France.' Sir Thomas only laughed at it, and considered it unworthy of notice. Has this Consul and his confederates dared to make use of his King's name without his authority? The Queen had also an insolent letter from this man he even forced himself into her presence, and behaved himself in a rude and disrespectful manner, as stated in a letter from her to the captain of the Talbot. 'He said to me,' she says-shaking his head at me, throwing about his arms, and staring fiercely at me-" order your men to hoist the new flag, and that the new government be respected" I protested against this conduct, and told him I had nothing more to say to him.' This poor, persecuted young Queen, wrote to Queen Victoria a second most pathetic appeal, which has been published in all our Newspapers:- Have compassion on me in my present trouble, in my affliction and great helplessness. Do not cast me away; assist me quickly, my friend; I run to you for refuge-to be covered under your great shadow-the same as afforded to my fathers by your fathers, who are now dead, and whose kingdoms have descended to us.' In this letter she explains, as we think, what Sir Robert Peel mentioned in his reply about the 100,000 dollars. Taraipa (govvernor of Tahiti) said to me, Pomare, write your name under this document, (the French protection ;) if you don't sign your name, you must pay a fine of 10,000 dollars, 5000 tomorrow, and 5000 the following day; and, should the first payment be delayed beyond two o'clock the first day, hostilities will be commenced, and your country taken from you.' 'On account of this threat,' says the Queen, against my will I signed my name -I was compelled to sign it-and because I was afraid; for the British and American subjects residing in my country (in case of hostilities) would have been indiscriminately massacred-no regard would have been paid to parties.' We are far from objecting to that confidence which Lord Aberdeen declares his willingness to place in Louis Philippe and his Minister, and we only hope that they will do that justice and exercise that mercy, which have been so grossly outraged, towards the person of this helpless female sovereign by their unfeeling and assuming functionaries, who, we are disposed to believe, have imposed upon both; and we trust that Louis Philippe will not hesitate, if he has not already done so, to follow the example of the Queen of Great Britain and the President of the United States of America, by a declaration of the independence of the Society and the Sandwich Islands. Let the French keep, and be satisfied with, the Marquesas and their less civilized inhabitants, though apparently obtained by extortion. The result of the late proceedings at Tahiti, supposing them, what we are most unwilling to do, to have been sanctioned by the French Government, must have the obvious tendency of interrupting that amicable intercourse with the natives, which of late years has been free and open to all the maritime nations of the world, and in lieu thereof, to create mutual distrust, jealousies, and disturbances; for France must not persuade herself that her rule over, or possession of islands hitherto free, and frequented by ships of every nation, will be regarded in the same light, or treated with the same respect and confidence, as is usually given to legitimate authority. To such an extent, indeed, has the presence of foreign ships increased, that two years ago twenty arrived at Huahine, and nearly one hundred at Tahiti in the year. Nor can France imagine, for example, that the ships of war of Great Britain and America-which for years have maintained a friendly intercourse with the islands of the Pacific, mutually giving and receiving benefits-will be disposed to recognize the usurped dominion of the French, and forego their wonted friendly communications with the native authorities of the islands, freely and without a foreign interference-to say nothing of the evils that must result from throwing whole communities into a state of confusion, unsettling their minds, and disturbing that repose which they have acquired of late years, by the almost miraculous progress made in the arts and comforts of civilized life, in the precepts of Christianity, and the decencies of morality. But, taking the result to issue in a lower, but not less important point of view-the expected acquisition of wealth, or even political power-neither of these, we conceive, can rationally be entertained. Commercially speaking, these islands can contribute little or nothing to the wealth of their new possessors. The poor islanders have nothing to give in exchange for what France might supply them, except such articles as pigs and fowls, bananas, cocoa-nuts, and bread-fruit, which nobody will eat if any other kind of bread can be had. In a political point of view, these acquisitions cannot in any degree contribute to the aggrandizement of their strength or honor. Perhaps the mere vanity of having the tri-colored flag flying in the opposite hemisphere, eight or ten thousand miles