I regret to observe that in the advertisements for New Mediterranean Contracts, issued by the British Government, the speed proposed is only ten knots an hour. This was a suitable speed twenty years ago, but does not correspond with modern requirements. No doubt this speed will be exceeded before long, and there is no reason why we should not have, on the Mediterranean, a rate of speed equal to what the steamers of the Atlantic, built in the last five or six years, have accomplished. They frequently run during a considerable portion of the entire voyage from New York to Liverpool at a rate of fifteen knots an hour, but even if there were a speed between Brindisi and Alexandria of twelve knots an hour, the passage of eighty-three hours would be converted into one of seventy-one hours—thus diminishing the time between London and Alexandria to 139 hours, or five days, nineteen hours—at all events, this is certain, that it will be much easier to apply increased speed to vessels which have before them only voyages of the distance between Brindisi and Alexandria, than to those which have to run from Marseilles to Alexandria; and the argument is still stronger when we refer to the vessels between Southampton and Alexandria. Brindisi will, in my opinion, also become, on the completion of the Alpine Railways, the port for the postal and passenger communication of England and Western Europe, with Greece, the Ionian Islands, Turkey, and the Black Sea. The trade of England with those parts of the world has increased greatly in recent years. This letter has extended to much beyond what I had originally proposed; but I feel that I shall be pardoned its length, in consequence of the great interest I have for several years taken in the subject, and of my desire to impart to you all the information I possess relating to it. Probably, the points I have opened for consideration may lead to the desire for further particulars. If so, I shall only say that I am completely at your service for this purpose. (Signed) CUSACK P. RONEY. INDEX. “Above sea level,” described, 318. Absence of mind, remarkable instances of, _note_, 170. Acceleration of East Indian contract steamers, its importance, 247. Accidents on railways, 173; statistical account of, 176; causes of, 178; impossible to prevent them altogether, 179; cost of, 180; small in proportion to accidents from other causes, 181; accidents in London, 181; carriage, _note_, 181; by shipwreck, 182; in collieries and by fire, 183; on American railways and steamers, 184; on Indian railways, 290. Affghanistan, the Long Railway will pass through it, 271, 300; opinion of Mr. A. H. Layard, M.P., thereon, 300. Africa, mountains of, _note_, 9; railway mileage of, _note_, 211. Ainsworth, William Harrison, his “Turpin’s Ride to York,” _note_, 215. Alba Lake, tunnel from, 364. Aldworth, Miss, the lady Freemason, _note_, 210.