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    74* * THE IiBABEB. [No. 436, July 31, ig...

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    ENLARGEMENT OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. X. Tr...

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    INTEROCEANIC COMMUNICATION. THE JirNCXIO...

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  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

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    Pietv Alfresco Is On The Increase, And T...

    for -wax , turned out to be oil upon theToaroiiig watersthe gigantic rod that once shown , without being used , is found to quiet the unruly child—a vessel that a Peace Society might b « justly proud of—a vessel , too , that would return me some portion of the Brunei-expended capital , if it did not hold out much hope of anything in the shape of a dividend . But as I am not , my masters , either an army or a general contractor , a Government shipbuilder , or a shareholder in the Great Leviathan , I do not feel much alarm at the approaching Cherbourg festivities .

    74* * The Iibabeb. [No. 436, July 31, Ig...

    74 * * THE IiBABEB . [ No . 436 , July 31 , iggg

    Enlargement Of The British Museum. X. Tr...

    ENLARGEMENT OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM . X . Trom a Correspondent . ') Mauy of our readers -will doubtless learn with , surprise that the " new" British Museum is "by several degrees too small for the objects of scientific interest which it contains . The want of space has long been felt , but the collection has lately so rapidly increased as to transform a question of convenience into a matter of necessity . Mr . Hawkins , the curator of ' the Antiquities , considers that , to display them properly , double the present space would be required ; and Mr . Panizzi adds his opinion , tibat if that department alone were arranged and classified as it ought to be , the entire building ( exclusive of

    tne new reading-room ) would be insufficient to contain it . To make the ethnological collection of a corresponding character , the whole of the space now occupied by the antiquities on the upper floor Trould be required . The deficiencies in the zoological department , solely from .-want of room , ate striking and numerous ; not one-tenth part of the specimens of fish which the Museum actually possesses can be exhibited . The fine collection of caleopterons and other insects are kept in drawers , of which : only one in two hundred are available to the general public . The fossil shells have been removed from the cases in which they were shown in order to make room for newer specimens , and when the famous collection , of

    Mr . Cuming is again offered to the trustees , want of space -will prevent its purchase , and thus an opportunity be lost of making the one iii the Museum the most perfect in Europe . Nor are the professors and their assistants better accommodated . Professor Owen , on his appointment two years since , was assigned a study far too limited in extent for the numerous papers and books of reference necessary for the proper management of his department . On hia complaining of its deficient size , the only additional room which Mr . Panizzi could place at his disposal was a sort of underground cellar , in which two-thirds of the business connected with the

    natural history department is at present transacted . The other professors and their , assistants are located in offices temporarily erected in the galleries , -where they are still likely to continue , as an application made to the Treasury for 1900 / . fur the purpose of providing better accommodation will not be entertained until the whole question , of enlargement has been subjected to Parliamentary discussion . From these facts it is evident that either a large portion of the present collection must be removed to afford space for the remainder , or the present building must be sufficiently enlarged to contain the whole . To the former of these courses the

    principal librarian and the professors seem to be opposed , inasmuch ns they consider that the great advantage of the Museum consists in the opportunity it should afford to the public of studying under one roof the progressive development of the different objects of natural science there placed for exhibition , and that the removal of any portion would materially interfere with its chief value as an educational institution . The trustees , therefore , regard with more favour the last of these alternatives , and have invited their architect , Mr . S . Smirke , to report upon the facilities for enlargement contained within their present grounds , and to furnish estimates of the cost of purchasing certain adjacent sites and erecting new buildings thereon .

    It appears that the only spaces of unoccupied ground at tlie disposal of the trustees are those between the Bonth side of the Lycian-room and the residence of Mr . Carpenter , the keeper of prints and drawings ; and second , that between the north end of the second Elginroom , and the south end of the print-room , but it is doubtful whether these could bo used for building purposes without interfering with the light of several rooms adjacent . Sir . Smirke , therefore , suggests the erection

    of a new north wing on the site of the sixteen houses on the south side of Montague-place , and he estimates the price of their purchase at 00 , 000 / ., and states that a plain but suitable building could "be erected in four years at a cost of 110 , 000 ? . This ho calculates would place an additional 55 , UOO superficial feet at the disposal of the trustees , or by only undertaking a portion of this plan and purchasing four of the houses , and building on their site , 15 , 000 superficial feet would bo gained at a cost of about 40 , 000 / .