distant from home, may be considered as ample compensation for loss of character and an enormous expenditure of money, and perhaps of life. taken place, and apparently is about to take place, in that part of the world. It That a strong feeling of indignation should Our inference is strengthened by a comhave been created by such conduct, in the munication, made at a meeting of the Acadenumerous and influential societies for the my of Sciences in Paris by M. Arago, stating encouragement of Missionaries into foreign that a contract had been entered into, by parts, might reasonably be expected. The Messrs. Baring and Company, with the ReLeeds branch of the London Missionary So-public of Granada, but in whose behalf is not ciety has warmly taken it up, and passed the stated, in virtue of which, however, the said following resolution: That this meeting re- Republic is to cede to the contractors the gards the recent aggression of the French line required for the construction of a canal, navy, which has been subsequently sanc- with 80,000 acres of land on the two banks, tioned by the French Government, upon the and 400,000 acres more in the interior. small and defenceless community of Tahiti, is added, that the work, upon which from as a gross infraction of the law of nations, 4000 to 5000 men are to be engaged, is caland of the common rights of humanity, which culated to take five years for its completion. is to the last degree disgraceful to the name To whom the Isthmus of Darien may belong, of a people, boasting to be free and gallant in the present unsettled state of contending themselves, and the friends of liberty and the parties on the western side of America, we human race; and a deed of unprovoked and pretend not to say. Does the northern part pitiful outrage, which ought to awaken the of the continent, or the southern part, or warmest indignation of the whole civilized both, lay claim to it? Has the Mosquito world; and that this meeting thus publicly shore, on which our logwood cutters are, and pledges itself to do all in its power to induce which extends down to it, and the district of our Government to exert its legitimate influ- Columbia, which springs out of it-have they ence with the Government of France, to any thing to say to it? As to the contract restore to the Queen of Tahiti her just inde- with Messrs. Baring, we are rather sceptipendence, and to all classes of her subjects cal; they are too cautious to engage in so their civil rights and religious freedom.' doubtful an undertaking. The project of cutting a canal through the Isthmus of Darien, or making a railroad across it, has frequently been mooted; but we are not aware that any intelligible plan for either has been brought forward, or any actual survey made. Mr. Lloyd, when acting as secretary to General Bolivar, gives a Some of the French Deputies in the Chamber were opposed to these new acquisitions, not on account of the injustice committed, but on account of the large estimate proposed for their maintenance. They spoke of the dangers and difficulties of passing Cape Horn; but M. Guizot observed that the Isthmus of Panama would, ere long, open a pass-line for a canal, and two lines for railroads. age for the mercantile shipping of France, According to his map, the length of the and afford a line of communication for the canal, by the line of the Chagres to Cruces, produce of the new colonies, and the des- and thence to Panama, winds through the patches for the governor and forces: he valley, extending about sixty miles-that of talked of the English establishment at the the railroad, from the same to the same, Bay of Honduras, having been made for the about forty miles; but nothing definite is purpose of commanding this passage between given as to the height of the intervening land. the two oceans! We should have given M. The direct distance from Porto Bello, or Guizot the credit of being a better geogra- Chagres, to Panama, is not more than twenpher, and that he knew very well the cutters ty-eight or thirty miles; but by the road of logwood could derive no benefit from a through Gongora and Cruces, the distance is cut made across the Isthmus of Darien. Lit- not less than fifty miles. Sir E. Belcher, tle more at the time was said on this head; though a professed surveyor, is still more but that little, considered in conjunction with indefinite than Mr. Lloyd: he talks of measome circumstances that have since occur-suring the meridian distance between Chared, induce us to think, that the possession gres and Panama by means of rockets, exof certain islands in the Pacific, is only aux-plosion-bags, and chronometers; but the iliary to a pre-existing intention of endeavor-rockets burst, and nothing is concluded by ing to establish a commercial intercourse the bags and the chronometers-no result with China through the Pacific; and that the whatever, not even the highest point of the measure of sending a squadron of ships of intermediate land is noticed. We have war, and an embassy to the emperor of