men.

Any deficiency of labourers, it is considered, could easily be drawn
from the mining districts of Cornwall, from Ireland itself, or from
Scotland, or the North of England.

The next consideration is the expense of constructing a Ship Canal
across the Isthmus, and the probable returns. The estimates which have
been made, and of which the result is given below, suppose the Canal
to be cut through the whole width of the Isthmus, from the Bay of
Limon to that of Chorrera, and they include a large outlay for
improving the harbours formed by the two bays.

The first item that would occur in an undertaking of the same nature
_in this country_, would be the purchase of the land. Here a great
advantage presents itself in the present enterprise; for the
Government of New Granada, fully appreciating the permanent
advantages to be derived to the state from the execution of a work,
which it is unequal to accomplish by its own resources, has repeatedly
offered to grant the land required, for 60, 70, or 80 years, according
to the magnitude of the works, free of rent, or burdens of any kind,
and to admit the importation, free of duty, of all materials and
provisions necessary for the undertaking.

EXPENSES.

The expenses of cutting the Canal,
and of the direction and management of
a Company constituted for that purpose,
up to the period of the opening of the
Canal have been estimated at[9] L1,713,177

But if it be deemed expedient to raise
two millions, in order to provide for any
unforseen casualties, the difference will
be 286,823
----------
Total outlay L2,000,000

RETURNS.

From information derived from official sources in England, France, and
the United States of America, it is estimated that the tonnage of
vessels belonging to those countries and to Holland, trading in
countries to which the Canal through the Isthmus will be the shortest
voyage, amount to 799,427 tons per annum; and there can be no doubt
that the opening of the Canal would create a great extension of trade
to the South Seas, as well as induce the owners of many of the vessels
now using the navigation by the Cape of Good Hope to prefer the
shorter voyage through the Isthmus; and when we add to this
consideration, the fact that the above calculations do not include