| Of which | 2 | vessels are of | 800 | horse power. |
| ” | 4 | ” | 650 | horse power. |
| ” | 26 | ” | 400 | and upwards to 520 horse power. |
| ” | 5 | ” | 250 | and upwards to 380 horse power. |
| ” | 7 | ” | 140 | and upwards to 240 horse power. |
The first thirty-two vessels being of the tonnage and power of the steam frigates of the Royal Navy—the remaining twelve vessels of the power and tonnage of the steam sloops and gun vessels of the Royal Navy.
By a stipulation in the Mail Contracts, these vessels, with the exception of a few which are under 400-horse power, are required to be so constructed as to be able to carry and fire guns of the largest calibre used in the war steamers, and the Government have the power of employing them for warlike purposes, if required. The vessels under 400-horse power are included in the above list, as they would, without doubt, be also placed at the disposal of the Government if required.
Assuming that this reserve fleet supersedes the necessity, as it surely ought to do, of the employment of war steamers to the extent of only one-fourth of its number, a financial saving to the country of from £250,000 to £300,000 per annum on that account is due to the Contract Packet Service.
The annual amount paid to these three Companies for the East India and China, Mediterranean and Peninsular, West Indian, Mexican, &c., and North American Contract Mail Services is £589,000. The returns for postage, as estimated by the Post-office, is about £380,000—leaving an apparent cost to the pubic of £209,000 for these communications.
But it appears, from the circumstance stated by Mr. Anderson, that at least half of this apparent deficiency is made good to the exchequer by taxes on consumption, proceeding from the increase of commerce and industrial resources consequent on the establishment of one branch of one Company’s communications only; and it surely cannot be an exaggerated estimate to assume that the whole of the other improved communications of that and the other Companies make good to the exchequer, in a similar manner, at least the other half.
It therefore follows, looking at the question as a merely financial one, that the establishment and maintenance of these communications, so far from being any burden on the national exchequer, is a gain to it; their cost being more than returned to it in postage of letters, and revenue derived from the increase of industry and consumption created by their means; in addition to which the country is, or ought to be, a gainer, to the extent of not less than a quarter of a million sterling in a reduction of naval expenditure, seeing that a large reserve steam navy, promptly available for the national defence, if required, is provided by these great steam navigation enterprises. That reserve navy also, while forming so important an auxiliary to the means of national defence in case of war, is operating as one of the most effective instruments for the maintenance of peace, by promoting the extension of foreign commercial intercourse—thereby tending to bind nations closer together by the strongest of all ties, that of mutual dependence on each other for their material wants. Assuming these facts and conclusions to be correct, instead of the expense of these communications being grudged, it ought to be regarded as the most beneficial outlay of public money that occurs in the whole balance-sheet of our national expenditure.
Although, in the preceding remarks, the benefits of these improved postal communications have been considered only in reference to their financial, commercial, and political importance, it ought not to be forgotten that they also involve social benefits, of equal, if not superior consideration.[15] How few are the instances, comparatively speaking, where a family in the United Kingdom is to be met with who has not one or more of its members absent in our distant dependencies, engaged in industrial pursuits, or in the public service of their country. To lessen the hardships of absence and separation to so large a portion of the community, by facilitating to them the means of social intercommunication, reducing, as it were, the distance which separates them (as has been done in many cases, to less than one-fourth of what it formerly was) is surely an object worthy of national sympathy and solicitude, and claiming to be supported by national means.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] See question 2169, p. 45, and 2187, p. 48; also 2254, and 2255.