WESTERN COAST OF AMERICA. 295 



In connexion with this highly desirable ob- 

 ject^ there are other interests to be considered 

 as forming a new link in the connecting chain 

 of the British empire. Perhaps^ at the first 

 glance^ it may be considered as taking too wide 

 a range, and assuming a position too speculative, 

 to insist that the interesting and important 

 colony of Australia will be embraced within the 

 limits of the proposed communication, which a 

 reference to the map clearly demonstrates ; by 

 this route, the rough and turbulent seas of the 

 southern regions will be exchanged for the 

 gentle breezes of the Pacific. A little more 

 than a month would enable the passenger from 

 Australia * to reach the coasts of Peru or Chile, 

 one or two weeks more to embark on the 

 Atlantic, and that, with the aid of steam from 

 Jamaica to England, the voyage could be suc- 

 cessfully accomplished within the period of 

 sixty or seventy days, thus relieving the pas- 

 senger from a long, tedious and dangerous 

 navigation, diversifying the voyage, and com- 

 bining safety and despatch with the pleasure 



* The intercourse between Australia and the west coast 

 of America, is rapidly increasing ; and when the establish- 

 ment of steam navigation along the coast of Chile and 

 Peru is realized, the passenger from Australia will be 

 enabled to transfer himself to the steamers and continue 

 his voyage to Panama and England. 



