d 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