A General Plan for a Mail Communication by Steam, Between Great Britain and the Eastern and Western | Page 8

America. In short, the packets for neither of the latter places could go
or come by Madeira without great inconvenience and loss of time;
whereas, neither would take place if Fayal is made the point of arrival
at and departure from. The latter island is directly in the course of both
the West Indian and homeward-bound South American packets; and it
may be said with equal accuracy, in the outward direct course of these
packets also. Although a little further removed into the variable winds
than Madeira, still it is well known that Fayal once made, the greatest
difficulties in the voyages of the outward-bound packets are overcome.
The distance, also, from Falmouth to either of these islands is not
materially different: from Falmouth to Madeira direct, is 1170
geographical miles; and from Falmouth to Fayal direct, 1230 miles. In
the outward voyage Fayal is 300 miles nearer Barbadoes than Madeira;
and in the homeward, from Cape Nichola Mole, 300 also. The distance
between Madeira and Rio de Janeiro, and between the latter and Fayal,
is not greatly different, being (taking in Bahia and Pernambuco) for the
latter 3900 miles, and for the former 3800; but from the course which
the homeward packet must take through the trades, the distance to
Madeira, as compared with the distance (p. 013) and course to Fayal,
would be increased by 250 miles. On the whole, considering the
advantages and disadvantages to arise from making either of these
islands, viz., Madeira and Fayal, the central points, it would appear that
the balance would considerably incline to be in favour of any one of the
central Azores, say Falmouth and Terceira or Fayal. Fayal being taken
as the central point to which and from which the packets for the
western world are to converge and to diverge, the arrangements will
run as follow:--

The steam-boats from Falmouth to Fayal would carry out all the mails
from Great Britain to the Western World; viz.: for British North
America, for New York, for the British West Indies and all the Gulf of
Mexico, and for the Brazils and Buenos Ayres, as also for Madeira and
Teneriffe. From Falmouth to Fayal is, course S. 55° W. distance 1230
geographical miles. Two steam-boats of 240-horse power each would
perform this work out and home, giving two mails each month, each
boat returning with the mails for Great Britain from all the places
mentioned, to be brought to that island in a manner which will 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 20s. per ton, is 8400l. annually.
The yearly cost of the two boats for this station would therefore be:
(prime cost of two, 48,000l.)--
Two boats' wages and provisions, &c., at £6200. 12,400 Coals for do.,
yearly 8,400 ------- Total £20,800 -------
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 21,000l. 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