In his speech in support of the grant, M. Gaizot, in the sitting of the 10th inst., asserted that the project of piercing the isthmus of Panama was not a chimerical one, and proceeded to read a letter from Professor Humbolt, dated Angust 1842, in which that learned gentleman observed, that “it was twenty-five years since a project for a communication between the two oceans, either by the isthmus of Panama, the lake of Nicaragua, or by the isthmus of Capica, had been proposed and topographically discussed; and yet nothing had been yet commenced.”  The French minister also read extracts from a paper addressed to the Academy of Sciences, by an American gentleman named Warren, advocating the practicability of a canal, by means of the rivers Vinotinto, Beverardino, and Farren, after which he enthusiastically exclaimed, that should this great work ever be accomplished—­and in his own mind he had no doubt that some day or other it would—­then the value of Oceana would be greatly increased, and France would have many reasons to congratulate herself on the possession of them.  This has thus become one of the most popular topics in France, where the views of the minister are no longer concealed, and in England are we slumbering upon it?  Certainly we have as great an interest in the accomplishment of the grand design as the French, and possibly possess more correct information on the subject than they do.  Why, then, is it withheld from the public?  What are our government doing?

To supply this deficiency, as far as his means allow, is the object of the writer of these pages; and in order to show the degree of credit to which his remarks may be entitled, and his reasons for differing from the French as regards the means by which the great desideratum is to be achieved, he will briefly state, that in early life he left Europe under the prevailing impression that the opening of a canal across the isthmus of Panama was practicable; but while in the West Indies, some doubts on the subject having arisen in his mind, he determined to visit the spot, which he did at his own expense, and at some personal risk—­the Spaniards being still in possession of the country.  With this view he ascended the river Chagre to Cruces, and thence proceeded by land to Panama, where he stopped a fortnight.  In that time he made several excursions into the interior, and had a fair opportunity of hearing the sentiments of intelligent natives; but, although he then came to the conclusion that a canal of large dimensions was impracticable, he saw the possibility of opening a railroad, with which, in his opinion, European nations ought to be satisfied, at least for the present.  Why he assumed this position, a description of the locality will best explain.