402 TlMEHRI. 
question of cable communication with Great Britain 
generally. The roundabout way in which the communi- 
cation was kept up, and the great expense of messages, 
had induced him to write the paper for Timehri, in which 
he advocated a dire6l cable from the Cape de Verdes to 
Demerara, with a view of getting themselves within easy 
reach of the mother country. If this dire6l cable could 
be laid down, telegraphic communication with England 
would, he believed, be cheaper than by the present cir- 
cuitous route, and he would like to see the Panama 
Company take the matter in hand. 
The chairman asked Mr. Vyle whether there was a 
line at present between England and the Cape de Verdes. 
Mr. Vyle replied that there was already a duplicate 
line, and that there did not appear to be any difficulties 
in the way of laying a cable along the bottom of the 
Atlantic, and there was less risk of injury and stoppage 
of communication than at present. 
The chairman said that there was no doubt that the 
matter was of great importance, and he thought it should 
be referred to the Committee of Correspondence. 
Mr. Davis referred to the question as being a matter 
of public importance and thought the Imperial Govern- 
ment would have its say on the matter. In case of war it 
might be of importance to have free communication with 
the mother country without having messages passed 
through several countries belonging to other nations. If 
a route was wanted that would be entirely British, 
Demerara might be connected with Bermuda, which 
was in the course of being connected with Halifax, 
Nova Scotia. He thought the subje6l would have to be 
considered, not only connected with Demerara, but as 
