The interest which the execution of the railroad across the Isthmus of
Panama excites, induces me to transmit you the following extract from
Gage's _New Survey of the West Indies_, 8vo., London, 1699.
A few lines relative to the author, of whom but little is known, may be
also of use. He was the son of John Gage, of Haling; and his brother
was Sir Henry Gage, governor of Oxford, killed at the battle at Culham
Bridge, Jan. 11, 1644. His family were of the Roman Catholic faith; and
he was sent by his father in 1612 into Spain, to study under the Jesuits,
in the hope he would join that society; but his aversion to them led him
to enter the Dominican Order at Valladolid, in 1612. His motives were
suspected; his father was irritated--threatened to disinherit him and to
arouse against him the power of the Jesuits of England if he returned
home. He now determined to pass over to the Spanish possessions in South
America; but as an order had been issued by the king, forbidding this to
any _Englishman_, it was only by inclosing him in an empty sea-biscuit
case, he was able to sail from Cadiz, July 2, 1625. He arrived at
Mexico on October 8; and after residing there for some time to recruit
himself from the voyage, resolved to abandon a missionary scheme to the
Philippine islands he had planned, and accordingly, on the day fixed for
their departure to Acapulco, escaped with three other Dominicans for
Chispat. He was here well received, and went subsequently to the head
establishment at Guatimala. He was soon appointed curate of Amatitlan;
and during his residence at this and another district contrived to amass
a sum of 9000 piastres, with the aid of which he sought to accomplish
his long-cherished desire of returning to England. Many difficulties
were in his way; but on the 7th January, 1637, he quitted Amatitlan,
traversed the province of Nicaragua, and embarked from the coast of
Costa Rica. The ship was soon after boarded by a Dutch corsair, and Gage
was robbed of 8000 piastres. He succeeded in reaching Panama, traversed
the Isthmus, and sailed from Porto Bello {145} in the Spanish fleet,
which reached San Sucar, Nov. 28, 1637. He returned to England after
an absence of twenty-four years. His father was dead: he found himself
disinherited, and although hardly recognised by his family at first, he
met ultimately with kindly treatment. During his residence in S. America,
doubts had arisen in his mind as to the truth and validity of the creed
and ritual to which he was attached. Whether this was the consequence
of reflection from his theological studies, or animated love of change
which his conduct at times betrayed, cannot be decided. He resolved to
proceed to Italy, and renew his studies there. Upon his return, after a
short residence, he renounced Catholicism in a sermon he preached at St.
Paul's. About 1642 he attached himself to the Parliament cause, and it
is said he obtained the living of Deal in Kent; as the parish registers
contain an entry of the burial of Mary daughter, and Mary wife, of
Thomas Gage, parson of Deal, March 21, 1652; but when he was married,
and whom he married, does not appear. Gage's work has been rather too
much decried. It contains matter of interest relative to the state of
the Spanish possessions; and his credulity and superstition must be
considered in relation to his opportunities and his age. Perhaps some
of your readers may contribute farther information concerning him, as
the general accounts I have been able to meet with are contradictory
and insufficient. The _Biographie Universelle_ states, that it was his
_Survey of the West Indies_ that led to the English expeditions to the
Spanish Main, which secured Jamaica to the English in 1654, and adds he
died there in 1655. The registers at Deal could probably prove this fact;
but I confess to doubt as to whether Gage really were the parson alluded
to as resident there in 1652. He was evidently of a roving unsteady
nature, fond of adventure, and the first to open to English enterprise
a knowledge of the state of the Spanish possessions, to prevent which
the council of the Indies had passed so many stringent laws. Colbert
caused this work to be translated, and it has been often reprinted on the
Continent, but much mutilated, as his statements relative to the Roman
Catholic priesthood gave offence. A good memoir of Gage is still to be
desired. The following is the extract relative to the Isthmus of Panama,
_West Indies_, p. 151.:--
"The Peruvian part containeth all the southern tract, and
is tyed to the Mexican by the Isthmus or Strait of Darien,
being no more than 17, or, as others say, in the narrowest
place, but 12 miles broad, from the north to the south sea.
Many have mentioned to the Council of Spain the cutting of a
navigable channel through this small Isthmus, so to shorten
the voyage to China and the Moluccoes. But the kings of Spain
have not yet attempted to do it; some say lest in the work he
should lose those few Indians which are left (would to God it
were so, that they were or had been so careful and tender of
the poor Indians' lives, more populous would that vast and
spacious country be at this day), but others say he hath not
attempted it lest the passage by the Cape Bona Esperanza (Good
Hope) being left off, those seas might become a receptacle
for pirates. However, this hath not been attempted by the
Spaniards; they give not for reason any extraordinary great
charge, for that would soon be recompensed with the speedie and
easie conveying that way the commodities from S. to N. seas."
This bears reference to projects before 1625, or during his residence in
S. America, between 1625-1637; but Gage could hardly have understood the
nature of the Spanish character, and the genius of the government, to
speculate upon the cause of their neglect of every useful enterprise for
the promotion of commerce and public good.