Two mails each month between Great Britain and the Mediterranean are indispensably necessary, otherwise the conveyance of both letters and despatches, and passengers, will generally be quicker by private ships and other similar conveyances which may offer. The route can be from Falmouth to Alexandria direct, by Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Palermo, and Malta; at the latter place dropping the outward mails for the Ionian Islands, Athens, and Constantinople; to be forwarded immediately by a branch steam-boat, which will return to Malta from (p. 065) Constantinople, &c. with the return mails for England, &c. &c. to be forwarded by the Alexandria and Falmouth steamers, returning by way of Malta, Palermo, Gibraltar, Cadiz, and Lisbon; a good sailing vessel being employed to convey the outward and the inward mails to and from Zante to the other Ionian Islands. It would take the Constantinople steamer from Malta too much out of her way to call at any other of these islands but the one mentioned. As the Falmouth and Mediterranean department is in every point of view a most important station, so it may be rendered a profitable one; because it will connect itself with the East Indian communication, and consequently a very great additional number of passengers, letters, parcels, &c. will be obtained. Calling at Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Palermo, and Malta in the way out to, and in the way home from Alexandria, steam-boats sufficiently powerful (240-horse power) would complete the voyage in 45 days from London to London, including all necessary stoppages. Three powerful steamers would do this work, giving two mails each month. The capital necessary to purchase these would be 72,000_l._ The annual expenditure for these three boats, on this station, would be--Wages, provisions, tear and wear, &c. 6,200_l._ each, or 18,600_l._; and for coals, 20,400 tons, 25,600_l._; together, 44,200_l._ Thus each boat on this station would be actively employed 34 days each voyage = 74 monthly, 816 yearly: coals, 25 tons daily = 20,400 tons at 25_s._, 25,600_l._ The route, course, and time, from Alexandria, would be thus:-- Geo. Miles. Days. Falmouth to Alexandria, by Lisbon, &c. &c. 2985 19 Alexandria to Falmouth, by Malta, &c. &c. 2985 19 Stop at Alexandria 2 London and Falmouth, including day of departure 552 5 ---- -- 6522 45 ---- -- N.B. Seventeen days, at 180 geographical miles per day, gives 3060 miles--the real distance is 2985. 2. _Malta and Constantinople._ (p. 066)