ds which prevail in the Pacific, the passage outwards
to both Sydney and Canton would be easy and rapid; but in order to
make the return mails from these places meet at a central
point--thereby, as in the plan for crossing the Atlantic, to save
packets--which point should be so placed, as that taking it in would
not retard the progress of the mails, or that only in the slightest
degree possible--is now the point to consider. Beyond the parallel
where the variable winds commence, there is no island of importance in
any position that would be an eligible and safe point for the return
mails from Sydney and Canton to meet in their way to Rialejo or
Panama. To carry the outward mails from either of the latter places by
Otaheite, the Canton packet branching off there would be to bring it,
upon its return, a vast distance out of its way (to Otaheite it must
return in order to get the next outward mail for Canton); especially
when the return mail from Sydney must stand north through the trades
to get into the northern variables. It would be desirable that a good
point should be found, as much to the westward as possible, and
convenient to proceed to Canton; at the same time, sufficiently to the
eastward, or, as it may be called, to the windward, of New South
Wales. Owhyhee may be considered as taking the Sydney outward mails
considerably out of their course, although by making that the point,
the time in both lines westward from it would be pretty equally
divided. The difference, however, and the delay it would occasion,
would not be so much as at first sight may be imagined; while the
short distance that this island is within the northern trade winds,
would render it neither difficult nor tedious for the return packet
from Canton to run down upon it, and there meet the return packet from
Sydney. Christmas Isle, a little to the north of the equator, (p. 060)
might be made the central point at which the packets would separate,
and to which they would return; the Canton packets dropping at Owhyhee
the return mails, to be picked up by the packet returning from Sydney
to Rialejo. This would bring the Canton packet 1000 miles into the
trade winds to Christmas Isle. From thence, with the outward mails, it
could run rapidly westward to Canton, calling at Manilla in the
voyage. There are no other places in the North Pacific where packets
could touch, unite, and command, with the least inconvenience to the
service, the navigation to