A General Plan for a Mail Communication by Steam, Between Great Britain and the Eastern and Western Parts of the World
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James MacQueen >> A General Plan for a Mail Communication by Steam, Between Great Britain and the Eastern and Western Parts of the World
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_Comparative Distances of Places._ (p. 112)
Geo. Miles.
Falmouth to Terceira 1180
Terceira to Barbadoes 2340
---- 3520
Falmouth to Madeira 1170
Madeira to Barbadoes 2600
---- 3770
Falmouth to Teneriffe, by Madeira 1410
Teneriffe to Barbadoes 2570
---- 3980
Falmouth to Madeira, by Lisbon 1260
Madeira to Barbadoes 2600
---- 3860
Falmouth to Fayal 1230
Fayal to Barbadoes 2255
---- 3485
Falmouth to Fayal 1230
Fayal to Cape Nichola Mole 2600
---- 3830
Falmouth to Terceira 1180
Terceira to St. Thomas 2350
---- 3530
Falmouth to Terceira 1180
Terceira to Cape Nichola Mole 2700
---- 3880
Falmouth to Madeira 1170
Madeira to St. Thomas 2800
---- 3970
Falmouth to Madeira 1170
Madeira to Cape Nichola Mole 3000
---- 4170
Madeira to Rio de Janeiro 3700
Ditto, by Pernambuco and Bahia 109
---- 3800
Terceira to Rio de Janeiro, by Pernambuco
and Bahia 3900
Falmouth to Gibraltar, by Lisbon, &c. 1020
Gibraltar to Alexandria, by Palermo and Malta 1955
---- 2975
Falmouth to Gibraltar, by Lisbon and Cadiz 1050
Gibraltar to Madeira 600
Madeira to Barbadoes 2600
---- 4250
CALCULATION OF YEARLY COST OF SAILING PACKETS AND STEAM BOATS. (p. 113)
I.--_Sailing Packets._
First cost, 9500_l._--Interest, 5 per cent. L475
Repairs, ordinary tear and wear, at 7-1/2 per cent. 710
Wages, say 1,270
Provisions, say 730
Insurance, 10 per cent. 950
------
Total L4,135
Exclusive of yearly depreciation of capital--say, last seventeen years,
is 558_l._ 16_s._ yearly.
The per centage here taken for yearly supplies, is below the true
outlay. The following sums, in full details, have been received from
a very accurate and competent hand, of the outfits of a _new_ vessel
of 230 tons, cost 4000_l._, for six successive voyages in the West
Indian trade, during a period of 48 months. It is considered unnecessary
to insert the details at length. The amount is given for
each voyage:--
1st Voyage L96 11 5 4th Voyage L646 3 11
2d ditto 219 17 0 5th ditto 348 12 8
3d ditto 301 1 4 6th ditto 266 8 2
_________ __________
L617 9 9 L1261 4 9
_________ __________
Together L1878 14 6 Average L313 2 6
Nearly EIGHT per cent, for each voyage, or _twenty-four_ per cent. per
annum. The amount would also increase yearly with the age of the
ship.
II.--_Steam Boats._ (p. 114)
Value 24,000_l._, Interest at 5 per cent L1,200
Tear and wear, do. do. 1,200
Insurance, do. do. 1,200
______
L3,600
Crews, in all 40. Captain per annum L400
1st Mate 112
2d do. 68
Master 112
1st Engineer 173
2d do. 122
3d do. 88
Engineer Extra 173
3 Engineer Boys, average 39
4 Apprentices, at 10s. per month 24
4 Stewards and Boys, aver. 25s. do. 60
21 Seamen, &c. &c. at 40s. per do. 504
Provisions, at 30s. each, per do. 720
____
2,595
_____
Total L6,195
By an Admiralty Order, dated August 1837, it is directed that the pay
of the following persons in steamers shall be as under, but increased
one-half of the sum when on service in the West Indies:--
1st Engineer, per month L9 12 0
2d do. do. 6 6 0
3d do. do. 4 4 0
Engineer Boys: 1st class, per do. 1 14 0
" 2d do. do. 1 6 0
" 3d do. do. 1 3 0
" 4th do. do. 0 14 6
And according to the Report of the Post-Office Commissioners, the pay
of the following officers on some of the Home Steam-boat Stations,
is:--
1st Mate, per annum L78 0 0
2d do. " 45 10 0
Master " 78 0 0
Captains " from 400_l._ to 500_l._
III.--_Small Sailing Vessels._ (p. 115)
Cost, say averages 2,000_l._--Interest at 5 per cent. L100
Insurance, 12 per cent. 240
Tear and wear, at 5 per cent. 100
Crews, 10. Captain, per annum L100
Mate 70
8 Men and Boys, average 30s. per
month 144
Provisions, at 30s. per do. 180
____
494
____
Total L934
POSTAGES, PROBABLE AMOUNT, INCREASE, &c.
