The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-02-10 00:00:00

STEAM NAVIGATION TO INDIA.

TO THE MERCHA.VTS OF LIVERPOOL.

GENTLEMEN,—TWO projects have been acted upon during the
last nine years, to bring about a steam communication with
India, in order to bring that country closer to this. •
Ist. The project by the Cape, which occupied 113 days, and
failed as to speed, owing to the want of more depots, there being
only one, and that at the Cape.
2d. The project of bringing mails and passengers from India
to Suez, which hitherto has failed also, as far as speed is 'con-
cerned, owing to the steamers that are now in India not being
fit for the purpose;* and when the snails did arrive eventually
at Suez by these inefficient.steamers, they were delayed in that
country because there was no steamer between Alexandria and
Malta in order to complete .the whole distance by steam between
India and England. By a late notification from his Majesty's
postuffice department, this last difficulty is got over, and from
March next (18.35) there will be a regular monthly steam com-
munication between Alexandria and England via Malta, on
purpose to give encouragement to the Indian project on the other
side of the Isthmus. Government have also settled that the
postage dune on letters by steam to Alexandria shall be the
-same its the postage charge on letters by steam to Malta.
That his Majesty': present government are must favourable to
this object will appear by letter from Lord Elle.uhocough, the
president of the India Board, which letter was published by me
in the Times and Morning 'lei-aid, London newspapers, on the
'Bth of January last, (Isar)). The Bengal Steam Committee
having (at a public westing,; of its subscribers on the 7th Janu-
ary, 183-1) selected. use "to do all in my power to Promote the
object of a permanent steam communication between England
and. India by the route of the Red Sea," I therefore have come
down to Liverpool to lay before the merchants of this populous
and enterprising community what I deem a rational and proper
plan to establish the intercourse with India by steam naviga-
tion, and thus bring India, as it were, one half nearer to this
country in all that respects the transit of letters, passengers,
and valuable freight, &c., &c.
My qualifications for this prcminent position, (as acknow-
ledged in toy appointment to the task by the Bengal Steam
Committee,) arises out of the interest and great attention I have
paid to this subject for the past nine years, under the patronage
of that committee, during which time I have journeyed through
Egypt and the Red Sea three times, also by land from the East
to the West Continent of India expressly to gain knowledge of
all the bearings of this important question. I have been also
acknowledged- by the Governor-General of India (Lord 'Wm.
I3entinck) as a fit and proper person to undertake the manage-
inent of it in Egypt.
I will now give a general outline of my ideas.
let. Ilis Majesty's government have established a line of
steamers to c mmeuce in March, 1835, between England and
Alexandria, but as there are no efficient steamers in India
which are fit to navigate between Suez and India,
I propose that a steam company be formed for the build and
outfit of two steamers of 600 tons, and QulrE 140 horse-power
each, one to be sent to Bombay for sale, and the other to be
sent to Calcutta for sale; that '250 shares of £2OO per sharet
constitute the capital for such a company; that its directors be
12 principal shareholders who shall form a managing commit-
tee for carrying. the same into effect. I propose to go to Man-
chester, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol, Glasgow,
Edinburgh, Leith, Dublin, and Loudon, to extend and to soticit
shares to this object, if it be thought desirable, which, to me, it
appears to be to extend to all parties in the Uuited Kingdotn,
interested in India or the East, au opportunity of patronisiug
or even embarking in this undertaking.
2d. If this first proposition cannot be acceded to, then I pro-
pose that the Liverpool merchants themselves make their own
specific views known to his Majesty's government, to the lion-
()usable, the East India Company, and to the different steam
associations in India, how and in what way they will further
the great object of a steam communication with India via
Egypt, the adoption of which is now become more important anal
so much more easy in consequence of the line being already es-
tablished by government between this country and Alexandria.
It way be asked why I propose that the British public should
be invited to unite to build these steam-boats? I reply, that
India possesses no person of sufficient practical knowledge in
whom the Indian public could place reliance, to depute the
execution of such a commission,. but the earnestness they have
hitherto shown with respect to the communication by steam is a
proof that they would buy such steam-boats, if tendered to them,
having reason to feel assured that they were built and equipped
in the best manner possible, for the navigation between laidia
and Suez, or that they would be willing to embark lately as
shareholders in the undertaking, and employment of them.
Already the Indian public have subscribed £40,000 to,open and
keep open the communication by steam with this country, part-
of which has been expended in vessels, every way unfit for the
purpose, as before explained, but the employment of which is
continued solely until sienething better is resolved on in Eng-
land, although at an injudicious expenditure of their funds.
I shall feel a pleasure in' satisfying every inquiry on this h -ad,
assured that I possess every needful information.
The object of a steam communication by the route of the Red
Sea is obvious in every point of view as regards the best in-
terests of the United' Kingdom and India: it is much wished
fur even by all the native Mussultnaun population of Asia and
Africa, because it will afford them (in their own opinions)
the most decided religious advantages, by giving them imme-
diate access to the tomb of their prophet at Mecca, which is
only 60 miles from Juddab, which last place the steamers pass
in sight of, in going both to and from Suez. The pilgrims of
Africa get a passage from Suez to Juddah, and the pilgrims of
