ill shortly
and more particularly be pointed out. In fine weather each boat would
make the voyage within six days, and in rough weather in seven
days,--but say seven days at an average. Each boat would be at sea 14
days each voyage = 28 days monthly = 336 days yearly; 25 tons of coal
per day = 8400 tons yearly; which, at 20_s._ per ton, is 8400_l._
annually. The yearly cost of the two boats for this station would
therefore be: (prime cost of two, 48,000_l._)--

Two boats' wages and provisions, &c., at L6200. 12,400
Coals for do., yearly 8,400
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Total L20,800
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The stoppage at Fayal would depend upon the arrival of the packets
with the mails from the Brazils, the West Indies, &c. &c., but the
arrangements for all these will be such as will bring the stoppage not
to exceed one or two days, and which will prove no more than sufficient
to take in coals, water, &c. &c. Despatched from London on the 1st and
15th day of each month, the steamers from Falmouth, with all the (p. 014)
mails, would reach Fayal on the 10th and 25th of each month, from
whence they would immediately be despatched to their ulterior
destinations. By this arrangement Government would save at least three
West Indian or Barbadoes packets, one Halifax and one Rio de Janeiro
packet (exclusive of six Mexican packets saved, but included in the
West Indian department), after giving to the two quarters of America
last mentioned two mails instead of one each month, and which saving
would, at least, be 21,000_l._ yearly. The voyages also from England
to every quarter connected with this arrangement would be greatly
shortened, even were the communications by steam to be carried no
farther; as every nautical man knows well that it is between the
Western Islands and the English Channel, whether outwards or inwards,
that the greatest detention in every voyage, whether it regards
packets or any other vessels, takes place. In a particular manner the
arrival of the outward packets at Barbadoes would be more regular,
almost quite regular; and thus _extra_ steam-boats in that quarter, on
account of the irregularities in the arrivals as under the present
system, would be rendered unnecessary; and the same thing may be said
of every other quarter to which the plan and t