In the General Post-office Accounts for 1836 (see Finance Accounts,
1837, p. 55), there is charged the sum of 9,406_l._ 7_s._ 5-1/4_d._,
as the sum paid for ship letters. For each letter received by a ship
not a regular packet, 2d. is paid by the Post Office at landing, and
which gives the number of such letters to be 1,128,764 yearly. Suppose
400,000 of these went by packets under the new arrangements, the
additional Post-office revenue therefrom would be 16,665_l._
The sum just mentioned as paid for ship letters may be stated as
principally attached to ship letters brought from all places in the
Western World. According to a return to the House of Commons (see East
India Steam Communication Report, 1837), the number of ship letters
from India for 1836, was 159,360. The New York packet ships alone
carry from 5000 to 6000 letters each. Twice each month the proposed
packets to and from England would bear an equal, perhaps even a
greater, number, under the proposed regular and prompt arrangement:
certainly all the Canadian correspondence will be very greatly
increased. This number, however, in four voyages each month, backwards
and forwards, gives at the rate, in round numbers, of 290,000 each
year. At 9_d._ each letter, the additional packet postage beyond the
ship-letter rate, would be 10,875_l._ gained to the British Post
Office.
In the Accounts above referred to, p. 54, there is entered 75,484_l._
10_s._ 8-1/4_d._, charged on the postmasters in the British West
Indies, and in British America. This sum is doubtless for the (p. 116)
unpaid letters outwards, and perhaps some internal postage. The
return postage from these quarters will exceed this sum, because more
double and treble letters come inwards than are sent outwards. There
is also a considerable sum paid in this country for letters sent by
post to the British Colonies.
In the same accounts there is entered, p. 54, 83,610_l._ 10_s._ 5_d._
received by the window men, &c. at the Foreign Post Office. A portion
of this must be for the letters outwards to the Brazils, to St.
Thomas, to the French Islands, to Honduras, to Mexico, to Havannah,
and all places in central South America, for all of which places the
postage must be paid before the letter can be forwarded. How much of
the above sum is for the purpose alluded to, is not stated, but let it
be taken at 30,000_l._ yearly outwards, and an equal sum from the same
places inwards; together, 60,000_l._
Next, there would be the gain on the NEW LINE between Halifax, New
York, and the West Indies; or, more correctly speaking, between _all_
North America and _all_ the West Indies, from Demerara to Mexico
inclusive, and including also the shores of South America on the east,
and all its western coasts, from Valparaiso on the south, to Nootka
Sound on the north. The exports and imports to and from these
quarters, with all quarters of the world, amount, in goods, produce,
specie and bills, and freights, &c. to upwards of 80,000,000_l._ a
year. The letters to which this vast trade, especially as the whole of
it is carried on by means of correspondence, must give rise, will be
immense: and yet, with the exception of the scanty mail communication
afforded by Britain to a few places, there is none to be found. The
amount of the trade here stated, includes of course the trade with all
places in Europe. The portion which is exclusively Colonial and
American, and which would of course be attached to the new line
alluded to, cannot be less in exports and imports than 30,000,000_l._
yearly. The proportionate postage from this commerce, even at the
ratio of the present West Indian postage, to and from Great Britain
and her West Indian colonies, would be 110,000_l._ yearly; but
admitting that a sum equal to _one-half_ only of _this sum_ came from
the letters sent through the British Post Office, the sum gained on
this station yearly would be 55,000_l._
To all these sums must be added a considerable sum in postages, which
would be annually drawn from the correspondence between all parts (p. 117)
of the United States, and Maranham, Pernambuco, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro,
Montevideo, Buenos Ayres, &c. which would go by the British packets
from all these places to Fayal, and thence on, without any delay, to
New York. What this will be, it is impossible to estimate; but taking
the trade of the United States with these places as a basis, it can
hardly be less than 10,000_l._, or more probably 12,000_l._ per annum.
