Three, or even four days, out; three to stop, and four back; together 11 days. The nearest way to Canton from Trincomalee is by Nicobar and Singapore, distance, 2880 miles; whereas the distance by Batavia is 3535 miles; but then it must be remembered, that Batavia is the most important station, and 475 miles nearer New South Wales than Singapore. Hence Batavia appears to be the most eligible point of communication for the steamers.
From Trincomalee to Canton, the route and time will be thus:—
| Geo. Miles. | Days | ||
| Trincomalee to Batavia, by Straits of Sunda | 1 | 750 | 9 |
| Stop at Batavia, coals, &c. | 2 | ||
| Batavia to Canton | 1 | 830 | 9 |
| Stop at Canton 2, Batavia 2 | 4 | ||
| Canton to Trincomalee, by Batavia | 3 | 580 | 18 |
| ——— | —— | ||
| Totals | 7 | 160 | 42 |
| ——— | —— | ||
Three boats would perform this work, giving two mails each month. Each boat would be at sea 36 days each voyage = 72 monthly = 864 yearly: 25 tons coals daily, 21,600 tons yearly—43,200l. At Trincomalee, a spare boat would require to be stationed, in case of accidents, which would make four for the station; prime cost, 96,000l., and one sailing-vessel, 2,000l. The yearly charges for provisions, wages, &c. &c. will be 6820l. each, and 1000l. for the sailing-vessel is 28,280l., which, together with the expense of coals, amount to 71,480l.
9. Batavia to Sydney, New South Wales, by Swan River.
At Batavia, steamers could take up the European, the Indian, and the Chinese mails, and proceed on to Sydney, New South Wales, by Swan River and Hobart Town, &c. thus:
| Geo. Miles. | Days | ||
| Batavia to Swan River | 1 | 745 | 9 |
| Stop at ditto, coals | 2 | ||
| Swan River to Hobart Town | 1 | 770 | 9 |
| Stop at ditto | 1 | ||
| Hobart Town to Sydney | 570 | 3 | |
| Stop at Sydney, coals, &c. | 3 | ||
| Ditto at Hobart Town and Swan River, returning | 3 | ||
| Sydney, by Hobart Town, &c. to Batavia | 4 | 085 | 21 |
| ——— | —— | ||
| Totals | 8 | 170 | 51 |
| ——— | —— | ||
Three boats would perform this work, giving two mails each month; but in case of accidents, there would require to be one spare boat on the station, to be stationed either at Batavia or Sydney. The cost of the four would be 96,000l. Each boat actively employed would be at sea 42 days each voyage = 84 monthly = 1008 yearly: 25 tons coals daily is 25,200 tons yearly, at 40s., 50,400l. The yearly expenditure of each boat besides would be 6820l.; for four, 27,280l., together with coals, 77,680l.
It is unnecessary to dwell on the immense advantages which such a plan of mail communications as this would give to the commercial world in general, and to the commercial interests of the United Kingdom in particular. These would be incalculably great, both to the governments and to the people. To complete the scheme, it would be requisite to have more than one station at which boats and machinery could be repaired. These would require to be Malta, in the Mediterranean, Bombay, Trincomalee, Batavia, and Sydney, in all five places; the salaries, &c. for superintendents, rents, and rent coal depôts, could not be less than 2000l. per annum at each, or 10,000l. The expense for workmen and materials are included in the 5 per cent. allowed for tear and wear in the annual expenditure for each boat.
The yearly expenditure for the whole Plan, in all its parts, would consequently be as follows, and under the respective heads as here enumerated.