Asia from India to Juddah; and although a great portion
of these pilgrims are poor, yet there are many that are very
rich, who would most gladly pay very large sums to enjoy the
rapidity and certainty of a steam conveyance to Juddah. Another
strong reason is, that the Pacha of Egyyt is much interested in
this object, because it a ill afford hitii rapid intercourse between
Egypt and the distant possessions on the Red Sea and Arabia
(eta Mocha and Juddab) tributary to his governMent. More-
over, the coffee and gum trades of Arabia, and the gold dust
from the eastern side of Africa, will become completely monopo-
lised by this steam company, if formed; the two former of
which are now possessed almost entirely by, the Americans,
who come from Baltimore (iii ballast) to Mocha, purchase their
cargoes with dollars, and take the same to Marseilles, Leghorn,
and Genoa, journeying thirty thousand miles from the day they
' leave Baltimore till they discharge them at these Mediterranean
ports, and oceupYin,g twelve months of tittle; whereas time dis-
twice, if conveyed bv the steam company's vessels, is 1:)50
miles, and in twenty days from getting the go' ds on board the
steam-boat at Mocha, they would reach Cairo and Mei e find an
immediate sale of great profit (100 per cent.) If a steam com-
pany is established, every article respecting which the gain of
time is an object mii.t g.) by the steamers—l may enumerate
haters of business and importance, passengers generally, bullion
and specie, coral; pearls, jewellery, law papers, newspapers,
perioclital and monthly publications, valuable freight of every
other description that will afford to pay freightage by the cwt.'
instead of' the ton, (or by value,') and various other matters
which time and good management are certain of bringing into
the- concern, particularly as that most extraordinary man, the
Pacha of Egypt, is about to commence a railroad across the
Desert of Suez, to benefit his own county, an object that will
materially expedite our Indian transit across the Desert. The
I'acha has already pledged himself to the Governor-General of
India to complete this railroad, and I myself know that souse
apparatus for the purpose is preparing in this country. .
The British government has given the best proof of its de-
sire to encourage the route by steam by exteniing the line
beyond Malta to Alexandria, and both Lord Ellenborough,
in his official capacity as President of the India 13aard, and
Lord William Bentinck in his, of Governor-General of India,
mom whom a copy of a letter on the importance of this sub-
ject to the chairman of the Madras steam fund committee is
is given in the Appendix,) stand pledged, by documents in my
possession, to recommend the grant of certain sums annually,
for a period of years, to any company of individuals who will
undertake to make the communication by steam certain with
India, believing, as they have expressed themselves in various
official documents, that such will be productive of very great po-
litical and commercial advantages to both countries, and extend
our relations beneficially with China and the East generally•
and that a society of individuals is best calculated to uudertak
this matter with economy and the greatest advantage in all
respects, and that such, if undertaken by individuals, would be
far more cheaply managed than any establishment of the kind
could be by the governments of either country.
It cannot be expected that a brief address like this can de-
tail all the advantages attending. this measure, but there is no
member of the community who is at all connected with India
that will not, more or less, feel the benefits arising from the
rapidity of steam navigation, it tit tunately it can he established,
not be quite obvious at first sight. I beseect)
and the merchants of Liverpool in
general
vh as well as the Chamber of Commerce of Man-
chester, have already recorded their sentiments in favour of this
measure) to join cordially With the Steam Committees of India
thy.thoullgit h
East such
u I,enhdoin:a Association,
in bringing this matter to bear throughout the whole route from
Liverpool to Bombay and Calcutta.
The Board of Control is quite aware of the motive of my be-
ing here. The president; Lord Ellenbomugh, is anxious to as-
certain what is the feeling of the communities of Liverpool and
of the other great commercial places of the kingdom on this
subject, and expects, as he has told me, to be made acquainted
as soon as possible.
I therefore, with due deference to the opinion of the public,
beg to suggest that the merchants here connected with the East-
ein trade should at once have a public meeting, at which I
would be, present and prepared to give, on paper, various inter-
esting details relative to this matter, a knowledge of which is
essential to forming a correct opinion of the merits of this ques-
tion in a pecuniary point of view.
Should the communication by steam from the United King-
dom via Egypt with India be established as proposed, I think it
vel'.y. probable that it will be followed, by a branch line between
Point de Galle (Ceylon) and China. The mail would be on
the average, fifty days between England and Point de Galle,
whence the distance to Canton might be performed by stedm in
twenty-eight days. It is impossible to say what lines of steam
communication with various other parts of the Eastern world
may diverge from the grand proposed line, and be made tribut-
with ary to it; as, for instance, the islands of Mauritius and Bour-
bon, with the Dutch possessions in the East, and eventually,
perhaps, with our own in Australia.
In conclusion, I have to say, that should the merchants wish
to confer with the community of India on this matter before it
is finally disposednf, stand ready to go to India by the line
of steamers on the 3d of next month, firm Falmouth, and bring
back to them an answer us quickly as possible to the points re-
quired. For myself, I think of nothing else, not caring for
toil or trouble, so that -I can be working towards hastening an
object %illicit in my humble opiuion, will confer the greatest
advantages on the people of India and England. It is my be-
lief, that nothing can tend more or sooner to raise India in
civilization. Gentlemen, I have done, and have the honour to
be,

