The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-30 00:00:00

STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH THE
WEST INDIES.

(From the Glasgow Courier.)
Suggestions for the Substitution of Steamers from Liverpool to
the Packet Commmuications with the Colonies, sanctioned by

frest India .Associations of Glasgow.

The result of the repeated experiments made by the Great
Western steamer pnives the practicability of substituting
similar vessels for the packets at present employed in the
conveyance of the West India mails; and it is not less evi-
dent that, besides effecting an immense improvement in the
communications with these colonies, such arrangements may
be made as will not only diminish, but probably save, the ex-
pense now incurred in this service. No opinion with regard
to the success of such steamers, as passenger-ships, can be
formed from the experience of the sailing packets from Fal-
mouth. That place is in a remote part of the country, and a
passenger iu going there to embark must undertake a long,
expensive, and fatiguing journey. The accommodation in
the packets, which is by no means superior, is so limited,
that he must employ an agent —thereibeing no office for the
purpose in London—to bespeak a birth some time before-
hand, in order to be -certain: and when he is landed in the
West Indies, he finds his journey and passage have cost him
considerably more than he would have incurred for excellent
accommodation iu a first-rate merchant-ship, departing from
a port near his own domicile, and conveying him direct to his
destination—whereas the inconvenience to many of the pas-
sengers is very great after their arrival at Barbados, for
they are there transferred into very small uncomfortable
vessels, called mail-boats, which distribute the mails among
the colonies. Of course, all females, children, and persons
not in robust health, are practically excluded. In short, the ,
passengers by- the sailing packets, are, for these and other
reasons, confined to a comparatively small number of per-
sons, who are anxious to make rapid progress, without regard
to expense or inconvenience; and an erroneous impression
conseanently prevails as to the extent of the intercourse with
the West Indies. It is not difficult, however, to approxi-
mate to correct inCermation on this subject. According
to an account taints of the passengers that sailed front
the Clyde, during the ;year ending on the Ist September
last, it appears that 148 vessels bound to the British West
India Colonies carried 273 passengers—being an average of
about two for each vessel, and applying this average to all
the ports, the aggregate number is nearly 3,000, including
those by the packets. There can be no doubt that almost
every one of theist would prefer the steamers, if the rates of
passage-money were reasonable; and it is equally certain
that the intercourse would be very greatly increased. At
present a merchant or planter, in contemplating a visit to
Great Britain, either for business or recreation, has to calcu-
late upon spending three months and a half at sea before his
return; and, unless he cats absent. himself for five or six
months, he has not sufficieut motive to undertake the trouble
and expense of the voyage. The case would be exceedingly
different if, instead of an uncertain transit of three or four
months, be could be almost sure of not beis, much longer
than thirty days. He would often be induced to move if he
could spare three months from his usual avocations—and this
is almost annually in the power of many—because he could
reckon upon being two-thirds of his time in this country;
and the passage each way, by a superior steamer, being so
quickly and easily performed, many merchants especially
would come to etiojy the advantage of one month's personal
intercourse with their connexions and friends. Ail who are
acquainted with the West India Colonies, and the nature of
their relation with the mother country, will readily admit
the correctness of these statements. But, even if no increase
whatever were to take place, the number of passengers ac-
tually passing to and fro at present are more than sufficient
to furnish most ample remuneration for the expense of the
projected establishment of steamers. To insure complete
success, however, arrangements must, in every respect, be
equal to those made in private steamers, such as the Great
Western—and there is certainly no reason why they should
be at all inferior. The Government need not aim at realising
profit, and ought, therefore, to be content with full reim-
bursement. In order to meet the waists of every class of
passengers, it may be expedient to prepare suitable accommo-
dation to the steerage as well as the cabin ; and, as no room
will be required for any cargo, except specie, the troops may
also be conveyed to and from these colonies by embarking a
company, or some more definite limited number, in each
successive packet—at least, all ordinary movements may he
thus effected at little expense, and with great comfort and
certainty. Suppose that each steamer were adequately pre-
pared fur the reception of 80 cabin and 40 steerage passen-
gers, and that fur the first year only 50 and 20 were, respecti-
vely, the average numbers that embarked—there being two
departures monthly—the total number per annum would be
100 Cabin Passengers 12 = 1200 Cabin.
40 Steerage do. 12 = 480 Steerage.

