381,938
--------
Balance gain L109,636
--------

GEOGRAPHICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE ISTHMUS OF AMERICA, (p. 083)

AND THE PRACTICABILITY OF

A COMMUNICATION WITH CHINA AND NEW SOUTH WALES WESTWARD THROUGH IT.

A ready and safe communication with these important places, and at the
same time with all the most eastern parts of Asia, with all the
Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and with all the western coasts of the
great continent of America, it will be readily allowed, is of the
utmost importance to Great Britain and to the whole civilized world.

Through the isthmus of central America only, a short, safe, and easy
passage from Europe to the eastern parts of Asia and the Pacific
Ocean, can be effected. That a passage over the Pole exists, is
extremely probable, nay, it may be said, is certain. This passage,
when found, will be obtained by standing north between Nova Zembla and
Spitzbergen, and thence over the Pole, inclining first eastward above
Europe, and thence westward for some distance, to Behring's Straits.
But admitting that there is a passage open by this route, it can only
be so from the end of May to the middle of September, and during this
period only comparatively safe; a period much too short to accomplish
a voyage out and back from China, and scarcely sufficient to perform
the voyage out and back between Great Britain and her territories on
the west coast of America situated to the north of Columbia River.
Moreover, even if a passage this way was open for a period sufficient
to enable the navigator to accomplish the voyage to either of the
quarters alluded to, still it will appear, when the distances come (p. 084)
to be noticed and contrasted, that, considering the winds and the
weather which ships would encounter in passing over the North Pole
into the Pacific, as contrasted with those which they would most
certainly meet with in sailing westward through tropical seas, by the
Isthmus of America; that the latter route would, upon the whole, be
the best, and in all respects preferable and most expeditious.

A communication by the latter quarter may be advantageously and
speedily opened up, both for steamers and for sailing vessels; and in
the conveyance of mails, both or either may be employed, as shall
appear to be