OBSTACLES TO THIS COMMUNICATION. 377 



With the able and intelligent officers this navy can boast 

 of, and the number of fine youths it contains, I cannot have 

 a doubt but thev will easily attain a proficiency in this line 

 of service that' may prove of much consequence to the 

 general interest ; and I must further expect that through 

 the instruction given to European and East Indian boys at 

 the Mint and in the steamers, we shall be early independent 

 of those engineers now sent from England at such expense, 

 and who have proved themselves in several cases so un- 

 worthy of the liberal treatment and confidence placed m 



them." 



The complete success which has attended the establish- 

 ment of steam vessels on our shores has led to exaggerated 

 expectations regarding the proposed steam communication 

 with India; anil although great advantages must imme- 

 diately accrue from the very commencement, it would be 

 unwis"e to overlook the obstacles which really exist. The 

 first and greatest is the plague, which, being of periodical 

 as well as accidental recurrence, causes a rigorous ad- 

 herence to the quarantine laws in the Mediterranean. The 

 following extract of a letter from Sir John Malcolm to 

 Sir George Don, Governor of Gibraltar, refers to this sub- 

 ject : — 



"I would not trouble your excellency respectmg the 

 quarantine on the steamer were it not a question connected 

 with the important object of establishing rapid communi- 

 cation with India, the success of which depends upon as 

 few impediments as possible being made to the delivery of 

 packets, and the arrival in England of those charged with 

 them. Though it would be an accommodation to me per- 

 sonally to have pratique to-morrow before we sail, I could 

 not presume to address your excellency on any ground but 

 that of the public service. I am more anxious, as I know 

 our first statesmen are desirous to promote this communica- 

 tion between India and England, and some who are op- 

 posed may find in any impediments that occur a ground of 

 argument against its establishment from the opinion they 

 entertain upon the subject." 



The plague season at Alexandria commences about the 

 20th of February, and ends about the 20th of June. The 

 winds in the Red Sea are periodical. About the latter end 

 of May usually the northerly winds commence to blow down 



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