STEAM NAVIGATION. 433 would cause a steam-vessel to be regularly navigated between the ports in the Lawrence and Halifax for four years. The House of Assembly of Nova Scotia voted L .1500 to encourage the same object. The Assembly of New Brunswick voted L .200 the first year, and L .100 each, for two succeeding years, provided that the steam-packets should touch at Miramichi; and the Legislature of Prince Edward Island voted also a sum on similar conditions. There is good reason to believe, that if the Trans¬ atlantic Steam Company were only once to com¬ mence effective operations, the colonial legislatures would grant sums in aid of an undertaking which promises such great advantages and benefits. If the postmaster-general were applied to, it is also reason¬ able to suppose that he would direct contracts to be made for the company's vessels to carry the mails, in preference to their being conveyed by the dan¬ gerous uncomfortable packets that sail at present between Falmouth and Halifax . The excellent coal which abounds in and Nova Scotia , is not only admirably adapted for the furnaces of steam-engines, but it affords an advantage of which the United States are not possess¬ ed. This coal has lately been carried, for the use of steam-vessels, to York and some other places. The following extracts from a report, published at York , will show how much that article, which the nearest points of our colonies afford, is appre¬ ciated by the Americans. " Since the introduction of steam-boats, pine-wood VOL . I. 2 E