 109 ---- 3800

Terceira to Rio de Janeiro, by Pernambuco and Bahia 3900 Falmouth to Gibraltar, by Lisbon, &c. 1020 Gibraltar to Alexandria, by Palermo and Malta 1955 ---- 2975

Falmouth to Gibraltar, by Lisbon and Cadiz 1050 Gibraltar to Madeira 600 Madeira to Barbadoes 2600 ---- 4250

CALCULATION OF YEARLY COST OF SAILING PACKETS AND STEAM BOATS. (p. 113)

I.--_Sailing Packets._

First cost, 9500_l._--Interest, 5 per cent. £475 Repairs, ordinary tear and wear, at 7-1/2 per cent. 710 Wages, say 1,270 Provisions, say 730 Insurance, 10 per cent. 950 ------ Total £4,135

Exclusive of yearly depreciation of capital--say, last seventeen years, is 558_l._ 16_s._ yearly.

The per centage here taken for yearly supplies, is below the true outlay. The following sums, in full details, have been received from a very accurate and competent hand, of the outfits of a _new_ vessel of 230 tons, cost 4000_l._, for six successive voyages in the West Indian trade, during a period of 48 months. It is considered unnecessary to insert the details at length. The amount is given for each voyage:--

1st Voyage £96 11 5 4th Voyage £646 3 11 2d ditto 219 17 0 5th ditto 348 12 8 3d ditto 301 1 4 6th ditto 266 8 2 _________ __________ £617 9 9 £1261 4 9 _________ __________ Together £1878 14 6 Average £313 2 6

Nearly EIGHT per cent, for each voyage, or _twenty-four_ per cent. per annum. The amount would also increase yearly with the age of the ship.

II.--_Steam Boats._ (p. 114)

Value 24,000_l._, Interest at 5 per cent £1,200 Tear and wear, do. do. 1,200 Insurance, do. do. 1,200 ______ £3,600