BY THE NEW FOREST 1 07 



the later letters at the higher rate of ninepence or ten- 

 pence the quarter-ounce. 



But m 1870 a material change was made. Mar- 

 seilles ceased to be the mail-port, and Brindisi, 

 further east, near the mouth of the Adriatic, was 

 chosen in its place. This shortened the sea transit to 

 Port Said in Egypt from 1,508 miles to 930 — which 

 was no unimportant gain. The last mail-packet 

 left Marseilles on December 11, and the first packet 

 sailed from Brindisi on December 30. 



In 1880 yet another change occurred. Under the 

 International Postal Convention, territorial transit 

 rates had been reduced ; and it was found possible 

 to send all the correspondence for India, etc., over- 

 land throughout. Accordingly, on February 1, 1880, 

 the Southampton steamers were released from con- 

 tract obligations ; and the Indian mail-line resolved 

 itself into the Brindisi service alone. The Peninsular 

 and Oriental Company had already transferred its 

 marine headquarters to London. 



It was a blow, I thought at the time a fatal blow, 

 to the interests of Southampton when the P. and 0. 

 Company removed their steamers from the Solent to 

 the Thames. But I was mistaken. The port is more 

 extensive — more important than ever. 



For more than half a century the Eoyal Mail 

 Steam Packet Company have been the steady friends 

 of Southampton, sending thence their superb vessels 

 to the Brazils and West Indies. The packets for the 

 latter now make for Barbadoes as the West Indian 



