CENTRAL    AMERICAN      STATES.                 
 193
                                                                        
           a

the steam marine of England has increased 417 per cent.; that of France 613
per cent.;
and that of Austria 637 per cent.
  "The commercial returns of exports and imports for the Chinese Empire
for the year
1855 were 281,000,000 francs; for the year 1868 they were 1,120,000,000 francs.
  "The number of vessels entered and cleared in 1865 was 1,527, tonnage
529,222; and
in 1868 was 14,075, tonnage 6,318,503.
  "The Suez Canal Company, taking as their base the annual tonnage of
Liverpool at
six millions, Marseilles at five, and the trade around the Dardanelles and
Black Sea
at six millions, expect six millions as the minimum through the canal, and
a gross
receipt of 60,000,000 francs."
  Admitting these data, and in view of the success of the Suez Canal, the
approximate
cost of that of Nicaragua being known, together with the superiority of its
importance
to that of the former, and not forgetting that the increase of trade is always
in a direct
ratio to the greater or less facility of communication, we cannot believe
that the accom.
plishment of the project of an American interoceanic canal is longer to be
delayed.
                                                           EMILIO BENARD.
  WASHINGTON, June 20,1874.


                                  Documents.
                  REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN RELATIONS,
                                                      Comnayagua, April 16,
1874.
  SIn: I have had the honor to receive your note, in which you were pleased
to inform
this government that the United States steamer Gettysburg anchored in the
bay of
San Juan del Norte on the 7th ultimo, having on board a new expedition commissioned
to explore the isthmus of Nicaragua, and composed of distinguished American
civil
engineers, sent by the scientific commission at Washington for the express
purpose of
deciding upon the route to be selected for the great work of the interoceanic
canal,
stating that, according to all the information received by you, the decision
of the ex-
pedition would be in favor of Nicaragua, and, in conclusion, urging the government
of
Honduras to instruct its representative at Washington to use his best efforts
to bring
about such a solution of this important question as should be favorable to
the interests
Of Central America.
  The Citizen President, to whom I have communicated the contents of your
afore-
said note, has instructed me to assure the government of Nicaragua of the
very deep
interest which is felt by the government and people of Honduras in the accomplish-
ment of that greatest and most important work of the age, which will at once
change
the face of Central America. Although Honduras has as yet no representative
at
Washington, it will make a point of accrediting an envoy extraordinary, if
the gov-
ernment of Nicaragua shall think proper, to the end that the question of
the canal may
be settled in a manner calculated to promote the interests of Central America.
  With the highest consideration, I have the honor to be your excellency's
very obe-
dient servant,
                                                           ADOLFO ZUNIGA.
   His Excellency the iliieter of Foreign Relations of the Republic of Nicaragua.

            MINISTRY OF FOREIGN RELATIONS OF TIlE REPUBLIC OF SALVADOR,
                                                     San Salvador, April
8, 1874.
  SiR: I have received your excellency's esteemed note of the 23d ultimo,
whereby you
were pleased to inform my government that the United States steamer Gettysburg
an-
chored in the bay of San Juan del Norte on the 7th ult., having on board
a new expedi-
tion commissioned to explore the isthmus of Nicaragua, which, after ascertaining
certain facts, is to join another expedition under the command of Captain
Selfridge,
the latter being under orders to re-examine the Atrato Napipi route, across
the Isthmus
of Darien.
  His excellency the President, to whom I have communicated the contents
of your
excellency's note, has directed me to say to you, in reply, that he is much
gratified at
the arrival of these expeditions, and that he earnestly hopes that their
reports may
induce the commission at Washington to decide in favor of the route via Nicaragua.
  As your excellency is well aware, such a decision would be highly favorable
to the
interests of Central America ; instructions are therefore this day communicated
to the
minister of Salvador at Washington to act in this matter entirely in harmony
with
the representative of your government.
  With the highest considerali~on, I have the honor to subscribe myself,
      Your very obedient and faithful servant,
                                                                 M. BRIOSO.
  The Miniiister of Foreign Relations of Nicaragua.
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