The postages derived at present from the packet intercourse with the
whole Western World is taken at 200,000_l._ outwards and inwards. It
is not too much to estimate, that under the new and extended
communications and arrangements, more regular and frequent, this sum
would be increased _one-third_, or 66,666_l._; together, 266,666_l._
yearly. To this there is to be added the additions, as are previously
noted; together 92,540_l._; making the sum total at least 359,206_l._
per annum. The estimated expenditure for conveying the whole of the
mails by steam, which are calculated to produce this yearly revenue,
is 252,850_l._, or a gain of 106,356_l._ The present revenue barely
pays the expenditure, if so much, of the establishment, consisting of
thirty sailing packets; four steamers in the West Indies; ten mail
boats (6000_l._ yearly) there; some sailing vessels at Halifax, and
very frequently, a considerable assistance from ships of war besides!
_Postages and Salaries in West Indies, &c.--1834-5._
Postages received. Salaries and Allowances.
Jamaica L17,203 18 5 L562 10 0
Bahama 146 0 2 [19]22 19 6
Barbadoes 4798 13 7 100 0 0
Berbice and Demerara 1593 10 8 150 0 0
Bermuda 50 0 0
Dominica 255 8 1 100 0 0
Grenada 605 14 4 80 0 0
St. Vincents 632 19 3 80 0 0
Tobago 395 14 5 [19]75 11 3
Trinidad 931 10 1 150 0 0
St. Lucia 320 12 2 50 0 0
Antigua 781 2 1 80 0 0
Montserrat 80 3 6 [19]15 3 11
[Footnote 19: And 20 per cent. on neat proceeds.]
Postages received. Salaries and Allowances. (p. 118)
St. Christophers L547 0 3 L120 0 0
Nevis 146 16 8 60 0 0
Tortola 109 8 10 50 0 0
British North America 42,094 17 10 958 10 4
_Parl. Pap. 598 of 1836, and 6th Report of Post-office Commissioners_,
1836, p. 32, &c.
It has been stated (see p. 3) that many letters by packets from
foreign parts are returned unopened to the Post-Office, in order to
save the postages, because the originals or duplicates had previously
been received through private channels. It would be useful and
important to ascertain the number of these. In the Finance Accounts
for 1837, p. 54, there is entered in the Post-office deductions on
account of "RETURNED, refused, mis-sent, and redirected letters,
over-charges, and returns," the following sums:--
England L59,288 4 1
Scotland 11,129 19 10
West Indies and British N. America 15,337 15 9
Window men, Foreign Office 734 15 10-1/2
-------------------
L86,490 15 6-1/2
-------------------
_Postages.--Mediterranean, &c._
Letters for India, year ending October 1836 L990 7 4
Ditto Alexandria, ditto, ditto 1285 1 1
------------
L2,275 8 5
------------
Postages of letters passing through Falmouth by the Mediterranean
packet, years ending October[20]--
1834. 1835. 1836.
To Cadiz L820 11 5 L811 19 6-1/2 L703 8 3
Gibraltar 1,114 17 11 1,603 18 0 1,527 14 8-1/2
Malta 549 19 2 670 4 11-1/2 694 2 6-1/2
Corfu 300 9 8 421 19 10 486 8 10
------------ ---------------- ----------------
L2,785 18 2 L3,507 17 4 L3,411 14 4
------------ ---------------- ----------------
[Footnote 20: Appendix, 196, Report Steam
Communication with India.]
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES OF PACKETS CALCULATED. (p. 119)
The arrivals at, departures from, and the returns to Fayal, of the
packets for all quarters, will correspond so well with the arrival
outwards of the steamers from Falmouth, that no material delay on the
part of the steamers bearing all the return mails to Falmouth will be
occasioned or required. But because February has only twenty-eight
days, the mails, to make all coincide more nearly, should be made up
in London, instead of the 1st and 15th of February, on the 30th of
January, and 13th of the former month. The following, however, taking
the despatch of the mails from London according to the days in each
month, will show the periods of the whole:--
1.--_West Indies._
Mail of Arrival at Fayal. Return to do.
