294 



by going round Cape Horn. These distances 

 are from 3000 to 5000 leagues for a vessel going 

 from London. From these statements, there 

 results a shortening for the Americans of the 

 United States of 3,100 leagues ; and for the 

 English of 2000 leagues ; without including the 

 chance of contrary winds, and the dangers of a 

 navigation so different in the two ways which 

 we are contrasting. The comparison is much less 

 favourable across central America, with respect 

 to space and time, for a direct trade with India 

 and China. From London to Canton, going 

 round the Cape of Good Hope, and passing the 

 equator twice, is usually a voyage of 4,400 

 leagues ; from Boston to Canton, 4,500 ; if the 

 c^nal of Nicaragua were dug, the length of way 

 would be 4,800, and 4,200 marine leagues *. 

 Now, in the present improved state of naviga- 

 tion, the ordinary duration of a voyage from the 

 United States, or from England, to China, 

 round the extremity of Africa; is from 100 to 

 130 days-}". In founding the calculations on 

 the analogy of the voyages from Boston and 

 Liverpool to the coast of the Mosquito Indians, 



" It is 5,800 leagues from London to Canton, by Cape 

 Horn ; 1400 leagues more than by the Cape of Good Hope. 

 From Boston to Canton by Cape Horn, is 5000 leagues. 



t Some rare examples of 98 days have been known at 

 Boston. Warden, Description of the United Slates, vol. v, 

 p. £96,-. . g . Q ..... . ; a< .... .. ~ .,. 



