any means of ventilation, except what two ill-planned, narrow and miserable hatches, when open, afford. Imagine a vessel like this starting from Jamaica, with ten or fifteen passengers, and a crew of thirty-seven people, still more miserably provided with room and quarters, to stem the currents, the trade winds—(not to speak of storms,)—which blow, and the heavy seas which roll, between that island and St. Thomas, especially in the channel between the former and St. Domingo, and indeed in all the West Indies: having the boiler immediately adjoining the cabin and sleeping berths, and without any place to stow the luggage belonging to the passengers,—and with the numerous mail bags crammed into the small sleeping berths, or under the table,—and the public will have a faint idea of a Government steam-boat; wherein, under a tropical sun and a tropical rain, the passengers and crews are, with the hatches closed, reduced to the choice, while choked with coal-dust, of being broiled or suffocated. No human constitution can long stand this. Without meaning any offence, truth must declare, that such a state of things is a disgrace to England.

The most urgent haste and necessity can alone bring individuals to travel by such conveyances, and none will do so whose time will allow them to look for other modes of conveyance and transport. Female passengers, in particular, without female attendants, or room for them, will never willingly undertake, certainly never repeat, a voyage under such circumstances. It would seem that, in this respect, the vessels belonging to the most powerful, enlightened, and civilized Government in the world, are to be placed far below the level of vessels belonging to their own subjects, and those of other nations; although such vessels are expressly appointed to convey passengers.

With these preliminary observations, it is proposed to consider the details of a plan for the more extended conveyance of mails by steam-boats, first to the Western World, under the separate heads into which such a plan, necessarily and properly divides itself. In doing this, it will satisfactorily appear that the more the plan is extended, the less in proportion will the expenses attending the same be, and the greater the returns be therefrom.

I.

Falmouth and Madeira, or one of the Western Islands, Department.

Either of the islands just named may be made central points of the greatest importance for connecting the mail communications between Great Britain and all the Western World. The Western Islands, however, become a central point, more direct and convenient than Madeira, for all the outward and homeward West Indian packets, and still more so for all those which may be bound for New York and British North America. In short, the packets for neither of the latter places could go or come by Madeira without great inconvenience and loss of time; whereas, neither would take place if Fayal is made the point of arrival at and departure from. The latter island is directly in the course of both the West Indian and homeward-bound South American packets; and it may be said with equal accuracy, in the outward direct course of these packets also. Although a little further removed into the variable winds than Madeira, still it is well known that Fayal once made, the greatest difficulties in the voyages of the outward-bound packets are overcome. The distance, also, from Falmouth to either of these islands is not materially different: from Falmouth to Madeira direct, is 1170 geographical miles; and from Falmouth to Fayal direct, 1230 miles. In the outward voyage Fayal is 300 miles nearer Barbadoes than Madeira; and in the homeward, from Cape Nichola Mole, 300 also. The distance between Madeira and Rio de Janeiro, and between the latter and Fayal, is not greatly different, being (taking in Bahia and Pernambuco) for the latter 3900 miles, and for the former 3800; but from the course which the homeward packet must take through the trades, the distance to Madeira, as compared with the distance and course to Fayal, would be increased by 250 miles. On the whole, considering the advantages and disadvantages to arise from making either of these islands, viz., Madeira and Fayal, the central points, it would appear that the balance would considerably incline to be in favour of any one of the central Azores, say Falmouth and Terceira or Fayal. Fayal being taken as the central point to which and from which the packets for the western world are to converge and to diverge, the arrangements will run as follow:—

The steam-boats from Falmouth to Fayal would carry out all the mails from Great Britain to the Western World; viz.: for British North America, for New York, for the British West Indies and all the Gulf of Mexico, and for the Brazils and Buenos Ayres, as also for Madeira and Teneriffe. From Falmouth to Fayal is, course S. 55° W. distance 1230 geographical miles. Two steam-boats of 240-horse power each would perform this work out and home, giving two mails each month, each boat returning with the mails for Great Britain from all the places mentioned, to be brought to that island in a manner which will shortly and more particularly be pointed out. In fine weather each boat would make the voyage within six days, and in rough weather in seven days,—but say seven days at an average. Each boat would be at sea 14 days each voyage = 28 days monthly = 336 days yearly; 25 tons of coal per day = 8400 tons yearly; which, at 20s. per ton, is 8400l. annually. The yearly cost of the two boats for this station would therefore be: (prime cost of two, 48,000l.)—

The stoppage at Fayal would depend upon the arrival of the packets with the mails from the Brazils, the West Indies, &c. &c., but the arrangements for all these will be such as will bring the stoppage not to exceed one or two days, and which will prove no more than sufficient to take in coals, water, &c. &c. Despatched from London on the 1st and 15th day of each month, the steamers from Falmouth, with all the mails, would reach Fayal on the 10th and 25th of each month, from whence they would immediately be despatched to their ulterior destinations. By this arrangement Government would save at least three West Indian or Barbadoes packets, one Halifax and one Rio de Janeiro packet (exclusive of six Mexican packets saved, but included in the West Indian department), after giving to the two quarters of America last mentioned two mails instead of one each month, and which saving would, at least, be 21,000l. yearly. The voyages also from England to every quarter connected with this arrangement would be greatly shortened, even were the communications by steam to be carried no farther; as every nautical man knows well that it is between the Western Islands and the English Channel, whether outwards or inwards, that the greatest detention in every voyage, whether it regards packets or any other vessels, takes place. In a particular manner the arrival of the outward packets at Barbadoes would be more regular, almost quite regular; and thus extra steam-boats in that quarter, on account of the irregularities in the arrivals as under the present system, would be rendered unnecessary; and the same thing may be said of