(No. 2.)
(No. 3.)
| Geo. Miles. | Days. | ||
| New York to Havannah, by Matanzas | 1140 | 6½ | |
| Havannah, Coals | " | 1 | |
| Havannah to Jamaica, round Cape Antonio | 685 | 4 | |
| Jamaica, Coals, Mails, &c. | " | 2 | |
| Jamaica to Cape Nichola Mole, by St. Jago | 305 | 2 | |
| Cape Nichola Mole to Havannah, by Matanzas | 540 | 3 | |
| Havannah, Coals | " | 1 | |
| Havannah to New York | 1140 | 6½ | |
| —— | —— | ||
| Totals | 3810 | 26 | |
| —— | —— |
The latter route (No. 3,) will, for various reasons, be the preferable course. First, because while it embraces Havannah in the line, it renders it unnecessary for the steamers to run twice over the same ground that others do. Secondly, the steamer from Jamaica for the eastward being able to leave that island, with all the return Colonial mails from the westward and southward for North America, &c., at the times, or in the space of time, mentioned, would reach Cape Nichola Mole just in time to meet the downward steamer from Barbadoes, with all the Colonial mails to the eastward of that place for North America; and, consequently, could take in and proceed with these mails without delay; and it might, at the same time, take in not only the eastern Colonial mails for Matanzas and Havannah, but the outward European mails for these places also, by which means these towns would receive these two or three days earlier than they could by Jamaica. The Mexican mails might also be forwarded in the same way; but to do so would be of little use, inasmuch as the steamer for Vera Cruz could not leave Havannah until the steamer from Jamaica arrived.
Taking route No. 3 as the lines of communication between Jamaica and North America, then the arrivals at Jamaica would be on the 5th and the 20th of each month; and, allowing two days to stop at Havannah outwards instead of one day, and three days at Jamaica instead of two, the return steamers would leave Jamaica on the 8th and 23d of each month, and reach Cape Nichola Mole on the 25th and 10th, which place the steamer from Barbadoes reaches on the 11th and 27th, and the Havannah and Chagres steamers return to Jamaica on the 7th and 22d of each month; thus combining every movement requisite in a very clear and satisfactory manner.
The steamers on this route or station would be each 22 and 22 = 44 days each month = 528 days yearly at sea; coals, at 25 tons daily = 13,200 tons, at 25s. per ton = 16,500l.; which is 1500l. more than the other. Moreover, the steamers (two) would be so closely pressed for time as not to have the necessary rest for examination and repairs, and consequently a third would be requisite, which would increase the capital 24,000l., and yearly charges 6200l. above the other plan.
The mails on this station may, moreover, be carried by sailing packets. By this mode of conveyance, however, the mails would be longer on their voyages; those to and from Halifax, &c., being always thrown behind one return mail for the steamer to and from Fayal with the mail for Great Britain, and consequently be obliged to wait at Halifax or New York for a succeeding one—but for which, however, they would always be in ample time. The course and time by sailing packets would be—
| Geo. Miles. | Days. | ||
| Halifax to New York | 520 | 5½ | |
| New York to Havannah | 1140 | 10 | |
| Stop at Havannah, say | 2 | ||
| Havannah to Halifax, by New York | 1660 | 15½ | |
| —— | —— | ||
| Totals | 3320 | 33 | |
| —— | —— |
which will allow abundance of time to stop at New York, going and returning, and for meeting every possible contingency which may occur in the voyage; as, if within forty-five days, it would be in time to meet the corresponding packets to and from Europe. Two sailing packets would be sufficient to perform this work, giving two mails each month; prime cost, 9500l. each = 19,000l. and yearly charges 4200l. each, or 8400l. It may here be observed, that if all the mails were carried by sailing packets on the four great lines, that the times of their arrivals and departures would still connect and combine properly, but, as has already been remarked, be always fifteen days later in the course of the mails between the places mentioned than if these were carried wholly and everywhere by steam.