TABLE OF DISTANCES. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
The following lengths of routes are calculated for the voyages of sailing vessels. 
It was obviously impossible to give at one view the differences of their duration 
which must vary according to a vessel being either a Collier or a swift Man of 
War. 
To establish a comparison it was necessary to adopt some one point of de- 
parture, and the Lizard has been assumed from the West of Europe, it being 
evident that for all vessels passing the British Channel, the differences of dis- 
tances in this table will still hold good ; and the same may be said as to results 
for those leaving France and the Peninsula. 
These voyages have been calculated on the courses, vessels would be com- 
pelled to take in consequence of the trade winds on both sides of the 
Equinoxial Line. For places within the Straits of Sunda the parallel of 41 
South Latitude has been kept as far as the Longitude of the Island of St. 
Pauls, before making for .Java-head. 
The voyages touching at the Cape of Good Hope have not been given, be- 
cause, although the distances drawn from point to point upon a Globe would by 
that route appear to be less, still it is well known that they would really employ 
the most time in beating against the trade winds. 
As vessels from England now outward bound to China take but little cargo 
or passengers, they have sufficient spare room for provisions and fuel, and 
therefore they need not touch anywhere before reaching the China Sea. But 
this is not the case with Emigrant Ships to Australia and New Zealand ; and 
vessels bound to these places can scarcely dispense with calling at Rio Janeiro 
both for the health and comfort of tlie passengers, as well as for revictualling. 
From Europe to the Gulf of Mexico it has been supposed most convenient to 
touch first at the Island of St. Thomas, and then of course the voyage will be 
calling at Jamacia, and then round the Peninsula of Yucatan to the Coat- 
zacoalcos. 
St. Tliomas has also been taken as the best point to make, for vessels from 
New York to the Gulf of Mexico ; for although to the North of Cuba would 
appear to be much the shortest route, yet the difficulties of the Bahamas for 
large vessels, and the constant adverse current of the Gulf-stream, would still 
cause this last to be the most unfavourable in respect to time and safety. 
It will be seen that for outward bound ships, the route through the Isthmus 
would in every instance be accomplished in the shortest time, going before 
favourable trade winds on both sides of the Line. 
