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Steam Communication between Great Britain and America. To the Parties interested in the Establishment of a speedy Intercourse between the British Islands and the Continent of America, but particularly to the Merchants and Manufacturers of Glasgow and the West of Scotland. London, 1st July, 1835. Gentlemen,...
[London: 1835], folio, four page printed circular, the third page carries a full page map entitled: Chart of the British Isles and of the whole of British and a portion of the United States of America shewing the lines or Tracks of the Proposed Transatlantic Steam Navigation referred to in the annexed letter. Folded, some minor creases, and very minor soiling, else a near fine copy.
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This very rare, and apparently unrecorded, circular contains proposals and plans for the establishment of trans-Atlantic steam navigation between Great Britain and America, which was being anticipated once the technology improved. Grahame writes:
"It is not the object of this Letter to enter on the question of this Letter to enter on the question of the practicability of establishing (in the present state of Steam Navigation) a regular communication by Steam-vessels between Great Britain and America. However great may have been the obstacles which have hitherto prevented the establishment of this superior mode of intercourse between countries so intimately connected, no one who takes the trouble to consider the vast improvements made within these few years, both in the speed of Steam-boats, and in the economy of fuel consumed in working their engines, and the consequent increase of the length of their direct voyages, but must be convinced, that in the space of a few more years the conveyance of passengers and valuable commodities by Steam-vessels between Great Britain and America will be carried into effect and firmly established..."
Grahame goes on to discuss the obvious benefits that this would have for international trade and business, and passenger travel, the merits of the various proposed routes, and fuel economy and coal supplies.
This rare and early circular on the subject is unlisted on OCLC.