that heard that a Frenchman had discovered a great nation, is connected with what has line, in which the highest elevation above the level of the sea would not exceed twelve t, the report of which may have led to that Now, the measured distance by the usual pposition of a contract for the project spok- route round the Cape of Good Hope is, of by M. Arago. as nearly as can be estimated, the same, or at most, 200 miles less; and this, at the average rate of five miles an hour, will be performed in 121 days, and has frequently been done in less time. The practicability of carrying a canal ross the Isthmus need not be questioned; e rivers, and the numerous streams by ich they are fed, will at all times afford enty of water to supply the waste occaoned by the locks-for locks there must be, d not a few. The supposed different levels the two seas, which have been very much isrepresented, will not create an obstacle: difference—and a very considerable one ere must be, occasioned by various disrbances in the tides, chiefly by the differit strength and direction of the wind in the aribbean gulf on one side, and the open y of Panama on the other, by which the tide is occasionally accelerated or rerded. In ordinary cases, according to Mr. loyd, the Pacific, at high water, is about irteen feet higher than the Atlantic; and, low water, the Atlantic is highest by about x feet. There must be, therefore, a period, enerally once in twelve hours, when these vels are equal. Baron Humboldt, forty ears ago, said-'The difference of level beween the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean does not probably exceed nine feet; nd that at different hours in the day, somemes one sea, sometimes the other, is the ore elevated;' but, as we have said, this ifference cannot much interfere with the onstruction of a canal. Captain Belcher, having visited the lake Managua, has revived the obsolete notion of connecting the Atlantic and Pacific by a line for a canal, which, by entire lake navigation, might be connected with the interior of the states of San Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and extended to the Atlantic.' He sailed up the river Estero Real in his assistant's cutter Starling, and boats, thirty miles, which he understood was still navigable thirty miles higher up; and if so, he considers it must nearly communicate with the lake of Managua, and that at least it is fed, or has its origin, near it. That the Estero is fed by the lake cannot be the case, as two rivers flowing out of the same lake in contrary directions is physically impossible, which would be the case here: there is no instance that we know of, where two great rivers flow out of a lake at opposite extremities, and in contrary directions; for if originally the levels were precisely the same, (which is not likely,) the attrition of the one would get the better of the other, and one stream would carry off the water. But in the present instance, the western shore of the Managua is more than a hundred feet above the level of the sea; and the Estero, therefore, even if connected with the lake, could not be navigable sixty miles. Then the river San Juan, with its rapids and cataracts, falls into the Atlantic out of the lake Nicaragua, whose level is very little lower than that of Managua, and thus cutting off every hope of a river and lake navigation; the distance, besides, from the mouth of the Estero to the mouth of the San Juan in a line, through the lakes, is more than 300 miles. The subject has often been discussed, and, we had thought, altogether exploded. That such a communication across the sthmus of Panama would be of infinite use or all commercial purposes connected with he Pacific islands, and the western coasts of he two Americas, from Behring's Strait to Cape Horn, the West Indies, or the east oast of North America, cannot admit of a oubt. But with regard to time being gained y this route from Europe to China, over hat by the Cape of Good Hope, or any adantage for commercial intercourse, which he French seem to contemplate, we are deidedly of opinion there will be none; and hat the old route will continue to be consid- As we were writing this article, an anonyred preferable, to us in England, at least, as mous pamphlet-marked in print Private t will also be found to the French. We ar- and Confidential-was sent to us, but from ive at this conclusion from a comparison of what quarter we know not, nor for what purhe distances of the two routes, and of the pose. It states that—' By a decree, promulprobable times required to make the voy-gated at Bogota the 30th May 1838, a priviiges by sailing vessels, and by steamers. lege was granted by the Congress of the Sea Mi'e. Sailing. Steaming Nautical miles,.. 