1829. ] . Affairs in General. 529 
not disappointed by the comparative failure of the attempt made by the 
« Enterprize” to steam her way to India. Experience was wanting, and 
the failure was so far an actual success. The trial is about to be made 
again, and in a better style ; and we shall look anxiously to this building 
a bridge over the great ocean, and bringing the ends of the earth together. 
“On board of the Enterprize, both on the voyage out and during part of this 
arduous service at Arracan, was a most active and intelligent oflicer of the 
name of Waghorn, of the Bengal pilot service, who having thus the best 
means for ascertaining the various defects and capabilities of vessels of that 
class, availed himself of that experience to form various plans for the improve- 
ment of their structure, so as to fit them more completely for a long and dif- 
ficult navigation. As soon as Mr. Waghorn was set at liberty by the peace 
with the Burmese, he set about the means for prosecuting the design he had 
formed, in which he had no ordinary difficulties to surmount, and among them 
not the least was a total want of the capital requisite for the purpose. He 
accordingly visited England in the spring of last year, and laid before the 
Directors of the East India Company, as the parties most deeply interested, 
certain proposals for carrying his plan into effect, but met with no definite 
encouragement, either from that body, or from the postmaster-general, to 
whom he also applied. He therefore re-visited India, and directed his endea- 
vours to the obtaining a grant from that fund which had been raised in India, to 
reward the person who should first establish a successful steam communica- 
tion with England, a portion of which had been already voted, notwithstand- 
ing his very imperfect success, to Captain Johnson, of the Enterprize. A 
meeting of the subscribers to that fund was consequently held at Calcutta in 
July last, who resolved, that should no speculation promising equal or greater 
success be entered into before the 14th of January, 1829, the unappropriated 
fund for the encouragement of steam navigation should, under proper secu- 
rity, be applied, for the purpose of enabling Mr. Waghorn to carry his plan 
into execution. Mr. Waghorn also obtained from the Governor-General an 
authority for charging, on the first voyage of the kind he should make to India, 
certain rates of postage, and freight for light and valuable goods, such as he 
conceived to be an adequate remuneration for the expences of the voyage. 
Having, by an application to the Marine Board at Calcutta, obtained farther 
leave of absence for two years, Mr. Waghorn next proceeded to Madras, 
where, on the 4th of October last, another public meeting was held, expressly 
in aid of his views ; a subscription commenced on the 10th ; and on the 12th of 
that month a large sum was collected, with the expectation of its beng much 
more. At the Mauritius, the Cape of Good Hope, and St. Helena, which 
places were visited by Mr. Waghorn on his way back to England, he met with. 
similar encouragement, and arrived in London in the end of last month, to 
secure that co-operation which he now felt himself entitled to claim from the 
government, the East India Company, the general body of merchants trading 
with India, and other persons to whom he conceived the success of his plan to 
be important. In this his progress has been so rapid and encouraging; that all 
obstacles to the attempt at least may be said to be removed. Mr. Waghorn is 
quite confident in the opinion that he can perform the voyage to Calcutta, out 
and home in six months, including stoppages both ways, to deliver letters, &c. 
at Madeira, St. Helena, Cape of Good Hope, Isle of France, Trincomalee, and 
Madras, at all which places depéts of coals will be formed. We understand 
that the steam vessels on this service are not to be fitted up for the reception of 
passengers generally, though an exception will be made in favour of any indi- 
vidual of high military or civil rank, engaged on some public and important 
duty, but that their use will be confined to the conveyance of despatches, 
letters, newspapers, and specie, or other light and valuable articles.” 
Buti portant as this is, we are entirely of opinion that at last the true 
a 
e 
on of steam will be made in the way of towing, and not of ini- 
» A curious paper on this subject has been lately published, 
M.M. New Serics.—Vou. VII. No. 41. oo: X 
