III.

North America and West Indies.

The intercourse between these quarters of the world, and also of each of these with the United States, is already of great importance, and will daily become more and more important, while there is, at present, no mail communication between them. A regular, and frequent mail communication in that quarter has become indispensably necessary. While this fact must be admitted, it is of great importance to have as many of the points of combination under the British flag as possible. Keeping this desirable point in view, it is necessary to observe, that this must be done, taking Havannah into the line; because, if it is not included in the British line, it will be forthwith occupied by parties from the United States, and letters, passengers, &c. both for all North America and for Europe, from the West Indies, will go by these States, New York for example. The arrivals and departures of the steam packets on this line must also be calculated, and fixed so as to agree with the arrivals and departures of the outward and homeward-bound mails by Fayal, for North America, and also for all the West Indies, southwards to Havannah and Mexico.

The desirable object of bringing the most important central and trans-shipping points under the British flag, can only be gained by making in this case the run of the steamers to be from Halifax, by New York, to the Havannah; or from New York, by Havannah, to Jamaica. While the various ways by which this latter could be effected are here stated, still the former will be found to be the most economical, certainly not the most inconvenient, and, on many accounts, the preferable mode. At Havannah the North American steamer would meet in the most regular manner, and to a day, the steamers from Havannah to Vera Cruz; and from Havannah to Jamaica, Barbadoes, &c. &c. The route and time of these boats would be as follows:—

Geo. Miles. Days.
Halifax to New York520 3½
New York to Havannah1140 6½
Stop at Havannah, say 2
Havannah to Halifax, by New York.1660 10
—— ——
Totals3320 22

Two powerful boats would be perfectly sufficient to perform this work, giving two mails each month; first cost 48,000l., yearly charges 12,400l. Each boat would be at sea 20 days each voyage = 40 monthly = 480 yearly; coals daily, 25 tons = 12,000 tons yearly, at 25s. = 15,000l.

The outward European mails would arrive at Halifax on the 20th and the 4th or 5th of every month, and at Havannah on the 31st or 1st, and 15th or 16th of each month. Leaving Halifax on the days above mentioned, the steamers, by way of New York, would reach Havannah on the 30th and 15th of each month, and, allowing two days at Havannah, return to Halifax by way of New York, on the 14th and 29th, eight days before the arrival there of the outward European packet, giving abundance of time to rest. This steamer will bring back from New York the answers to the letters received from Europe for the return packet from Halifax to Fayal. These letters would reach New York on the 23d and 8th of each month. The stoppage at New York by this steamer returning northward could not be beyond one or two days. To meet the West Indian and South American packets returning to the central point, Fayal, the steamer, with all the North American correspondence, must leave Halifax on the 29th or 30th, and the 13th or 14th of each month. Considering attentively the calculations here made, it will be found that they correspond accurately, and that in practice these will work admirably, and without confusion or delay—points, in an affair of this kind, of the greatest importance.

The other plan, by which the communication between North America and the West Indies can be opened up and carried on, is between New York and Jamaica, by the Havannah. After considering it, in all its bearings and details, the former will appear to be the most economical and eligible. Calculating the whole of the General Plan to be carried into effect, and by steam, the outward mails from Europe, via Fayal and Halifax, would arrive at New York on the 7th or 22d, or the 8th and 23d, of each month; and those for the West Indies, via Fayal and Barbadoes, at Cape Nichola Mole, Hayti, on the 11th and 27th, or 12th and 27th, and at Jamaica on the 13th and 28th of each month. The mails from the westward and southward of, and for Jamaica, would consequently return to that island on the 7th and 22d of each month. The distances and time taken in three ways between Jamaica and New York, by Havannah, would be—

(No. 1.)

Geo. Miles. Days.
New York to Havannah1140 6½
Havannah by Matanzas, to St. Jago de Cuba630 4
St. Jago de Cuba to Kingston, Jamaica170 1
Jamaica " 2
Jamaica to Cape Nichola Mole, by St. Jago305 2
Cape Nichola to Havannah, by Matanzas540 3
Havannah, Coals, &c. " 1
Havannah to New York1140 6½
—— ——
Totals3925 26