66 25 republic of New Granada, for opening a communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, across the Isthmus of Panama. That the rights under this decree belong solely and exclusively to the house of Augustin Salomon & Co., of Panama, and to the 14,526 129 days. 81 days. Granadian Company; and they have the 66 29 "6 right over all such lands as shall be found | Zealand, the Polynesian Islands, and the necessary for the formation of a canal. That great number of her ships engaged in the it is to be completed in eight years, but may whale fishery in the South Seas, are suffibe extended, if it be proved that the work ciently strong motives to call her attention to has already commenced, which is actually it, and to insure her leading men, both in the the case; Messrs. Salomon & Co. having political and commercial world, to give all already caused a survey to be made of the the weight of their influence and credit to a whole line from Chagres to Panama.' Of scheme, which, if once carried into executhe advantages to be gained, they say,- tion, would procure to Great Britain, and her 'Every vessel bound for China, Australia, numerous colonies and possessions, incalcuNew Zealand, the Polynesian Islands, and lable benefits.' the west coasts of North and South America, would shorten the passage by nearly two months, saving a distance of several thousand miles, besides avoiding the dangers of the voyage round both the southern continents.' We must exclude China, to which, as we have shown, neither time nor distance will be saved. But the French, it would seem, from a paragraph in the Debats, are not satisfied with either Lloyd's Report or that of More!; and have actually, at this time, a surveyor of their own on the ground. Among the projectors something is likely to be done, and all of them, if we are not greatly mistaken, will be disappointed. extending their influence and commerce, over every portion of the globe, where a fair and legitimate opening presents itself; but we cannot persuade ourselves that the proceedings of their agents at Tahiti have been conducted with dignity, humanity, or even with justice. Nay, France is a great nation, and all who wish well to her sovereignty, must be desirous it should not descend below the level of a great people. They have a right to make themselves known in all the accessible parts of the world; and with this feeling we were glad to find they were about to accom A Frenchman of the name of Morel, said We are very far from blaming the French to be an able practical engineer, has survey-in making every exertion, with the view of ed the line, the result of which is,-1. That the width of the isthmus of Panama, in a direct line, does not exceed thirty-three miles. 2. That the chain of mountains terminates at this point, and forms a valley crossed by numerous streams. 3. That besides these, three rivers can be made available, the Chagres and Trinidad, which flow into the Atlantic, and the Farfan, in the immediate vicinity of Panama. 4. That the Chagres has deep water at its junction with the Trinidad. 5 and 6. That the highest point in the line of the canal is thirty-three feet, and the length of the line not more than twenty-plish this object in China, by the proper and five miles. And it is added, that four thousand workmen and laborers, and upwards, have already been enrolled. This return, however, is admitted to be conjectural-the cost certain. The concluding paragraph looks like a decoy for the English. There is no country which is not, either directly or indirectly, interested in this enterprise. But it is in England chiefly where all the advantages its execution will create can be more generally appreciated, to say nothing of connecting the English name with so noble an undertaking. Her immense interests in India, her relations with China, the Australian colonies, New dignified mode of sending an authorized representative of their sovereign to the ruler of that vast Empire. We cordially wish to the individual charged with that important office every success; he will find it, however, beset with difficulty, which will require great discretion, as well as firmness of purpose, to overcome. He will, no doubt, have called to his recollection what occurred in the three several embassies sent to the Court of Pekin in our own time, and be prepared accordingly for what may happen to him. The first was that of Lord Macartney, who succeeded in supporting the honor and character of the nation, by his dignified conduct, skill, and management-"Don't," he said, propose to me your koo-too; I will pay to your Emperor the same obeisance as to my own sovereign, but nothing more; but if that will not suit you, let your Ta-whang-tee set me the example, and whatever ceremony he may choose to perform before the portrait of * Rivers Chagres and Trinidad navigable eigh-tation to him." Not liking this, his presenmy sovereign, I will follow it on my presenteen miles; Farfan, seven miles, making twentyfive miles; artificial canal, twenty-five miles. To- tation to Old Kien-long was just the same as tal length, fifty miles. that to George III. Lord Amherst, on land g, was met by a court mandarin, on whom e was pleased to confer the title of Duke Ho, ho presented to his lordship a screen of yelw silk, before which he was required to ractise