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in obtaining an eligible site independent of the Company, at Taboga itself, which would on many Appendix No. 4. accounts be preferable to any of the other islands in the bay.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
H. W. BRUCE, Rear-Admiral,
Commander-in-chief.
[Correspondence ensued with the Foreign Office, in the course of which it was decided by the Admiralty, with the concurrence of the Treasury and the Foreign Office, that the Consul at Panamá should be authorized to purchase the Island of Pedro Gonzales for the sum of 1,000%. This approval
was given on the 10th February, 1858, but all action was suspended in consequence of the Consul's suggestion that no steps should be taken to buy this island until Captain Vansittart's Report on the subject had been examined.
This Report will be found in papers marked (B). Eventually nothing was done.]
ISLANDS NEAR PANAMA.
Inclosure 3 in No. 137.
(B.) Senior Naval Officer (Captain Vansittart), Panamá, to Admiralty.
November 17, 1857.
IN reply to instructions from Admiralty, 13th October, 1857, to inspect the various islands and ports in Panamá Bay, and report which would be the most desirable place for a depôt, I have the honour to inclose herewith, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the plans required in the Bay of Panamá,* as done by Mr. Harvey, Master of this ship; one also for the passage between the east end of Taboga and Urava Island, and one for the anchorage on the north side of Gonzales Island, one of the Pearl Group.
2. In giving my opinion as to which would be the most desirable and convenient place for forming a depôt for naval stores, provisions, coals, &c., in the vicinity of Panamá, I am of opinion that the best place, without doubt, is the Morro on the north side of Taboga Island, now in the hands of the English Pacific Steam Navigation Company, on the south side of which Morro are the coaling-place, sheds, and workshops, with a strong pier for their vessels to go alongside of. There being no fresh water in the Morro, the Company have tanks thereon, and an iron pipe across the sandy isthmus, which conducts the water from the part of Taboga nearly immediately opposite. The gridiron mentioned by Captain Wood I have now Her Majesty's ship Magicienne " upon, having had on it forward upon going on 13 ft. 3 in. at the highest spring tides.
The gridiron might be extended into deeper water if required. The Company have, I know, gone to much expense about this place, but as Callao is more central for their steamers, and which, I believe, has often been talked of becoming so, I think that they might be prevailed upon to part with the whole establishment to the English Government.
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3. The sandy cove or bay in the north-east part of Taboga Island, which, in plans I have had marked as No. 1, might do. The cove is certainly small, and, I should have thought, exposed to the northerly winds. However, I am told that no swell of any consequence ever sets in, and that vessels have constantly been hauled up and repaired there, the "Golden Age," one of the Americam steam- ships running from Panamá to California, having been one of them. A mole on the east part of the cove might be easily formed. There is a good running stream, as marked in the plan, although it diminishes considerably during the dry season, and appears to take its rise about half- a-mile inland from the beach. There is also a small spring at the water's edge, coming out of the rocks, covered at high water; by sinking a shaft a few feet higher up in the rocks would cause its being of great service. The beach is well formed for store-houses.
4. The next place that might be made a depôt, &c., in the event of not being able to possess either of the above-mentioned, but which cannot be strongly recommended, is the passage between the east part of Taboga and Urava Islands, and which I have had marked as Plan No. 2. Unfortunately, on Urava Island there is no water whatever during the summer months, and only a small stream at present, which is abreast of the part in the chart marked 14 fathoms, and which would have to be considered the head of the bay. It is fairly protected from the southerly winds at present, but it could be made very much more so by sinking rocks across on the 14 fathoms, which would form a good breakwater. A jetty for vessels to come alongside of could be made on the Urava side, as there is 3 fathoms at low water only 50 yards off from the shore, and also one on the Taboga side, near the entrance of the bay, as marked by a red ink cross in the plan, to protect the small sandy bay there. The passage is open to the northward; so is the whole of the anchorage of Taboga, with the exception by the Company's pier. The centre of Urava Passage is sandy; Urava side, rocky; Taboga side, sand and stone com- bined. The want of water would cause its being necessary to have a pipe across the shoal-water or breakwater to the Taboga side, as the Company at the Morro have across the sandy isthmus, although a tank-vessel would answer. If the depôt was formed on the Urava side, which is the best protected, it would be kept clear of the Taboga population, or Americans, if they should possess any part of Taboga Island. The Taboga side, as well as Urava, would have to belong to our Government, and the command of the water. There is a good run of water on the Taboga side, close to the 14-fathom soundings, and where at present is a spirit manufactory, besides a plantation of sugar-cane; one part of the water rises from a spring situated among a number of cocoa-nut and orange trees, not more than 500 yards from the beach, and which never dries up. There is also another stream a few hundred yards nearer the entrance of the passage, but which rises further inland.
5. The bay on the north-west side of Toboquilla Island, which I have had marked Plan No. 3, is entirely open to winds from N.N.E. to W.S.W., so that, even if a pier was run out on the north side
These plans are retained at the Admiralty.
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