ICBO
While, according to the estimate already referred to, the ac-
tual existing intercourse may be taken at nearly 3000. The
rates of passage-money may, and ought to be fixed so as to
compete, iii point of mere expense, with the other means of
conveyance; for, however desirous every person may he to
enjoy superior comfort, that consideration cannot always be
indulged. If the rate for the cabin were fixed at £3O, and
that for the steerage at £l5, the returns for each voyage
would be—as supposed for the first year-
-50 Cabin Passengers 30 = 1500
20 Steerage do. 15 3W-1800 2 = £3600.
And, as each steamer would perform at least six voyages au-
nualle the yearly return for each would be 3600 - 6=
£21,600 from passengers alone. Indeed, it is highly pro-
bable, that soon after the establishment of such spleudid con.
veyances, every berth would be occupied, pod the revenue
consequently greatly augmented. The rates of passage-
money might then be reduced, and the letters charged with
only the inland postage ; for, as has been already observed, full
.reimbursement is all that need be required. Under the in-
fluence of these views, it is proposed that, instead of sailing
packets at present employed to carry the wails between Fal-
mouth and the West Indies, there shall be dispatched, or:
the Ist and 15th of every month, a steamer front Liverpool.
That port is decidly the most eligible station for steam-
packets to our possessions abroad. Coals, and the requisits,
and tradesmen for the outfit or repairs of such vessels, are
there in abundance of the hest description. In consequence
of the railways already formed, or in preparation, and the.
steam communications by water, it is practically iu the cen-
tre of the United Kindotn. Letters and passengers are con-
veyed,in eleven hours to London, and may front thence, of
course, he distributed in every direction without delay. Those
for Bristol and the West of England are carried by railways
which, ere long, will be extended to Gloucester, and•eventualiS
to that city. ihose for Scolaud may be conveyed by superior
steamers to Glasgow, from whence there will, in a few years be
a railway to Whitby rgh, and another to Avre—while there are
steamers along the whole of the east and west coast. Those for
the northland and midland counties may be forwarded by
railway's to Manchester, Preston, Lancaster, Leeds, Selby,
Hull, York, Sheffield, Derby, &c., and there are already
daily steamers to the principal ports of Ireland. It is con-
ceived to be a reasonable expectation that a ateamer of the
first class in every respect—of adequate tonnage and power
—shall arrive at Barbados in about fifteen days, upon a mo-
derate consumption of fuel—for, after getting into the lati-
tude of the trade winds, she will have the advantage of
sntooth water, as well as a favourable current, and derive
important assistance from a great spread of canvass. The
homeward passage may occupy a few days longer, but it will
probably be performed in seventeen days, if St. Thomas be.
the point of departure front the West Indies. And as it may
be desirable, 10. the convenient distribution and collection of
mails and passengers, to detain her there fourteen days, the
course of post would be about forty-six days. Four steamers
would, therefore, accomplish the service, and have spare time
on both sides of the Atlantic fur occasional repairs.
On the at rival of the steamer at Barbadoes, it is proposed
that she shall proceed, ster a few hours' delay, with the mails
and passengers for St. Vincent, Grenada, and Trinidad ; and
that the following arraugentents shall he made with regard
to the others :
A powerful and commodious steamer, prepared in every
respect for the comfortable accommodation of passengers, to
receive those for Hayti and Jamaica, and proceed immedi-
ately to Kingston, calling at Jame!, or sonic other conveni-
ent point, on the south coast of Hayti. After remaining foul
days at Kingston, to return by Jactuel, and time South coast
of Porto Rico to St. Thomas, where she may arrive on the
thirteenth day after leaving Barbados; to which Island she
shall return direct front St. Thomas, after there delivering
the mails anti reissengers to the home-bound steamer.
A steamer of moderate tonnage, but adequate power and
suitable accommodations, to receive those for Tobago and
British Guiana, and proceed immediately to that Island,
' Demerara, and Beibice. After remaining one day at the last
mentioned settlement, to return by Demerara and Tobago to
Barbados, receiving on board the homeward mails and pas-
sengers at each colony--and proceed to St.'Vincent to
transfer the saute to the home-hound steamer, and
• immediately return to • Barbados to perform a similar
tour on the arrival of the next steamer from Liverpool.
A steamer, somewhat larger, to receive the mails and pas-