the koo-too, which of course his lordip declined; but Duke Ho had his revenge, y giving him and his suit a night's drive, in heir little springless carts, over a twelveile granite road of disjoined slabs, to the ate of Pekin; which being shut, the drive as continued round the outside of the walls hroughout the night, and beyond them some even or eight miles, to a palace of the emeror; where at daylight, the ambassador was ummoned to make his immediate appearance efore the Emperor, harassed as he was, sick, and in his travelling dress. This he very roperly resented, and the same day made reparations to set off homewards, without ›idding adieu to the great Whang-tee. The Dutch mission, previous to this, thinking to profit by compliance, refused nothing, and obtained nothing in return but a lodging, as they state, among horses in a stable. brought up, as he frequently is, before the Chiefs of the island acting in their capacity of judges, and reprimanded by them, he avenges himself by abusing and ill-treating the Queen. On some occasion, the British Consul requested Sir E. Belcher to go with him to the Queen, to endeavor to prevail on her to allow that this man should be summoned before the judges. He was so, and appeared; and, probably out of regard for Pomare, was only admonished. A few days afterwards the brute had fallen from his horse in a fit of intoxication, when the Queen fled to his assistance with all the warmth of affection, which he repaid by treating her in a most brutal manner on the high-road, seizing her by the hair, and but for her attendants would probably have murdered her. On his return home, he destroyed all her dresses, ornaments, furniture, &c., and attempted to set fire to the house. The Queen, after this, made up her mind to sue for a divorce, and his removal to Huahine, his native island, to which place CapBut now that China has been opened to us, tain Belcher offered to convey him. "To we find that the President of the United my utter astonishment," says the captain, States has also determined on a mission to "the Consul informed me the day following, China. The appearance of the two Ambas- that she had forgiven him. Poor woman,' sadors at Pekin, is an occurrence likely some- he adds, "I am afraid this is but a beginning what to puzzle the Chinese. M. Lagrineé of such scenes! She appears to be very fond representing a King, will probably be the fa- of her children, and to feel much for her unvorite; the free and independent citizen of principled husband; her forgiveness on this the United States, representing the President late occasion speaks volumes for her kindness and Congress, will be apt to put the Chinese of heart. in mind of the Stadtholder and States-gener- Pomare, in this respect, is but a type of al, which they did not, or would not, compre- the upper class of females in Tahiti-a more hend. The misfortune of Mr. Cushing hav-kind-hearted, cheerful, and affectionate race ing lost his ship by fire at Gibraltar, and the of beings, are not anywhere to be found. On whole of his equipment, has not prevented him from proceeding in the packet to China -a sacrifice which is highly creditable to his energy in the fulfilment of a public duty. Leaving the French and the Americans to their respective pursuits with regard to China, pass we on to our author, of whose proceedins, however, we have but little more to notice. Of the intrigues of the French at Tahiti, and their forcible possession of the Marquesas, Captain Belcher appears to know nothing, or he at least says nothing. His visit to Tahiti, however, has enabled him to record an amiable trait in the character of the unfortunate Queen Pomare, which we are unwilling to pass over without notice-more unfortunate perhaps in her domestic distress, than even in the injustice and oppression suffered from a foreign power. She is married to a certain Chief of another island, by whom she has two children; a man of a most brutal character, who, by intermeddling in the affairs of her government, and thereby being turning to Captain Cook for his opinion of the Tahitian females, so far back as 1773, we read as follows:-" Great injustice has been done to the women of Otaheite and the Society Islands; the favors," he says, "of married women, and also of the unmarried of the better sort, are as difficult to be obtained here as in any other country whatever. On the whole," he adds, "a stranger who visits England might, with equal justice, draw the characters of the woman there from those which he might meet with on board the ships in one of the naval ports, or in the purlieus of Covent-Garden or Drury-Lane." He admits they are well versed in the arts of coquetry, and unreserved in conversation; and thinks these may have given them, more than any thing else, the character of libertines. We can state, on unquestionable authority, that of the several Tahitian females, the daughters of Chiefs who are married to European residents, there is no instance, for many years past, of a separation having taken place |