ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 7, 21 August 1841, Page 4

ENGLISH NEWS.

Panama. —The Isthmus of Panama, —Operations of the French Engineers, &c. — Early in the spring of the last year, an enterprising company in Paris fitted out an expedition to ascertain, by careful survey, whether it is practicable to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by a ship canal across the Isthmus of Panama. We learn from a letter by a gentleman in this city yesterday, from a New Orleans correspondent, that the expedition arrived at the mouth of the Chagres, ready to commence operations about the last of Angust, and that on the first of December, partial surveys of two different routes had left on the minds of the engineers an impression that the long contemplated enterprise was not only practicable but that a canal of sufficient capacity for the largest ships might be constucted at a cost much below any of the estimates which have hitherto been published. Unless the local governments, therefore, interpose some insurmountable obstacles, we shall look for the prosecution ot this great work at an early period. It is astonishing that the execution of this important project has been so long delayed. The “ Edinburgh Review,’’ so long since as 1809, spoke of it as the mightiest event in favor of the peaceful intercourse of nations which the physical circumstances of the globe be presented to the enterprise of man; and from that time until the present, there have been intelligent statesmen and merchants, constantly,but vainly, endeavouring to bring it about. By a glance at a map of America, it will be seen that thtx narrowest portion of the strip of land connecting the northern and southern portions of the Continent is in the Republic of N. Grenada, by ■ the River Chagres, which empties itself into the Carribean Sea. The distance directly across the Isthmus at this point is less than thirty miles ; but by pursuing the course of the river to the town of Cruses, some twenty five miles from it;> mouth, ships can go within fifteen miles of the Pacific, and at this town the French expedition commenced operations. To the commerce of this country and Europe with the western coast of South America, the construction of this canal would save the circumnavigation of that Continent, the total distance of which is about twelve thousand miles, together with all the hardships and perils of going round Cape Horn. Our great Pacific territory, now almost inaccessible to the commerce of the Atlantic seaboard, except by overland conveyance, would be brought within easy access ; and the commerce of the world with China and the Indian Archipelago would be facilitated by a saving of about four thousand miles in distance, together with a yet greater advantage in safety and ease, from the route passing through the most favourable latitudes for winds and currents each way. To the whale "fisheries and trade, similar advantages would be afforded. Great as would be all these benefits, they would be surpassed by the effect which such facilities of -communication and exchange would exert in extending intelligence, stimulating the immense masses of the human race to new efforts of industry, and developing the resources of the richest portion of the globe. It is a source of regret that our Government could not have been prevailed on to undertake this great enterprize, in the prosecution of which they have an interest deeper than that of any other nation ; but we hope that the French company will succeed so perfectly as to render its interference hereafter entirely unnessary. Supplying the Metropolis with Water. > —A company has recently made its appearance for the supply of the Metropolis with a more wholesome quality of water at a cheaper rate. It is generally known among scientific men that experiments have been making for some time near Watford, under the superintendance of the Marquis of Westminster, chairman of the select committee of the House of Lords, with a view to ascertain the supply of water as to quantity, which could be obtained from that source. It is stated that according to the report of Sir Robert Stephenson, tiie'engineer employed, these experiments have been entirely successful, and that the metropolis can be supplied to any desirable extent with water untainted by sewers, drains, gas or rubbish, without interfering with mill-owners, or paying enormous sums for compensation. The intention of the legislature and government in appointing the late Mr. Telford , with Dr. Roget and Mr. Brande, on a similar investigation, a considerable time since, is now likely to be realised at a much smaller outlay that was then contemplated. Considering the large returns of interest which other similar undertakings yield to the proprietors, and the high value to which that description of property has attained, a fair field would seem to be open for the success of the enterprize, both as respects the advantage in the way of investment, and the convenience and profit to the public by an increased supply of good water at a lower rate. Amongst the names of the direction, comprising a number of distinguished individuals and members of parliament, may be noticed the veteran advocate for a better supply of water, Sir Francis Burdett, and the names well known to science of Sir Henry Halford, W. A. Mackinnon, M. P., Dr. Hamilton Roe, and Dr. Paris. The project has the additional recommendation of being purely a domestic one in its objects and expenditure, London, Feb, 21.—1 tis stated in circles likely to be acquainted with the fact, that her Majesty is again in an “interesting situation,” at once exciting the hopes and sympathies of her loyal subjects.