Your humble servant,
THOS. WAGHORN.

Angel Inn, Dale-street,
Liverpool, di February, 18:35.

• The Honourable Company's steamer Hugh Lindsay Is 411 tons,
(builder's measurement,) was built for an armed steadier in 1829, to
carry 51 days' coal, hut required 11 to 12 days to make a passage from
India to 111 aculla, consequently was frightfully deep, and only went
5 knots at starting. The Fnibes was built for a river tug in the
Ilooghly, to carry 4 days' coal, and required 10 to make the passage
to Socotra. Moreover, they were both built of teakwood ; and no
steamer built of that wood can be buoyant from its heavy specific
gravity and absorption.
t Or, if thought preferable, 509 shares of £lOO each.

We have been informed that the late Earl of Portrnore re-
quested that his two favorite carriage-horses should be shot as
soon as his funeral obsequies had been
performed, which was
done accordingly after the funeral at Weybridge.
Sheridan Knowles, it is stated in the last American papers,
has been Invited to dine with the President at Washington, who
treated the " Actor Poet, " as he is termed in America, with
the most marl.ed attention.

OlutsstoNs IN A IMA N ACKS.—Many of the cheap alinauacks,
and some of the b •tter sort, for the piesent year, have chosen to
omit the ever memorable battle of Waterloo from their cata-
logue of remarkable events. The death of Alirabedu or Robes-
pierre, the battle of Ortliev, the shooting of Admiral Bent*,
the crowning of Buonaparte, and even the dinner given at Glas-
gow by the radicals to the Bart of Durimin, are all set down in
due order; but the imperishable eighteenth of June, 1815, is, by
these oracles of information, wonderfully identified as being
‘4 Corpus Christi."