[145] In 1878-79 the amount was more than twenty-seven millions. This was, however, a decrease on the preceding year, when the amount had been more than twenty-nine millions.—“Twenty-fifth Report,” p. 45. The profits for 1878-79 were £39,000. In the preceding year, when a much larger business had been done, they were only £6,400.—“Twenty-fifth Report,” p. 21.—Ed.
[146] “Sixth Report,” p. 17
[147] Mr. Frederic Hill succeeded in the end in getting his plan adopted. It works very well, I am informed, and has reduced the cost of “the window duty” by about one-half.—Ed.
[148] “Sixth Report,” p. 27.
[149] “Sixth Report,” p. 30.
[150] Even with the great assistance of the railway to California, it is doubtful if the Western Route is the better for any colony except New Zealand. The advantage of a bi-monthly mail is of course a distinct question.
It is curious how inveterate is the mistake in question. Columbus expected to reach Cathay more quickly by sailing westward, but was stopped by the American continent. The projectors of the “Darien Scheme” hoped to enrich themselves by making their settlement a great entrepôt between Europe and the East Indies; and Macaulay, in his interesting narrative of the enterprise (“History of England,” Vol. v., p. 200), considers their mistake to consist mainly in the assumption that Spain would permit a settlement on its territory; but it seems not to have occurred to him that, in any event, the scheme was intrinsically hopeless, seeing that the old route by the Cape of Good Hope, besides avoiding the cost and delay of transhipment, surpasses the Darien route even in shortness. (October, 1872).
[151] “Fifth Report,” p. 17.
[152] “Sixth Report,” p. 22.
[153] “Fourth Report,” p. 20.