The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-10 00:00:00

M.R. LEVER IN PARIS.

Mr. John Orrel Lever, the founder of the Trans.
atlantic Steampacket Line from Galway to America,
is now here, accompanied by a deputation of gentle.
men, for the purpose of completing the arrange-
ments by Which telegraphic communication will be
made-from all parts of Europe to any part (possessed
of telegraphic stations) of the American continent
in six days, at a fixed price. Mr. Lever is
about to explain to this Government the ad-
vantages which France would derive by adopt-
ing the line for the transmission of their mails,
merchandise, and passengers to America and their
possessions at St. Peter's, Newfoundland, where
they have fishery rights. At present this school for
the French navy, which is appreciated and fostered
by the Home Government is placed at least 20 days
from communication with France, but as Mr.
Lever's line is to carry the British mails to St.
John's, Newfoundland, his company could deliver
the French mails at St. Peter's in seven days from
Paris, thus placing the French Government in an
equally advantageous position with the British.
This Government is already alive to the import-
ance of steam communication with other parts of,
the world, and they understand the certainty with
which increased commerce follows the regular,
frequent, and rapid transmission of mails to colo-
nial and foreign countries by the shortest routes
which the geographical position will allow. It is
evident that, in these railway days, all transmarine
mails and passengers should in all cases, as far as
practicable, be carried by land to that point of em-
barkation which secures the shortest and most rapid
passage of the ocean. For, while a speed of 40
miles an hour is attained by
.railways, in the pre-
sent state' of ocean steam navigation the average is,
I believe, 15 miles an hour. This consideration is
with progressive Governments a sufficient rea.san
for employing those means of rapid communication
independent of the additional security to life and
properity which is attained by the diminished time
they are exposed to the dangers of the sea. The first
element requisite for the selection of the best Trams-
atlantic packet station for Europe is that it be
the most western point of the great
frontier, and this essential element has been ac-
corded by nature to Ireland. On the western coast
is the haroour of Galway, which is directly access-
ible by railway and steam communication to the
whole of Europe, and where Mr. Level- has already
demon stated practically that America is only six
days distant instead of 12. An increase in the ex-
ports of Great Britain has always followed her es-
tablishment of mail steam communication with
foreign countries ; and although we can only
there
refer
to England for examples of these results, yet
is no reason why the same effects should not follow
any similar effort which may be made by other
countries. When the mail steamers commenced
running to the Brazils in 1851, British exports to
that country had remained stationary for some
years ; but immediately on the establishment of a
steam service the exports increased in the first year
by a large amount, and in seven years double.—
(From the Paris Correspondent of the Times,
Nov. 10,1858.)