    Another plun ia to secure a small portion of the gardens in the rear of five houses in Bedford-square ; thia site , with the building , would cost 36 , 000 / ., and yield 14 , 000 superficial feet . But Mr . Panizzi , the chief librarian , considers that a much larger increase of room than is provided by Mr .

    Stnirke ' s suggestions is absolutely necessary , and states his belief that the whole of those parts of Great Russellstreet , Charlotte-street , Bedford-square , and Montagueplace contiguous to the Museum , would have to be purchased and built upon , at an expenditure of between 700 , 000 / . and 800 , 0002 . If an enlargement should be sanctioned by Parliament , the trustees must remember that though the English will give ungrudgingly the necessary funds to support the character of their National Museum they will hold the trustees responsible for the economical

    application of the money , and that they will more readily endorse a comprehensive plan which will at once satisfy all the requirements of space for many years to come , than constantly grant small sums for temporary purposes . f / Such are the statements and views of the trustees and officials of the British Museum , and we think they have much justice and reason in them j but the state of the times and the prospects of political affairs are not very favourable to the outlaying of anything like millions on artistic and literary improvements . ]

    Interoceanic Communication. The Jirncxio...

    INTEROCEANIC COMMUNICATION . THE JirNCXIOJT OF THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS . The question of muting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans , the great problem which . Columbus ., Cortes , Verrizano , and Hudson sought in vain to solve , and which , with the discovery of gold in California , became of momentous and practical'import ,.. has derived new , and to the English mind , peculiar interest from the discovery ot auriferous deposits in the bars and sands of the rivers which flow into the Pacific , from the bleak and inhospitable shores of the British possessions in North America . The restless energy , the zeal and enterprise which have founded a powerful state ia California , and which have made Australia a rich and almost independent empire , are now directed to the regions hitherto sacred to the beaver-lnuiter and the lied Indian , to the northward of the Columbia river , on the shores of Vancouver and the banks of Frazer ' s river . Under the uncouth name of " New Caledonia , " after a three months' gestation , a new colony of this prolific insular mother has sprung into fullgrown existence on the Pacific coast of America ; the first and only colony winch Great Britain possesses , on a line of shore extending from Cape Horn to the Straits of Bearing ! And as the discovery of gold in California made the question of interoceanic communication one of paramount importance to American minds , so the discovery of gold in Vancouver brings up the question , with new and tangible interest , to the reflection of the Englishman , who sees involved in it also , new and closer relations with the whole fastdeveloping western sea-board of America , and a speedier and safer , if not a shorter , communication with New Zealand and Australia ! How to reach Vancouver , tap the trade of Chili , Peruand

    Cen-, tral America , communicate with Australia , the Sandwich Islands , China , and . Japau , with greatest ease and speed , —this , certainly , is a problem deserving of a first consideration , equally by the British Government and the lEnglish people . That this communication must be made somewhere across the Central American isthmus is undeniable . The want is pressing : the results consequent on supplying it great . How shall it be made ? By canal or railway , or by both ? And where shall it be made P

    , No \ v we propose to lay down a few principles , which all must admit on reflection , aud which must greatlv affect the decision of all these questions : — 1 . Any communication , to be adequate or permanent , must have good ports , of ample capacity , at both extremities . 2 . It must pass through a country which is salubrious and possessed of adecmate supplies of materials for repairs , as well as ot provisions for passengers in transit , and for vessels leaving its extremities . 3 . It must be free from exactions of passports and customs dues , a neutrnl ground for nil nations , and under no more vigorous restraints than are snnctioned b y the worlds opinion in this , the last half of the nineteenth century .

    • These necessary prerequisites will be at once conceded , and the next question is as to the mode of communication . In the sixteenth century , wlien steam and its applications were unknown , nil thoughts were naturally and inevitably directed to canals as the only artificial modes of communication , except roads for wheel carriages , by means of which the wants of trade and travel could ho mnt .

