[186] The _Times_ of the 17th December declared, in a leading article, that “it would be surprising if the collapse of the Panama scheme had not a momentous effect upon French politics. The small investors who have lost their money would not be human if they omitted to turn and rend the Parliament which, after affording legislative facilities to M. de Lesseps, now refuses to lift a hand to save the colossal scheme from ruin. Some of the French journals are already beginning to say that Saturday was the beginning of the end for the Republic. It is possible to commend the action of the Chamber, and at the same time to feel that ‘Parliamentarism’ hardly realised the magnitude of the forces which he challenged with such a light heart. All the vague discontent which has been accumulating against Parliamentary government will now naturally be brought to a head. The Panama collapse will furnish a specific grievance which will appeal with irresistible force to the unfortunate subscribers, and send them crowding into the ranks of the enemies of the Republic.” [187] ‘Isthmus of Panama,’ p. 35. [188] ‘Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers,’ vol. xcii. p. 447. [189] Prestley’s ‘Historical Account of Canals,’ preface. [190] In 1880, when the canal had been commenced, unskilled labour was paid 3_s._ 8_d._ per day. The supply at that rate was, however, insufficient, and the rate of wages was increased from time to time, until in 1877 they had reached a minimum of 7_s._ per day. [191] ‘Edinburgh Review.’ [192] Paper read in 1887 before the American Association for the Advancement of Science. [193] According to M. Reclus, 4010 square kilometres (‘Comptes Rendus,’ p. 265). [194] This has been established by the levels of Col. Lloyd. [195] ‘Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences,’ vol. xciii. 1887. [196] _Engineering_, August 26, 1887. [197] Commander Taylor’s paper on “The General Question of Isthmian Transit,” read before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, August 1887. [198] The bottom of the canal is here 164 feet below the river, which, again, is 80 feet below the Panama Railway. The three courses run parallel at this point. [199] _Engineering_, Aug. 5, 1887. [200] ‘Edinburgh Review,’ August 1882. [201] ‘The English in the West Indies.’ [202] The history of this canal, which crosses the isthmus that connects Spain with France, is told elsewhere in this volume. CHAPTER XXII. THE NICARAGUAN CANAL.