, to present to you and to the
public the Chart of the World, between 70 deg. N. lat. and 60 deg. S. lat., on
Mercator's projection, which accompanies the present sheets. On it I
have laid down all the routes of both steamers and sailing-packets, to
every quarter of the world that has been adverted to; and further
added a Chart of the West Indies, and of the Isthmus of America, drawn
by myself, and corrected by the latest authorities.

The timid and the interested will throw every doubt upon the success
of such an undertaking. What is going on in the world is the best
answer to doubts and fears on this subject. What takes place in other
quarters will take place in the quarters alluded to, namely, success
where failure was anticipated.

In a vast undertaking like the plan proposed, the interests of the
Government and the general interests of the public must be specially
kept in view and particularly attended to. By attending closely to
these interests, the Government will find that it best and most
effectually consults the interests of individuals, places and
communities. No partial or local interest or opposition (such may (p. xii)
in this, as in most other concerns, appear) ought to be listened to.
Any such opposition can only proceed from prejudice, or ignorance, or
self-interest; and a little experience will satisfy the public, and
convince even such opposition, that the fact is so; and, moreover,
that in the arrangements proposed, no interest in any quarter has been
neglected.

I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,

JAMES M'QUEEN.

London, 14th Feb. 1838.

A GENERAL PLAN FOR CONVEYANCE OF MAILS BY STEAM, &c. &c. (p. 001)

INTRODUCTION.

The conveyance of mails and despatches from one place to another is of
the utmost possible importance to individuals, and to a country. The
rapidity and regularity with which such communications can be made,
gives to every nation an influence, a command, and advantages such as
scarcely any thing else can give, and frequently extends even beyond
the sphere of that influence and that command which the direct
application of mere physical power can obtain to any government or
people.

Much as Great Britain has already done, in this respect, to connect
and to communicate with her very extensive, valuable, and important
foreign dependencies, still much more remains to be done, to give h