Seven packets would perform this work, giving two mails each month; first cost, 66,500l.; yearly charges, 29,200l.; which is one packet more than the Owhyhee plan requires; but that station would require one spare packet, making fifteen for the whole, which thus makes both stations equal, but without the combination which the Owhyhee station gives.
This arrangement for the Pacific would, in whichever way it may be taken, save the whole proposed steam communication from Ceylon eastward to Canton and New South Wales; which saving, either on the Mediterranean or Cape of Good Hope lines, would be, eight steamers and one sailing vessel—capital, 199,500l., and yearly charges about 130,000l.; thus reducing very greatly indeed the cost of the subsequent plan projected for the Eastern world. Even at the outset, the mails, parcels, and passengers on the Pacific station, would, it is believed, pay the expenses as here stated:—
| Fixed Capital. | Yearly Charges. | |
| Pacific Departments | £142,500 | £63,000 |
THE MEDITERRANEAN, EAST INDIES, &c. &c.
I. Falmouth and the Mediterranean.
To extend the mail communications between Great Britain and all places in the Mediterranean, and more especially with the more distant parts of that sea, which will go to connect more closely British communications with the East Indies and countries situated still more to the eastward, is now, more than ever, become a national object, and, it may be added, a national duty. France seems to be actively extending mail communications, in that sea, to all places, as well to those under her immediate sway as to others; and if allowed to do so without any rival, it becomes obvious that, with the command of all the channels of communication, she will obtain such a monopoly of political influence as will give her the monopoly of political power also in that quarter of the world. Such a result cannot fail to prove highly injurious to all the great commercial and political interests of Great Britain; and this result ought to be guarded against and prevented even at a considerable sacrifice, if a sacrifice were necessary, but which it is not.
Two mails each month between Great Britain and the Mediterranean are indispensably necessary, otherwise the conveyance of both letters and despatches, and passengers, will generally be quicker by private ships and other similar conveyances which may offer. The route can be from Falmouth to Alexandria direct, by Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Palermo, and Malta; at the latter place dropping the outward mails for the Ionian Islands, Athens, and Constantinople; to be forwarded immediately by a branch steam-boat, which will return to Malta from Constantinople, &c. with the return mails for England, &c. &c. to be forwarded by the Alexandria and Falmouth steamers, returning by way of Malta, Palermo, Gibraltar, Cadiz, and Lisbon; a good sailing vessel being employed to convey the outward and the inward mails to and from Zante to the other Ionian Islands. It would take the Constantinople steamer from Malta too much out of her way to call at any other of these islands but the one mentioned.
As the Falmouth and Mediterranean department is in every point of view a most important station, so it may be rendered a profitable one; because it will connect itself with the East Indian communication, and consequently a very great additional number of passengers, letters, parcels, &c. will be obtained. Calling at Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Palermo, and Malta in the way out to, and in the way home from Alexandria, steam-boats sufficiently powerful (240-horse power) would complete the voyage in 45 days from London to London, including all necessary stoppages.
Three powerful steamers would do this work, giving two mails each month. The capital necessary to purchase these would be 72,000l. The annual expenditure for these three boats, on this station, would be—Wages, provisions, tear and wear, &c. 6,200l. each, or 18,600l.; and for coals, 20,400 tons, 25,600l.; together, 44,200l. Thus each boat on this station would be actively employed 34 days each voyage = 74 monthly, 816 yearly: coals, 25 tons daily = 20,400 tons at 25s., 25,600l.
The route, course, and time, from Alexandria, would be thus:—