    And thus we find , as early as 1526 , that an odT cut canal across the Isthmus of Central AtneS was proposed , as the only adequate means ofW mumcation between the seas . And this idea w been perpetuated ever since , notwithstanding 3 £ discovery of new and improved means of locWu tion ; and there are still found persons who folio the traditions of the subject , without reflecting that passengers , the public mails , treasure ilS light freight will never follow the relatively tedious course of water transport , when the ready rail with its high velocities and diversified excitements can be used instead . Canals can never comrjete with railways , except in carrying articles of neat weight or bulk , and of low value ; aud such article ! are always kept in stock iirall the great commercial centres of the world ; and so that stock be keS up , it matters little whether the supply reaches its depot within six weeks or six mouths-from its shirv ment . ^

    Not less than six points have been suggested for passing the isthmus of Central America , by caral or railway , as follow , commencing with the most southern : — , I . Jty Canal , froni . some point on the Atrato river , in . New Granada , in South America , to the Pacific . A vague tradition once existed of the feasibility of a canal ( which derived its principal importance from having been mentioned hj the Humboldt of the

    great ) , by way head waters of the Atrato river and Itio Sau Juan , to the Pacific Ocean , 450 miles to the southward of Panama . This notion was exploded by Colonel J . C . Trautwine , who made a survey of the line in 1852 . He found it utterl y impracticable . Another project , via the Atrato river , to the so-called port of Cupica ! on the Pacific , also disappeared before the test of a survey . Still another , proposed by a Mr . Kelly , of New York , in 1856 , and which , as our Trench

    neighbours would say , was largely " ventilated" in that year in England , was also brought to the experimentutn crucis of a survey by the American Government in 1857 . This proposition was toConnect the Atrato river with the Pacific by means of immense cuts and tunnels for ships ( one of the latter three miles long ) , turning the waters of the Atrato , by . way of the reversed TruandOj from the Atlantic into the Pacific Ocean . Lieutenant Craven , U . S . N ., was deputed in November , 1857 , to survey the line . The following passages from his report to the Secretary of the Navy of the United States , dated May 17 , 1858 , probably dispose of this project for ever . Lieutenant Craven concludes ( we quote verbatim ) that the project implies : —

    1 . A' cut through some five miles of submerged mud at the mouth of the river , with the prospective certainty of constant dredging to keep it open . " 2 . The lierculeatv labour and . incalculable expense of cutting through the lagoons of the Truando and the embedded logs of the l ' alos Caidos , > vhere the whole country is inundated during ' ut least nine months of the year , and where the flood of a day may destroy the work of a week . " 3 . The vast expense attending the removal of basaltic rock in a country where labour and provisions must all be imported at most extravagant rates . ( L 4 c . The want of an anchorage on the Pacific coast .

    " 5 . The fatal effects of the climate , -which , it may be safely estimated , will at all times disable one-third of any force that may be sent there . " You will not be surprised , sir , that , with the preceding arguments , I am of the opinion that the proposed canal is impracticable , as involving an expenditure of treasure not easily estimated , and n sacrifice of life from which the stoutest heart may shrink . Human ingenuity and perseverance may , it is true , overcome the obstacles enumerated ; but at least two generations must pass away ere the world could realise the completion o £ a much less extensive work than that contemplated . "

    II . An Open-cut Canal across the isthmus of Daricn , from Caledonia Bay on the Atlantic to the Gulf of San Miguel on the Pacific . This project , brought forward by a Dr . Cullcn , partially confirmed by Mr . Gisbourue , was completely put atrest by Lieutenant Strain , of the United States Navy , and Commander Prcvost , K . N ., who , in . 1 S 5 ^ 1 , brought it to the test of experiment . Both lost a number of their men ia vain attempts to follow a line which Dr . Cullcn declared ho hud traced alone ,

    and both escaped to pronounce- the scliemc iinpossible . A few persons , i ' roni what motive it is difficult to conceive , still persist in vague assertions of its practicability ; but these fall unheeded upon the public ' s incredulous ear . But even it' practicable , the work could not bo commenced without the assent of the Directors of tho Panama Railway , who , under their charter , have the cxclusivo right of opening an interoceanic communication

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 31, 1858, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_31071858/page/16/