STEAM NAVIGATION. 429 " These points are in the direct line between the great ports of Liverpool and York , and from them passengers will have a choice either of con¬ tinued steam navigation, or of proceeding by the mails, &c, on the shortest lines, to their ultimate des¬ tination. " The information obtained by the directors, as well from as in , tends uniformly to confirm the practicability of the undertaking. An eminent engine-maker has even offered to construct the engines, and ask no payment until the voyage shall have been successfully performed. " As the space of ocean to be crossed will be reduced to the smallest possible distance, the vessels less bur¬ dened with fuel than if they departed from any other point, immediately clear of the coast, and able to use sails whenever the wind suits, there can be no com¬ petition with them either in speed or safety. There is no doubt of the saving of time. The ordinary passage will be at least one-third less than at pre¬ sent, and in unfavourable winds, the difference will be still greater. " The effect of this acceleration to the intercourse be¬ tween the two continents, cannot easily be conjectured; but it is evident that it will greatly extend the num¬ ber of passengers. These now amount to about 7000 in the year, at Liverpool alone; and should an in¬ crease of one-third of that number only fall into the line of the steam navigation, the income at similar rates of passage, deducting the victualling, will be about L .60,000 per annum. This would be nearly