ous post-offices throughout the island should have
auxiliary post-offices, after the manner of penny or twopenny
post-offices in this country. Every one will be glad to pay a regular
and reasonable postage, rather than be at the very heavy expense,
after 1840, of taking a labourer to convey the communications. Knowing
the stated day for receiving and transmitting letters, no one in (p. 056)
the most distant parts could ever be at a loss; and every one, more
especially on estates, would benefit and save exceedingly thereby.

In like manner, the smaller colonies ought to have posts twice or
thrice a week from the capital; the country offices placed at the most
important villages, and the auxiliary ones at hamlets the best
situated for the purpose. Smaller merchants and shopkeepers in these
places would be glad to do the duty at a moderate rate, because it
would otherwise serve them, by drawing customers and correspondents to
their places of business.

Even in the smallest colonies such internal establishments would pay,
and, in most of them, more than pay, the expenses they occasion; while
it is clear that such internal facilities would most materially add to
the external or packet postage.

Where the roads are good, the mails, travelling at the rate of five or
six miles per hour, may be carried in gigs, as in this country, drawn
by horses or mules; and where rugged or hilly, on the backs of mules,
in proper portmanteaus.

It is worthy the attention, and is in fact the duty, of Her Majesty's
General Post-office, to direct some person locally acquainted to
proceed through the colonies, to examine into situations, and to
establish such internal post conveyances. In the smaller islands, as
has been stated, they would defray, and more than defray, the expenses
incurred; while in the larger and more opulent colonies, they would
yield a fair revenue; while the good they would do to every community
will be incalculably great. The West Indies everywhere want a little
European energy and regularity infused into them,--and this is one
efficient, perhaps the simplest and most efficient way to do it.

PACIFIC DEPARTMENT. (p. 057)

It has been already stated that a steam communication for the west
coasts of America, on the Pacific, has already been arranged, and is
about to be set on foot. This important object has been concerted and
arranged by that enterprising gentleman