January 1 January 10 February 25
15 25 March 13
February 1 February 10 28
15 25 April 12
March 1 March 10 25
15 25 May 10
April 1 April 10 26
15 25 June 10
May 1 May 10 25
15 25 July 10
June 1 June 10 26
15 25 August 10
July 1 July 10 25
15 25 September 9
August 1 August 10 25
15 25 October 10
September 1 September 10 26
15 25 November 10
October 1 October 10 25
15 25 December 10
November 1 November 10 26
15 25 January 10
December 1 December 10 25
15 25 February 9
Thus showing that, by the time the steamer was ready to return to (p. 120)
Falmouth, the West Indian mails would be up at Fayal; and, as regards
the other quarters, the mails from thence would have some time to
spare for the voyages in case of accidents, and still be in time at
Fayal, thus:--
2.--_Brazils._
Mail of Arrival at Fayal. Return to do.
March 1 March 10 April 24
15 25 May 9
April 1 April 10 25
15 25 June 8
May 1 May 10 24
15 25 July 8
June 1 June 10 25
15 25 August 8
July 1 July 10 24
15 25 September 9
August 1 August 10 24
15 25 October 9
September 1 September 10 25
15 25 November 8
October 1 October 10 24
15 25 December 9
November 1 November 10 25
15 25 January 9
Decembe 1 December 10 24
15 25 February 8
January 1 January 10 24
15 25 March 9
February 1 February 10 25
15 25 April 9
3.--_Fayal and Halifax Department._
Mail of Arrival at Fayal. Return to do.
March 1 March 10 April 7
15 25 22
April 1 April 10 May 8
15 25 23
May 1 May 10 June 7
15 25 22
June 1 June 10 July 8
15 25 23
July 1 July 10 August 7 (p. 121)
15 25 23
August 1 August 10 September 7
15 25 22
September 1 September 10 October 8
15 25 23
October 1 October 10 November 7
15 25 22
November 1 November 10 December 8
15 25 23
December 1 December 10 January 7
15 25 23
January 1 January 10 February 7
15 25 22
February 1 February 10 March 10
15 25 25
4.--_North American and West Indian Department_.
Mail of At Barbadoes At Cape Nichola Return to do.
March 1 March 22 March 27 April 24
15 April 6 April 11 May 9
April 1 22 27 25
15 May 7 May 12 June 9
May 1 22 27 24
15 June 6 June 11 July 9
June 1 22 27 25
15 July 7 July 12 August 9
July 1 22 27 24
15 August 6 August 11 September 9
August 1 22 27 24
15 September 7 September 12 October 10
September 1 22 27 25
15 October 7 October 12 November 9
October 1 22 27 24
15 November 6 November 11 December 9
November 1 22 27 25
15 December 7 December 12 January 9
December 1 22 27 24
15 January 6 January 11 February 8
January 1 22 27 24
15 February 6 February 11 March 11
February 1 22 27 27
15 March 9 March 14 April 11
The following will be the periods of the steamers between Halifax (p. 122)
and Havannah, from which it will appear how well the whole will work
as regards all North America and all the West Indies; and also how
regularly and pointedly the return steamer from the Havannah (bringing
the Havannah and Tampico mails, should any accident have happened to
the Jamaica steamer), will call at New York for the replies to the
letters by the packet from Europe, arrived at that city two days
before her; and carry these forward to Halifax (giving two days to
stop at New York) in time to get the steamer with the homeward British
mails from that place to Fayal.
_Arrivals and Departures of the London Mails of the following dates_.
Mail of Arrive at Leave Arrive at Return to
Havannah Halifax Havannah Halifax
-----------\-------------\------------\-------------\-------------\
January 1 January 31 January 20 January 30 February 13
15 February 15 February 4 February 14 28
February 1 March 3 20 March 2 March 16
15 18 March 7 17 April 1
March 1 31 20 30 13
15 April 15 April 4 April 14 28
April 1 May 1 20 30 May 13
15 16 May 5 May 16 29
May 1 31 20 30 June 13
15 June 15 June 4 June 14 28
June 1 July 1 20 30 July 14
15 16 July 5 July 15 29
July 1 31 20 30 August 13
15 August 15 August 4 August 14 28
August 1 31 20 30 September 13
15 September 15 September 4 September 14 28
September 1 October 1 20 30 October 14
15 16 October 5 October 15 29
October 1 31 20 30 November 13
15 November 15 November 4 November 14 28
November 1 December 1 20 30 December 14
15 16 December 5 December 15 29
December 1 31 20 30 January 13
15 January 15 January 4 January 14 28
Sailing packets in these stations would depart and arrive at
corresponding periods, being able to be, if any thing, earlier forward
to Fayal; but always 15 days more on their respective voyages than the
steam-boats.
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