, &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._

The route, course, and time, from Alexandria, would be thus:--

Geo. Miles. Days.
Falmouth to Alexandria, by Lisbon, &c. &c. 2985 19
Alexandria to Falmouth, by Malta, &c. &c. 2985 19
Stop at Alexandria 2
London and Falmouth, including day of departure 552 5
---- --
6522 45
---- --

N.B. Seventeen days, at 180 geographical miles per day, gives 3060
miles--the real distance is 2985.

2. _Malta and Constantinople._ (p. 066)

From Malta a branch steam-boat may proceed with the mails for the
Ionian Islands, and touching at Zante to land these, proceed thence to
Athens, and thence to Constantinople with the outward mails. From
Constantinople this boat will return, by Athens and Zante, to Malta,
with the return mails for the Alexandria and Falmouth packets. The
distance from Malta to Alexandria and back is 1650 miles, and by the
course already pointed out, the distance from Malta to Constantinople
and back is not materially different. Consequently, one good steamer
would perform the work in the same time as is requisite to go to
Alexandria and return. This boat would be, each voyage, ten days at
sea; stopping two days at Constantinople: which is 20 days monthly;
240 days yearly; requiring 5000 tons of coals, 6250_l._, and 6200_l._
more for wages, provisions, insurance, tear and wear; together
12,450_l._ per annum.