to Eu"laiid from the colonies on the' '28th July, 185.5, via Wellington 

 (New Zeciland), calling at Rio Janeiro and Madeira." Here wc have 

 three coaling stations; and how situated? After steaming about 

 1200 miles to Wellington, I suppose we should find that she had 

 neared the Horn about 300 miles. Having arrived at Rio, she will 

 liave the whole force of the north-west trades to contend against. 

 I am not aware of the number of days her voyage occupied ; but if the 

 prospect held out be realised, it is a different result to that which I 

 should have expected.* 



The advice which I have given is to coal on the outward voyage at 

 Bahia, and on the homeward voyage at the Falkland Islands. This 

 route has been successfully followed out in each particular but that 

 calling at St. Vincent instead of Bahia ; and for this alteration there 

 is a valid reason, the state of health at Bahia or Rio. If a coaling 

 station on the homeward vojage be required, the Falkland Islands are 

 undoubtedly the best calculated for that purpose. Under such cir- 

 cumstances my advice would, in order to make the shortest voyage 

 out and home by the aid of steam, be as follows : — 



By the aid of both steam and wind, proceed to St. Vincent with as 

 great despatch as possible ; for economy of fuel is not of so much 

 importance in the first part of the voyage, since it is not probable that 

 more than one-third of the coals which the whole voyage will re(piire 

 will be consumed between England and the Cape de Verd. At this 

 station, having taken a fresh supply of fuel, sail to the calms direct, 

 and until you reach the latitude of 48* use steam freely whenever it is 

 required. By so doing, you will not only make your passage more 

 rapidly, but you will lighten your ship by the time you have reached 

 the regions in which you will depend on sail alone. The course you 

 should take after you leave St. Vincent, should be such as would take 

 vou as far at least as 20° west, at the point where that meridian 

 crosses the 30th parallel of south latitude. But should the winds be 

 such as would take you across that parallel at 30° west, you will have 

 lost little by crossing at that point ; at least, you will have done better 

 than by not having sailed free through the south-east trades in order to 

 get further east. Between 30° and 48° latitude on the great circle of 

 50° you will have occasional use for steam. If required, coals could be 

 obtained for steamers at Kerguelen's land, no more expense being 

 required than labour and the most simple machinery. This island, 

 being nearly broken through the centre by the action of the ocean, has 



* The " Cleopatra" arrived at Liverpool, February 24, 1854, after a voyage un- 

 piocedeuted in lengtli for a vessel returniug from Australia by tlie Horn. 



