To extend the mail communications between Great Britain and all places
in the Mediterranean, and more especially with the more distant parts
of that sea, which will go to connect more closely British
communications with the East Indies and countries situated still more
to the eastward, is now, more than ever, become a national object,
and, it may be added, a national duty. France seems to be actively
extending mail communications, in that sea, to all places, as well to
those under her immediate sway as to others; and if allowed to do so
without any rival, it becomes obvious that, with the command of all
the channels of communication, she will obtain such a monopoly of
political influence as will give her the monopoly of political power
also in that quarter of the world. Such a result cannot fail to prove
highly injurious to all the great commercial and political interests
of Great Britain; and this result ought to be guarded against and
prevented even at a considerable sacrifice, if a sacrifice were
necessary, but which it is not.
Two mails each month between Great Britain and the Mediterranean are
indispensably necessary, otherwise the conveyance of both letters and
despatches, and passengers, will generally be quicker by private ships
and other similar conveyances which may offer. The route can be from
Falmouth to Alexandria direct, by Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Palermo,
and Malta; at the latter place dropping the outward mails for the
Ionian Islands, Athens, and Constantinople; to be forwarded immediately
by a branch steam-boat, which will return to Malta from (p. 065)
Constantinople, &c. with the return mails for England, &c. &c. to be
forwarded by the Alexandria and Falmouth steamers, returning by way of
Malta, Palermo, Gibraltar, Cadiz, and Lisbon; a good sailing vessel
being employed to convey the outward and the inward mails to and from
Zante to the other Ionian Islands. It would take the Constantinople
steamer from Malta too much out of her way to call at any other of
these islands but the one mentioned.
As the Falmouth and Mediterranean department is in every point of view
a most important station, so it may be rendered a profitable one;
because it will connect itself with the East Indian communication, and
consequently a very great additional number of passengers, letters,
parcels, &c. will be obtained. Calling at Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar,
Palermo, and Malta in the way out to, and in the way home from
Alexandria, steam-boats sufficiently powerful (240-horse power) would
complete the voyage in 45 days from London to London, including all
necessary stoppages.
Three powerful steamers would do this work, giving two mails each
month. The capital necessary to purchase these would be 72,000_l._ The
annual expenditure for these three boats, on this station, would
be--Wages, provisions, tear and wear, &c. 6,200_l._ each, or
18,600_l._; and for coals, 20,400 tons, 25,600_l._; together,
44,200_l._ Thus each boat on this station would be actively employed
34 days each voyage = 74 monthly, 816 yearly: coals, 25 tons daily =
20,400 tons at 25_s._, 25,600_l._