Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-09-08 00:00:00

TRANSPORT SERVICE TO INDIA.

Last week we alluded to a proposal which had been
made by the European and American Steam Company to
the Directors of the East India Company, to organise a
regular direct line to Bombay by the Isthmus of Suez
monthly, and we referred to some of the many advan-
tages which such a direct and continuous service seemed
to embrace. Since then we have been informed that the
proposal is more comprehensive than we had supposed.
It is suggested that two steam-ships shonid leave Eng-
land for Alexandria monthly. Each ship to carry one
thousand men, with their baggage, stores, tec. That the
men, on being carried over the isthmus, should find two
steamers corresponding in every respect, ready to receive
them at Suez, and that the whole of the distanee from
England to Bombay should be traversed in from forty to
forty-five days. We are informed that inquiries have
been made with regard to what at first sight might seem
to present some diffieuity—the transport of the men
through; and that, assuming that. politically speaking,
no oljection should :wise, the present advanced state of '
the railway is such that it is available for the carriage of '
troops for 212 miles out of the entire distance, which is
254. Therefore there would be a distance only of forty.
two miles from the port of disembarkation to the point
reached by the railway. Estimates, it is also stated,
have been made of the expense of transporting men by
this route, and, surprising as it may appear, we are a-i-
-sured it can be done as now proposed at a cost less by
20 per cent., including all charges from England to India, S
than the price now paid for transport by steam-ships
via, the Cape of Good Elope, while the time ocenpied in
Vie journey is little more than one half. Such advan-
tages, it would appear, should in themselves offer
inducement sufficient to insure the immediate adop
tion of the proposal. But there are yet many
others which should not be overlooked. .By a regular
monthly service, such as this, the directors of the East
India Company would be in possession of the means to
meet any sudden emergency ; they would also have, at no
increase of cost, a safe and expeditious conveyance for
invalids, or fugitives from the seat of war, whose removal
to England must be regarded as second only in importance
to the quick transport of reinforcements, each ship as she
delivered in India her cargo of troops could return to
Suez with those who require to return to England.
Another very important feature in this arrangement, and
one which is well worthy of the serious attention of the
Government, is that they could supply all the necessities
of the war by the occupation exclusively of this fleet of
eight ships which has been offered to them, amounting in
the aggregate to 19,000 tons, and by liberating the large
Amount of the mercaatile marine of the kingdom, which
must otherwise be absorbed in the carriage of the
necessity drafts round the Cape, they would enable
the requirements of the trade of the country to be
supplied, obviating one of the most serious consequences
of such a war, the breaking up of trading intercourse
already existing. and in active operation with the various
ports in the world, the loss of which cannot fail to preys
most injurious to our commercial interests generally. It
is not our desire to refer to the numerous disasters which
marked our arrangements during the campaign recently
ended, but we cannot refrain from offering a word of cau-
tion and advice in time. Some of our cotemporaries
have already touched, although with delicacy. upon the
subject., and we would now follow their example and
earnestly urge upon the authorities ie. Leadenhall-street
and 'Whitehall, the great necessity 'of making early and
complete; arrangements, whieh3.W it secure by all the