From Fayal to New York direct is 2020 miles; and from Fayal to New York, by Halifax, is 2160 miles. If this course is adopted, there would be no need for any stoppages at Halifax, except to land the outward mails, &c., and pick up the inward, or homeward-bound European mails, &c. The steamers, with the outward mails on board, would proceed from Fayal on the 10th and 25th of each month, and reach New York, by Halifax, on the 7th and 23d of each month, or in thirteen days. Leaving New York on the evening of the 9th or 10th, and the 25th or 26th of the month, with the return mails from the States, and calling at Halifax for all those from British America, the steamer would reach Fayal in thirteen days, or on the 8th and 23d of each month, exactly in time, as will by-and-by be shown, for the homeward-bound West Indian and Brazil mails coming up to the same place; and two days previous to the arrival of the outward packet from Falmouth, after allowing two days to stop at New York, and having one day to spare, in the event of severe weather on the voyage. The course and time will be:—

Geo. Miles.Days.
Fayal to Halifax164010
Halifax to New York5203
Stop at New York" 2
New York to Fayal, by Halifax216013
————
Totals432028
————

Two steam-boats would perform this work, giving two mails each month, prime cost 48,000l.; wages, provisions, &c. &c. 6200l. each, 12,400l. Each boat would be at sea 26 and 26 = 52 days, monthly = 624 yearly; 25 tons of coals daily = 15,000 yearly, at 25s. per ton, 19,500l.

This would, however, be close work for two boats, in the event of accidents; and therefore a spare boat would be required, at an additional expense of 24,000l. capital, and 6200l. yearly charges. But two may be rendered quite sufficient by making Halifax, instead of New York, the point of communication between Fayal and British North America; the communication with New York to be taken up, and carried on, by the steamers proposed to run between North America and the West Indies, as explained and stated under the next head. Fixing the communications in this way, the details, or the course and time, would be:—

Geo. Miles.Days.
Fayal to Halifax164010
Rest there, say" 8
Halifax to Fayal164010
————
Totals328028
————

Two boats would be quite sufficient to perform this service, and the advantage would be gained of having a British port as the port for trans-shipment. Each boat would be at sea 10 and 10 = 20 days each voyage = 40 monthly = 480 yearly; coals, 25 tons daily = 12,000 tons yearly, at 25s. = 15,000l. The periods for the arrivals and departures of these Halifax and Fayal steamers will be found to agree well with the arrivals and departures of the steamers to run between Halifax and the West Indies, by way of New York, as minutely particularized under the next head.

Halifax ought to be made the point from which, and to which, all the British North American, foreign, that is, transmarine correspondence, ought to converge and diverge. It can be made to do so readily, and with advantage, as the following distances will show:—

Distance.Geo. Miles.
New York to QuebecN.19°East.390
New York to MontrealN.4°E.305
Halifax to St. John's, by AnnapolisN.71°W.111
St. John's to QuebecN.66°W.230
Quebec to MontrealS.58°W.116

Thus it is obvious that Halifax is nearer England three and a half days each way than New York; that much time would, by the above course of post, between the mother country and all her North American possessions, be saved, while all the advantages of carrying these mails and passengers, &c. would be gained by British shipping and British subjects.

The communications could be carried on between Fayal and Halifax, &c. by sailing packets instead of steam vessels; but then these sailing packets, on account of the number of passengers which it is almost certain would travel by them, would require to be packets of the largest size, or first class. Their average voyages may be taken at sixteen days each, with six or eight to stop at Halifax, which would bring the full voyage to forty days. This would throw the return letters always one mail, or fifteen days, later for Europe, than if steamers were employed; but, at the same time, it would bring their arrival at Fayal to be regular, and in sufficient time for the succeeding homeward packet from Fayal; for, if they go beyond thirty days, their return within forty-five days, in this or in any other station, would meet the central point at Fayal equally well, as to dates; but such a detention would not only occasion so much loss of time to the course of correspondence, but give letters a chance of reaching Europe sooner from New York direct. Two sailing packets would perform this work in the unavoidably extended time mentioned, giving two mails each month; first cost 9,500l. = 19,000l.; yearly charges 4200l. each = 8400l.