OPINION OF SIR JOHN MALCOLM. 375 



nations are highly valuable, proceeding as they do from the 

 comprehensive and intelligent mind of Sir John Malcolm, 

 who can viev? the subject in all its bearings with the eye 

 of practical experience : — 



" I have on several occasions stated the great importance 

 of having an establishment of steam-vessels attached to 

 the Indian na%'y, both for purposes of war and keeping up 

 the communication with Europe. There is yet only one 

 steamer in this service, the Hugh Lindsay ; there cannot 

 be a finer vessel for the purposes for which she was built, — 

 that of an armed steamer. She has two engines of eighty- 

 horse power each, and can carry eight guns, with coal for 

 six or seven days : goes very fast, and against any sea. 

 This vessel, though too expensive and too large to take 

 packets to Suez, has been used for that purpose, and per- 

 formed the voyage, at a season of the year not the most 

 favourable, in twenty-one days' steaming. She actually 

 steamed, at as high a pressure as could be applied the first 

 stage, to Aden, 1640 miles, in ten days and nineteen hours, 

 and that with a contrary wind. She went, when deeply 

 laden with coal, five and a half knots, but increased her rate 

 to full nine knots when lightened. 



" It is the opinion of the superintendent of the Indian 

 navy, and has been transmitted as such to the honourable 

 the court of directors, that a class of small vessels, like 

 those employed in packet service from Milford-haven to 

 Ireland, would be the best to keep up the communication 

 with Europe by the Red Sea. This is also, I observe, 

 from his minute upon the subject, the opinion of the gov- 

 ernor-general ; and Captain "Wilson, the commander of the 

 Hugh Lindsay, on whose judgment, from his full knowledge 

 of the seas, and experience of navigation by steam, I would 

 implicitly rely, thinks that a vessel of 270 tons, built more 

 with a view to the capacity of stowing coal than very rapid 

 steaming, would make Suez in two stages, taking in coals 

 only at Mocha, where, if she did not draw more than ten 

 feet, she could be at all seasons in smooth water, and with 

 security against every wind. This voyage would require 

 that she should carry thirteen days' coals, as it is a distance 

 of 1780 miles, and cannot be expected to be performed in 

 iess than eleven or twelve days. 



*' If this quantity of coal cannot be carried, the first stage 



