The employment of steamships in long voyages and at high rates of speed, for which, not so long ago, it was generally supposed sailing ships were only adapted, has been eminently successful. By the opening of the Suez Canal the passage to China was shortened from about 13,500 miles to about 9800 miles, that to India from over 10,000 miles to 6000. Although steamers were running to China _via_ the Cape of Good Hope, before the opening of the Canal, and doing the service most admirably, it is subsequent to that great change, and indeed quite recently that the most noteworthy advances have been made in shortening the time occupied on these important services. The passage is now made by steamers under ordinary circumstances in less than thirty days, which sailing ships under the most favourable conditions took three and a half to four months to accomplish. The average speed attained by the steamers prior to the short route never exceeded ten knots; steamers now frequently average twelve knots over the whole distance, except during their passage through the Canal. The _Stirling Castle_, built in 1882 by Messrs Elder & Co., for Messrs Skinner & Co.’s China fleet, attained a speed of 18·4 knots on her official trial. During 1883 she proved herself to be the fleetest vessel ever engaged in the China tea-carrying trade, arriving in the Thames several days ahead of the China mails, although the latter came part of the way overland. The run from Woosung to London was made in 27 days 4 hours steaming time. Other vessels belonging to this Company, and vessels of the other lines on this important service, although not equalling the performances of the _Stirling Castle_, are exemplifying almost daily the immense superiority of steamers over sailing ships for regularity and despatch in long passages.