FOOTNOTES:
[273] See articles in the Civil Engineer and Architects’ Journal, 1862, pp. 174 and 242, and other journals of the period.
[274] It should, however, be added that these figures apply to an estimate made during the time of high postage rates, when as few letters as possible were sent through the Post-office.
[275] “Our Steam Fleets,” Liverpool Journal of Commerce, October 26th, 1874.
[276] “The mail services of the company on the West India, and Brazil and River Plate lines are now (1875) carried on under arrangements with the Government, involving a still further reduced subsidy;” and the Directors in their report of the 28th April last, add:—
“Since the last Report a contract has been entered into by the Company with her Majesty’s Government to carry on the Brazil and River Plate Mail Service, from the 1st January, 1875, for a payment according to the weight of letters, etc., conveyed by the packets. The contract is terminable at six months’ notice on either side, and is for a service twice a month from Southampton; the vessels, which have for a considerable time past left on the 24th of the month, being thus placed on the same footing as those dispatched by the company under the previous contract on the 9th of the month.”
[277] Vide Times newspaper, 9th April, 1847.
[278] The dimensions of the Amazon were 300 feet in length, 41 feet in width, and 32 feet in depth; she was about 3000 tons burthen or 2256 tons register. Her engines, of 800-horse power, were constructed by Messrs. Seaward and Capel of Millwall, Poplar, the diameter of the cylinders being 96 inches each and the stroke 9 feet. The engines made fourteen revolutions of her wheels (which were 41 feet in diameter) per minute, giving a speed by log of 11 knots an hour on her trial trip, at a draught of 19 feet forward and 19 feet 9 inches aft.
[279] The following is a return of the vessels which were added to the fleet of the Company between 1851 and 1860 inclusive:
| Number of Vessels. | Tonnage. | Horse-power. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1851. | 1860. | 1851. | 1860. | 1851. | 1860. | |
| Under 1,000 tons | 5 | 4 | 2,949 | 2,838 | 1,030 | 900 |
| 1,000 to 1,500 tons | Nil | 2 | .. | 2,371 | .. | 680 |
| 1,500 to 2,000 tons | 9 | 6 | 16,593 | 11,057 | 3,900 | 2,510 |
| 2,000 to 3,000 tons | 1 | 6 | 2,069 | 14,683 | 440 | 4,120 |
| Over 3,000 tons | Nil | 3 | .. | 10,070 | .. | 2,400 |
| 15 | 21 | 21,611 | 41,019 | 5,370 | 10,610 | |
[280] See [Appendix No. 19, p. 634].
[281] These services from Southampton with mails, passengers, and cargo, are as follows:
2nd of each month—for West Indies, Cuba and Mexico, Colon (Aspinwall), Savanilla, Panama, Central America, South and North Pacific, San Francisco.
9th and 24th of each month—for Brazil and River Plate Routes, viz. Lisbon, St. Vincent (Cape de Verde), Pernambuco, Bahia,[282] Rio de Janeiro, Monte Video, Buenos Ayres.
17th of each month—for West Indies, Belize, Grey Town, Colon (Aspinwall), Savanilla, Panama, Central America, South Pacific, Acapulco, Mazanillo, San Francisco, British Columbia, Japan, China.
An additional steamer also leaves Southampton the 10th of each month for Barbadoes, Trinidad, La Guayra, Porto Cabellos, Curaçoa, Santa Marta, Savanilla, and Colon.
[282] The steamers of the 24th of each month do not call at Pernambuco or Bahia.