Plan for the Western World, extending it
westward to China and New South Wales, can, in the mean time, as the
following pages will show you, be put into execution to the fullest
extent, with a very great saving in time, and with very great
regularity. A water communication moreover will, I feel convinced, and
at no distant day, be carried through the American Isthmus--say by
Lake Nicaragua--when the sailing packets for the Pacific may run
direct between Jamaica and Sydney, New South Wales, and Canton-China.

In the estimate for the cost of steam-boats to be employed in the
service proposed, I have been chiefly guided by, and adhere to, the
statement made by that able and practical engineer Mr. Napier, of
Glasgow, in his evidence to the Post-office Commissioners in 1836,
that steam-boats of 240-horse power, and 620 tons burthen, could be
furnished at from 24,000_l._ to 25,000_l._ At this rate the total
yearly cost of mail communications by the aid of steam, to every
quarter which has been adverted to in the subsequent pages, will (p. vii)
be as stated in the following brief summary. Reference No. 1, shows
the expenditure, keeping the Red Sea route confined to India only, and
extending the communication to China and Sydney by the Pacific, from
Panama or Rialejo. No. 2, the expense, confining the communication by
the Cape of Good Hope to India only, and extending the communication
to Canton, &c. across the Pacific as before. No. 3, shows the
expenditure for the Western World, the work performed by steam in the
West Indies, and steam from Falmouth to Fayal, with sailing-packets
for the remainder of the work; and the whole expense, by extending
sailing-packets to China and Sydney westward across the Pacific, but
limiting the communication by the Red Sea to India only. Lastly, No.
4, shows the expenditure of the communications made in a way similar
to No. 3, limiting the conveyance by the Cape of Good Hope to India
only: (see also Appendix No. 2, p. 128.)

No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. No. 4.
Western World L279,250 L279,250 L161,615 L161,615
East Indies, &c. 128,850 187,978 128,850 187,978
Pacific 63,000 63,000 63,000 63,000
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L471,100 L530,228 L353,465 L412,593
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