Abstract.
| No. 1. | Falmouth to Alexandria, by Lisbon, &c. |
| No. 2. | Malta to Constantinople, by Zante, &c. |
| No. 3. | Alexandria to Suez, by Cairo. |
| No. 4. | Suez to Bombay, by Mocha. |
| No. 5. | Socotora to Mauritius. |
| No. 6. | Bombay to Calcutta, by Ceylon. |
| 7 & 8. | Trincomalee to Canton, by Batavia, &c. |
| No. 9. | Batavia to Sydney, New South Wales, by Swan River, &c. |
| No. 10. | Coal depôts, and stations for repairs. |
Expenditure by Steam Power, &c.
| Number of Station. | Fixed Capital required. | Provisions, Wages, &c. Yearly. | Tons of Coals Yearly. | Price Coals per ton. | Cost of Coals Yearly. | Total Expenditure Yearly. | Number of Steamers. | Number of Sailing Vessels. |
| £ | £ | s. | £ | £ | ||||
| 1 | 72,000 | 18,600 | 20,400 | 25 | 25,600 | 44,200 | 3 | " |
| 2 | 24,000 | 6,200 | 5,000 | " | 6,250 | 12,450 | 1 | " |
| 3 | " | 5,000 | " | " | " | 5,000 | " | " |
| 4 | 72,000 | 20,460 | 25,200 | 40 | 50,400 | 70,860 | 3 | " |
| 5 | 8,000 | 4,000 | " | " | " | 4,000 | " | 2 |
| 6 | 48,000 | 13,640 | 14,400 | " | 28,800 | 42,240 | 2 | " |
| 7 & 8 | 98,000 | 28,280 | 21,600 | " | 43,200 | 71,480 | 4 | 1 |
| 9 | 96,000 | 27,280 | 25,200 | " | 50,400 | 77,680 | 4 | " |
| 10 | " | 10,000 | " | " | 10,000 | " | " | |
| ——— | ——— | ——— | ——— | ——— | ——— | ——— | ||
| 418,000 | 133,460 | 111,800 | 204,650 | 337,910 | 17 | 3 | ||
| 68,000 | 68,000 | |||||||
| ——— | ——— | ——— | ——— | ——— | ——— | ——— | ||
| 418,000 | 133,460 | 111,800 | 136,650 | 269,910 | 17 | 3 |
The return boat from Alexandria ought not to leave that place until the Eastern mails come up from Suez.
The course of post under this arrangement between London and Alexandria, would be 45 days; between London and Constantinople, the same; between London and Bombay, 90 days; London and Calcutta, 120 days; London and Canton, 150 days; London and Batavia, 120 days; London and Swan River, 150 days; London and Sydney, New South Wales, 180 days, &c. &c.
II.
ANOTHER PLAN, BY WAY OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
The above Plan is attended with considerable risk, inasmuch as convulsions in Egypt, and on the shores of the Red Sea about Suez and Mocha, and war in the Mediterranean, might cut off altogether the communications with the whole Eastern World, according to the route which has been laid down. To prevent such a result is an object of great importance, providing it can be effected without a serious sacrifice as to time, or expenditure of money. To have such vitally important communications as free from being disturbed by the march of war as possible, is not only desirable, but indispensable, on the part of Great Britain. This may be effected by going out by the Cape of Good Hope.
Adopting this route would connect all the Eastern transmarine possessions of Great Britain in one chain, with scarcely a link in the line of communication being dependent upon foreigners, except one or two, which the naval power of Great Britain could always command and control in case of emergency. The course here alluded to would lengthen the course of post to Bombay and Calcutta, &c. to a considerable extent; but in every part of the proposed new line, coals could always be procured more cheap and readily than in any quarter near the Red Sea. The following details, however, will place the time and expense in a clear point of view, and enable any one to contrast at a glance the two routes, and the difference which in time and expenditure will exist and remain between them.