| Geo. Miles. | Days | ||
| Falmouth to Alexandria, by Lisbon, &c. &c. | 2 | 985 | 19 |
| Alexandria to Falmouth, by Malta, &c. &c. | 2 | 985 | 19 |
| Stop at Alexandria | 2 | ||
| London and Falmouth, including day of departure | 552 | 5 | |
| ——— | —— | ||
| 6 | 522 | 45 | |
| ——— | —— | ||
N.B. Seventeen days, at 180 geographical miles per day, gives 3060 miles—the real distance is 2985.
2. Malta and Constantinople.
From Malta a branch steam-boat may proceed with the mails for the Ionian Islands, and touching at Zante to land these, proceed thence to Athens, and thence to Constantinople with the outward mails. From Constantinople this boat will return, by Athens and Zante, to Malta, with the return mails for the Alexandria and Falmouth packets. The distance from Malta to Alexandria and back is 1650 miles, and by the course already pointed out, the distance from Malta to Constantinople and back is not materially different. Consequently, one good steamer would perform the work in the same time as is requisite to go to Alexandria and return. This boat would be, each voyage, ten days at sea; stopping two days at Constantinople: which is 20 days monthly; 240 days yearly; requiring 5000 tons of coals, 6250l., and 6200l. more for wages, provisions, insurance, tear and wear; together 12,450l. per annum.
EAST-INDIAN DEPARTMENT.
3. Alexandria and Suez.
The distance from the former to the latter place is 170 geographical miles. This might, under prompt and proper regulations, be performed in two days. The first portion of the distance is from Alexandria to Cairo, about 100 miles by water, and the second is from Cairo to Suez across the desert, about 70 miles. What the expense of transporting mails, passengers, &c. over this distance would be, it is difficult to state, but let it be taken as an approximation at 5000l. per annum.
4. Suez to Bombay.
The mail communications by steam might readily and with great advantage be extended to this quarter of the world, and to this important portion of the British empire. Nor need the channel of communication stop at the East Indies, but proceed on until it includes within its range Batavia, China, and New South Wales. The further the line is extended, and the more its ramifications are combined and connected, the greater will the advantages, and the more ample the remuneration, be to whoever undertakes the work. The commercial and political concerns and interests connected with these vast portions of the globe, are well known to be immense, and of the first-rate importance, while no European power is so much interested in these as Great Britain. With these remarks the manner in which the communications alluded to can be effected and carried on remains to be pointed out. The route, periods, and distances from Alexandria, would be as follows, premising that the price of coals in all these Eastern stations will be considerably higher than in the stations in the Western World, as these coals may have to be carried to the different places by the circuitous navigation of the Cape of Good Hope. Still, calculating the whole to be brought from Europe, these may be obtained at the average price of 40s. per ton; while 10 per cent. additional, for all supplies and wages, may be added to the sum taken for expenditure in the stations in the western hemisphere, as required in every place to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope. And at these rates all the subsequent estimates are formed.
| Geo. Miles. | Days | ||
| Alexandria to Suez, by Cairo | 170 | 2 | |
| Suez to Babelmandel, by Mocha | 1 | 205 | 6 |
| Stop at Mocha, coals | 2 | ||
| Babelmandel to Bombay, by Aden or Socotora | 1 | 630 | 8 |
| Stop at Bombay | 2 | ||
| Babelmandel to Bombay, by Aden or Socotora | 3 | 005 | 18 |
| ——— | —— | ||
| Totals | 6 | 010 | 38 |
| ——— | —— | ||