In the General Post-office Accounts for 1836 (see Finance Accounts, 1837, p. 55), there is charged the sum of 9,406l. 7s. 5¼d., as the sum paid for ship letters. For each letter received by a ship not a regular packet, 2d. is paid by the Post Office at landing, and which gives the number of such letters to be 1,128,764 yearly. Suppose 400,000 of these went by packets under the new arrangements, the additional Post-office revenue therefrom would be 16,665l.

The sum just mentioned as paid for ship letters may be stated as principally attached to ship letters brought from all places in the Western World. According to a return to the House of Commons (see East India Steam Communication Report, 1837), the number of ship letters from India for 1836, was 159,360. The New York packet ships alone carry from 5000 to 6000 letters each. Twice each month the proposed packets to and from England would bear an equal, perhaps even a greater, number, under the proposed regular and prompt arrangement: certainly all the Canadian correspondence will be very greatly increased. This number, however, in four voyages each month, backwards and forwards, gives at the rate, in round numbers, of 290,000 each year. At 9d. each letter, the additional packet postage beyond the ship-letter rate, would be 10,875l. gained to the British Post Office.

In the Accounts above referred to, p. 54, there is entered 75,484l. 10s. 8¼d., charged on the postmasters in the British West Indies, and in British America. This sum is doubtless for the unpaid letters outwards, and perhaps some internal postage. The return postage from these quarters will exceed this sum, because more double and treble letters come inwards than are sent outwards. There is also a considerable sum paid in this country for letters sent by post to the British Colonies.

In the same accounts there is entered, p. 54, 83,610l. 10s. 5d. received by the window men, &c. at the Foreign Post Office. A portion of this must be for the letters outwards to the Brazils, to St. Thomas, to the French Islands, to Honduras, to Mexico, to Havannah, and all places in central South America, for all of which places the postage must be paid before the letter can be forwarded. How much of the above sum is for the purpose alluded to, is not stated, but let it be taken at 30,000l. yearly outwards, and an equal sum from the same places inwards; together, 60,000l.

Next, there would be the gain on the New Line between Halifax, New York, and the West Indies; or, more correctly speaking, between all North America and all the West Indies, from Demerara to Mexico inclusive, and including also the shores of South America on the east, and all its western coasts, from Valparaiso on the south, to Nootka Sound on the north. The exports and imports to and from these quarters, with all quarters of the world, amount, in goods, produce, specie and bills, and freights, &c. to upwards of 80,000,000l. a year. The letters to which this vast trade, especially as the whole of it is carried on by means of correspondence, must give rise, will be immense: and yet, with the exception of the scanty mail communication afforded by Britain to a few places, there is none to be found. The amount of the trade here stated, includes of course the trade with all places in Europe. The portion which is exclusively Colonial and American, and which would of course be attached to the new line alluded to, cannot be less in exports and imports than 30,000,000l. yearly. The proportionate postage from this commerce, even at the ratio of the present West Indian postage, to and from Great Britain and her West Indian colonies, would be 110,000l. yearly; but admitting that a sum equal to one-half only of this sum came from the letters sent through the British Post Office, the sum gained on this station yearly would be 55,000l.

To all these sums must be added a considerable sum in postages, which would be annually drawn from the correspondence between all parts of the United States, and Maranham, Pernambuco, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Buenos Ayres, &c. which would go by the British packets from all these places to Fayal, and thence on, without any delay, to New York. What this will be, it is impossible to estimate; but taking the trade of the United States with these places as a basis, it can hardly be less than 10,000l., or more probably 12,000l. per annum.

The postages derived at present from the packet intercourse with the whole Western World is taken at 200,000l. outwards and inwards. It is not too much to estimate, that under the new and extended communications and arrangements, more regular and frequent, this sum would be increased one-third, or 66,666l.; together, 266,666l. yearly. To this there is to be added the additions, as are previously noted; together 92,540l.; making the sum total at least 359,206l. per annum. The estimated expenditure for conveying the whole of the mails by steam, which are calculated to produce this yearly revenue, is 252,850l., or a gain of 106,356l. The present revenue barely pays the expenditure, if so much, of the establishment, consisting of thirty sailing packets; four steamers in the West Indies; ten mail boats (6000l. yearly) there; some sailing vessels at Halifax, and very frequently, a considerable assistance from ships of war besides!

Postages and Salaries in West Indies, &c.—1834-5.

Postages received. Salaries and Allowances.
Jamaica£17,203185 £562100
Bahama14606 [19] 22196
Barbadoes4798137 10000
Berbice and Demerara1953108 15000
Bermuda 5000
Dominica25581 10000
Grenada605144 8000
St. Vincents632193 8000
Tobago395145 [19] 75113
Trinidad931101 15000
St. Lucia320122 5000
Antigua78121 8000
Montserrat8036 [19] 15311
St. Christophers 54703 12000
Nevis146168 6000
Tortola109810 5000
British North America42,0941710 958104