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Zitierempfehlung
Alexander von Humboldt: „Junction of the atlantic and pacific oceans“, in: ders., Sämtliche Schriften digital, herausgegeben von Oliver Lubrich und Thomas Nehrlich, Universität Bern 2021. URL: <https://humboldt.unibe.ch/text/1853-Junction_of_the-06-neu> [abgerufen am 26.01.2025].
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| Titel | Junction of the atlantic and pacific oceans | ||||
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| Jahr | 1853 | ||||
| Ort | Rugby | ||||
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Nachweis in: The Rugby Advertiser. And Central England News 170 (13. August 1853), [o. S.].
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| Sprache | Englisch | ||||
| Typografischer Befund | Antiqua; Spaltensatz; Auszeichnung: Kursivierung, Kapitälchen. | ||||
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The following is the translation of a letter on this subject, addressed by Baron Von Humboldt to Mr. Lionel Gisborne:
JUNCTION OF THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC OCEANS.
The following is the translation of a letter on this subject, addressed by Baron Von Humboldt to Mr. Lionel Gisborne:
Sir,—I trust you will excuse the oldest among the tra-
vellers in both the tropics of America and the steppes of
Siberia, for having so long delayed to thank you for the infor-
mation I derived from your interesting journal, &c., on the
junction of the Atlantic with the Pacific. The position I
occupy in this country, and the ardent desire I feel to finish,
before my death, some scientific works which I had the
imprudence to begin, considerably interrupted the even
course of my correspondence. I therefore hope that I shall
meet, on your part also, with that indulgence which your
countrymen have shown me during so long a period.
I have not been beyond the Rio Romo, which lies east of
the mouth of the Atrato. It was at the time when I left
the island of Cuba, on my way to Lima, by Bogota, Quito,
and the river Amazon, for the purpose of observing the
passage of Mercury through the solar disc. I was then on
friendly terms with a very intelligent merchant, Don
Tynacio Tombo, of Cartagena, in America; and I recollect
that the Casso (treasury convoy) of Guayaquil was then on
its way to Europe, by the road from Cupica to the Atrato,
which was first opened by the Biscayian pilot Poguerache.
Knowing geologically the interruption of the mountain
chains, and the depression of the range in the eastern part
of the Isthmus, my attention has remained fixed, during
this last half century, on the Bay of San Miguel, and the
route from Cupica to the Rio Napipi.
Owing to my friendly relations with General Bolivar, I
obtained through him the first line of levels across the
Isthmus of Panama. Ever since the subject has not ceased
to occupy my mind, as the various works and maps which
I published since 1810 and my correspondence with various
statesmen will testify. But all my striving and urging
only led to imperfect trials; and projects calculated for a
line to the west of the meridian of Panama and Portobello,
none of which ever gained my confidence. I had, how-
ever, the gratification of seeing my views honored by an
eminent member of her Britannic Majesty’s Navy, Captain
Fitzroy. (Journal of the Royal Georgian Society, vol. xx.,
2.) The increase of human knowledge, and the immense
progress of science, arts, and industry among the western
nations, have given us powers which only call for applica-
tion.
Everything depends upon energy and perseverance. I
therefore congratulate you, sir, and your courageous friend
Mr. Cullen, as well as Sir Charles Fox, Mr. Henderson,
and Mr. Brassey, for having given your names to so noble
an undertaking. I have always considered, firstly, the
opening of an oceanic canal without locks, and secondly,
the cut at Huchnecocca, in the valley of Mexico, (which is
on a comparatively smaller scale, as may be seen from the
map and section published), as two events calculated highly
to improve the relations between the different families of
the human species. In fact, such a work as the one you
contemplate will bring Eastern Asia nearer to the nations
of Europe and America. It will render the whole globe
more easy to be travelled over; this little globe, of which
Christopher Columbus, in one of his letters to the Queen of
Spain, said—“ El mundo es poco.”
It will facilitate the diffusion of productions, especially
of precious metals, of which the relative value (1 to 15 5-6)
would change too suddenly without this “permeability”
of the world.
As early as the discovery of the new continent, civilisa-
tion had spread, in a direction from north to south, over
those portions of America which lie opposite to Asia, those
on the European side being then occupied by barbarous
hunting tribes.
The finest harbours, the most precious products, are like-
wise found in the west.
Even the currents of the air, by their direction, contri-
bute towards the preponderance of West American power
over the rich countries of Asia. The increasing importance
of the west coast of America promises to balance, at some
future time, the surprising progress of the Atlantic States,
provided the Western states keep themselves free from that
hideous disease—slavery of coloured people.
Indeed, sir, I feel the most ardent wishes for the happy
success of this oceanic canal. The attention which the
public of the two continents bestow already upon your
undertaking, will increase as soon as you will be enabled,
assisted by farther explorations, and a survey extending
over all details, and carried on by a great number of experi-
enced men, to publish, on a large scale, maps and sections
of the line fixed upon between Puerto Escoces and the Gulf
of San Miguel. The changes which the success of the
undertaking is sure to effect in the international commerce
of the world, will only disturb such people, as in the narrow-
ness of their views, oppose themselves to the natural and
providential course of events, and shed tears over the un-
fortunate discovery of America. The Rio Huaxacualco
with its portage to the Rio Chimalapa (Tehuantepec), of
which I published the first map after the itineraries dis-
covered by me in the archives of the Vice Kingdom of
Mexico, will always be of great importance, owing to its
position opposite Louisiana, in the Gulf of Mexico, which
has all the appearance of soon becoming a mare clausum—
a lake of the United States. The nature of the soil, how-
ever, does not allow great works to be carried out in that
locality; besides, you know the difficulties impeding any
canalisation or rectification of rivers of great length, and
the great variations of the volume of water, as in the river
San Juan. But a railway would be a great advantage to
the southern states.
The great interest which every one at the present time
takes in the canalisation of the Isthmus, recalls a similar
fact to my memory, reminding me of the sudden interest
created by the discovery of guano. I was the first who
brought guano to Europe, of which Klaproth and Vauquelin
published an analysis. During forty years I preached but
always in vain, the usefulness of this substance, and in
vain did I recommend its employment in fertilising the
fields in Europe. But it is only 15 or 18 years since it has
at last become a great article of commerce.
I beg of you, my dear sir, to present my kind remem-
brances to the excellent and able Mr. Petermann, &c.,
Alexander von Humboldt.
P.S.—I am not surprised at the difference between the level you found at Turbaco, and my own statement. To this, however, I had prudently added “doubtful barome- trical observation.” (See my Recueil d’Observations Astro- nomiques et de Mesures Barométriques, vol. I., p. 299.) The fact that the gas issuing from the little volcanoes at Turbaco is inflammable in its natural state has already been communicated by Col. Acosta (Journal., p. 65). It appears that the gaseous fluid which issues from the salses is not the same at all times. I find in my journal, that in 1801, the flame of any burning substance was suddenly extinguished on being thrown into a bottle containing air from those little volcanoes. Parrot also, in the mud volcanoes in the island of Taman, found only azote, although the gas emitted would burn at other times. (See my Relation Historique, vol. XV., c. 29, pp. 367—371.)