DIFFICULTY OF SCPPLYIXG COAL. 373 



account. The expense of coals in the Meteor was eight 

 chaldrons per diem ; but this last voyage it was diminished 

 to seven, from having the fiery-vein coal from Wales. With 

 this coal, such a vessel as before mentioned, with sixty-horse 

 power, would not require beyond nine chaldrons of coal per 

 diem ; and if either Mr. Morgan's plan is approved of, or 

 the experiment of cylindrical boilers and expansion engines, 

 now trying by Captain King at Falmouth under orders of 

 the Admiralty, succeeds, which is probable, the consumption 

 of coal will be decreased one-third. Lord William Bentinck, 

 Sir Charles Malcolm, and Captain Wilson, commander of 

 the Hugh Lindsay, concur in the opinion of the size of the 

 vessels for the Red Sea. Lieutenant Symons was also con- 

 sulted (who has for some time commanded the Meteor), and 

 Captain King. 



To give success to this plan, the execution of every part 

 of it should be left to the government of Bombay, and cer- 

 tainly the vessels should in all, except the engines, be built 

 and equipped in India. It is further quite essential for this 

 and general purposes, that they should be officered and 

 manned from the Indian navy. Experienced and steady 

 lieutenants or masters will command them, and these should 

 not only possess a complete knowledge of the engines and 

 steam-navigation, but the most intelligent midshipmen of 

 the Indian navy should be instructed in that science ; while 

 English and half-caste boys should be educated, as they 

 now are, to supply the place of engineers from Englafid, 

 who are a great expense and trouble. 



With regard to coals, government has not yet been suc- 

 cessful in finding any in Cutch. The death of Mr. Macul- 

 ioch, who was a good geologist, has for a period stopped the 

 prosecution of the search in quarters where the coal might 

 have proved less superficial than where first discovered. 

 Doctor Christie, who has gone to the Continent with the 

 intention of proceeding to his station at Madras, by Bom- 

 bay, has received the sanction of the court of directors to 

 employ himself two years in scientific pursuits, and is stated 

 by competent judges to be an able geologist. He has prom- 

 ised to visit Cutch ; but it would be useful to desire that if 

 he is so inclined he should have every reasonable aid, for the 

 object is of importance. Until coals are found on the west- 

 ern side of India, they must be imported from Ensland; 



Vol. III.— I i 



