ANOTHER PLAN, BY WAY OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
The above Plan is attended with considerable risk, inasmuch as convulsions in Egypt, and on the shores of the Red Sea about Suez and Mocha, and war in the Mediterranean, might cut off altogether (p. 073) the communications with the whole Eastern World, according to the route which has been laid down. To prevent such a result is an object of great importance, providing it can be effected without a serious sacrifice as to time, or expenditure of money. To have such vitally important communications as free from being disturbed by the march of war as possible, is not only desirable, but indispensable, on the part of Great Britain. This may be effected by going out by the Cape of Good Hope.
Adopting this route would connect all the Eastern transmarine possessions of Great Britain in one chain, with scarcely a link in the line of communication being dependent upon foreigners, except one or two, which the naval power of Great Britain could always command and control in case of emergency. The course here alluded to would lengthen the course of post to Bombay and Calcutta, &c. to a considerable extent; but in every part of the proposed new line, coals could always be procured more cheap and readily than in any quarter near the Red Sea. The following details, however, will place the time and expense in a clear point of view, and enable any one to contrast at a glance the two routes, and the difference which in time and expenditure will exist and remain between them.
The steam-boat with all the Indian mails would go from Falmouth by Madeira to Cape Verde, thus:--
Geo. Miles. Days. Falmouth to Madeira 1170 6 Stop at Madeira, coals 1 Madeira to Cape Verde 1130 6 Stop at Cape Verde, coals 2 Cape Verde to Falmouth 2300 12 Stop at Madeira, returning, coals 1 ---- -- Totals 4600 28 ---- --
Two steam-boats, actively employed, would perform this work, (p. 074) giving two mails each month. Each boat would be at sea 24 days each voyage = 48 monthly = 576 yearly:--coals, at 25 tons daily = 14,400 tons yearly, at 20_s._ 14,400_l._
2. _Cape Verde to the Cape of Good Hope._
The route and time from Cape Verde to the Cape of Good Hope will be--
Geo. Miles. Days. Cape Verde to Ascension 1530 8 Ascension to St. Helena 655 3 St. Helena to Cape of Good Hope 1720 9 Stop at Ascension and St. Helena twice 4 Cape of Good Hope to Cape Verde 3905 20 ---- -- 7810 44 ---- --