sengers for all the islands to the northward of St. Vincent,
and proceed immediately to distribute the same in succession
at St. Lucia. Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Antigua,
Nevis, St. Kitts, Tortola, and St. Thomas ; and to return by
the same route to Barbados, calling at each island for mails
and passengers.
A schooner to proceed monthly from Barbados to La
Guayra, carrying the homeward mail to St. Thomas, and re-
turn thence to Barbados. •
The mails and passengers for Carthagena, Chagres, and
Honduras, to be forwarded from Kingston, Jamaica, twice
a-month, by a steamer of adequate power and accommoda-
tions, which shall proceed in the order here stated, and return
from Honduras to Kingston.
The home-bound, or Atlantic, steamer, after remaining five
days at Trinidad, to proceed to collect the homeward mails
and passengers front Grenada, St. Vincent, (where she will
receive those brought by the steamer fttnu Liedtke, Deme-
rara, Tobago, and Barbados,) St. Lucia, Martinique, Do-
minica, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Nevis. St. Kitts, Tortola, and
St. Thomas—where she will, on the tourteceth day after her
arrival at Barbados, receive the return mails and passengers.
front Jamaica and ayti, and immediately proceed to Liver-
pool.
It. will be remarked, that throughout these arrangements it
is proposed the passengers shall be conveyed to and from
every place in a good steamer, °ladequate tonnage and power,
with suitable accommodations. Without the full observance
of these conditions, the objects in view may not be attained.
Hitherto the comfort of passengers hes been little regarded,
while the expense of passage, even for the shortest distance—
from one island to another—has been unuecessarity heat, ;
-and the vessels at present employed by the Goverment are
such that they never can be rendered productive as passeuger
ships. The steamers that have been sent to catry the mails
from Jamaica to St. Thomas are so unfit for the purpose that
they have frequently failed to arrive in time for the homeward
packet—and the Lords of the Admiralty, overlooking the true
cause of the disappointment that has ensued, have been in-
duced to propose a deluge in the course of the packets, by
making the point of final departure instead of St. Thomas,
Cape Hay tien, and directing the steamer front Kingston, by
St. Jag() de Cuba• to :hat place, Although it is believed that
this alteration will he found, even for sailing vessels, very in.
• convenient,especially during the season when northerly ,Ad
prevail, and time passage from all the colonies to time east-
ward of Jamaica will lie rendered longer, while that from
Kingston will not be shorter, it is deemed unneces-
sary to enter into any argument on this point. What-
ever may be urged as to the probability of a sailing-
" packet getting sooner under the influence of favourable winds,
by departing from Cape Haltien, it is presumed there will be
no difference of opinion with regard to the unexpediency of
sending the Atlantic steamers in this case, further west than
St. Thomas—seeing there would be no difficulty in bringing
the mails and passengers to that island from Kingston in
live, or at most six, days. Such is the conviction of persons
who have made the passage in the inadequate steamers now
used, with their coals piled high on their decks! The num-
ber of subsidiary steamers required• for the service among
the colonies would be the saute as are.at present in commis-
sion—with the addition of one for the proposed cominunica-
tion twice a-mouth between Jamaica and South America—
and all the existing mail schooners might he disposed of, ex-
cept two or three for the conveyance of the LaGuityra mail, and
for occasional extra services. 'Cher( are seven or eight gun
brigs employed in carrying the mails from and to Falmouth,
which would, of course, be no longer required.
In the estimate made of the returns, no account has been
taken of the passengers who would' most certainly in great
numbers take advantage of good steamers communicating
between all these colonies once a fortnight, and with many
of them four times a-month. To show the perfect contrast
which-such a system of intercourse would present with what
now exists, it may be enough to mention that the occurrence
of a disaster last year to a vessel, bound from Trinidad to the
Clyde, was known in Glasgow, by letters and newspapers
from St. Kitts, sooner than in Trinidad, where it was most
desirable the parties concerned should receive the earliest in-
telligence.
It may be supposed that the arrangements here suggested
require, for their complete success, such minute and sustained
management as would be best secured under a Joint Stock.
Company. If the Lords of the Admiralty entertain this