construction, in this part of America, of a water communication; which
water communication, however, be it observed, must be sufficient to
admit the passage through it of ships of the very highest tonnage, and
at all seasons; otherwise it will not answer the general purpose, nor
interests of the world. Less might indeed suit for the conveyance of
mails; but any thing less would occasion such an additional expense in
unloading, transporting, and again loading goods, as would render the
tedious navigation of Cape Horn preferable.

_Lake Nicaragua, &c._

The next to be considered, and perhaps the last and the best channel
by which a communication between the Atlantic and the Pacific could be
opened up, and safely carried on, is through central America, or the
Republic of Guatemala, by means of the River St. Juan and the Lakes
Nicaragua and Managua, or, as the latter is more generally called, (p. 096)
Leon. These lakes are connected with each other by a river, and are
navigable for ships; Nicaragua for ships of the line. The River St.
Juan forms the outlet of both into the Atlantic Ocean, and is,
according to Estella, navigable throughout its course for ships of
large burden. The mouth of the St. Juan, according to the late survey
by Capt. Owen, lays in 10 deg.53' N. lat. and in 83 deg.40' W. long. Leon, the
capital of the province in which Lake Managua is situated, and from
which the name of Leon is generally given to the latter, stands,
according to the best Spanish authorities, in 12 deg.20' N. lat. and
86 deg.45' W. long.; and its port, Rialejo, on the Pacific, in 12 deg.29'50"
N. lat., and 87 deg.6' W. long. From the mouth of the River St. Juan to
Rialejo, in a bearing of N. 66 deg. W. the distance is 235 miles; and this
bearing runs nearly through the centre of the lakes and the course of
the River St. Juan. From the point where the River St. Juan issues
from the Lake Nicaragua to the point where the River Lapita, which
issues from Lake Managua, falls into the former, the distance, taken
on the best maps, is about 95 miles. Rialejo is situated on a river of
the same name, which is deep, and capable of holding in the harbour
200 sail of the largest ships. The harbour is well protected from the
force of the Pacific, and from storms, by an island stretching out
before it, with two channels between it and the main land; the one
opening to the south-east, and the other to the north-west. The
adjacent country is very f