Under the proposed general arrangement, the mails for Madeira and Teneriffe could be sent twice each month from Fayal. Madeira and Teneriffe, but more especially the former, have a good deal of correspondence with the West Indies; all of which would be thrown into a more tedious and circuitous route if the communications with Madeira did not go and come by the Azores. The distance from Fayal to Madeira is 630 miles, and from Madeira to Teneriffe 240 miles. One superior sailing vessel would be sufficient to perform this work, giving two mails each month. It is well known that from the winds which generally prevail in those parts of the Atlantic, that a swift sailing vessel would almost always make quick and certain passages. The cost of such might be 1500l., and the yearly expense, say 800l. The expense for sailing vessels on this and the South American station may be taken as follows:—
| Capital. | Yearly Charge. | ||
| Fayal and Madeira, one | £1500 | £800 | |
| Pernambuco and Maranham, one | 1500 | 800 | |
| Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Ayres, two | 4000 | 2000 | |
| ——— | ——— | ||
| Totals | £7000 | £3600 | |
| ——— | ——— |
From Fayal to Teneriffe, by Madeira, and back, a sailing vessel could complete the passage in fourteen days, and thus be always in time for the next return steamer from Fayal to Falmouth.
VI.
Fayal and Barbadoes Station.
On the arrival of the steamer from Falmouth at Fayal, another steamer would start for Barbadoes, carrying with it all the mails for every place in the western Tropical World, from Demerara to Vera Cruz inclusive, and also for Panama, and other places on the coasts of the Pacific Ocean. The route from Fayal to Barbadoes is, course S. 47½° W.; distance, 2265 geographical miles. A steam-boat would perform this, going chiefly through the trade winds, in twelve days. The period of her return to Fayal must be regulated by the time which she has to stop in the West Indies, and which will be more specifically shown when that department is taken into consideration; but it cannot be less, from Fayal to Fayal again, than forty-five days, of which this boat will be at sea each voyage thirty-seven days. Four steamers would do this work, having one, in fact, to spare, in the event of accidents, either on this or on the Brazil station, and to relieve alternately the steamers on either station; and this spare boat would probably be best stationed at Fayal, or perhaps Barbadoes. Three boats would, therefore, be actively engaged in performing the work alluded to on this station; each would be at sea 37 days each voyage—74 monthly, 888 yearly, which, at 25 tons of coals daily, will require 22,200 tons annually—at 25s. per ton, will amount to 27,750l.
The time and course of these boats will be more specifically stated under the West Indian head.
The cost would be thus:—
| Capital. | Yearly Charge. | |
| Four Steamers | £96,000 | £24,800 |
| Coals | 27,750 | |
| ——— | ||
| Yearly charges | £52,550 | |
| ——— |
The mails, also, on this station, might be carried by sailing packets, and which would require to be of the very first class. Their time from Fayal to Fayal again, would be, say nineteen days to Barbadoes; seventeen days to stop in the Colonies; and twenty-four days from Cape Nichola Mole to Fayal (2600 miles), together sixty days; and which brings the return of this sailing vessel to Fayal to correspond with the arrival of the packets from Falmouth, and of the mails from South America, and from North America, at that place. Four packets would be sufficient for this station, giving two mails each month. Their cost would be 38,000l., and their yearly expenses at 4,200l. each, 16,800l.—considerably cheaper than steam, but lengthening, as has been seen, the communication between Great Britain and that quarter of the world, fifteen days. A spare packet might be necessary, but the cost of that has been included, and stated under the South American head.