Page 562 - INDIANNAVYV1

530 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NA\T.
From this it appears that Mr. Waghorn's services in further-
ing the overland communication, which is such a boon to
England, were incalculable, but when his advocates call him
the "pioneer" of steam navigation, they do a grave injustice to
Captains Johnston and Wilson. The former performed the
first voyage round the Cape in a steamer, and the latter the
first by the Suez route, under steam alone, and ultimately
Commander Wilson's reports to the India House, his pamphlet,
published on the 19th of June, 1833, but more than aught else,
his seven voyages in the Hugh Lindsay,' demonstrated the
'
fact, that the steam communication between England and India
was a fait accompli and had passed beyond the region of cavil
or experiment. But it was many years before this happy con-

successful with the Austrian and other Governments. After two years passed in
maturing his plans, Waghorn, who was promoted to a lieutenancy in the Royal
JN^avy in 1842, was enabled, in 1845, to see his eiibrts rewarded with success.
Having made the necessary preparations, he sailed for Alexandria to receive the
maO, which started from Bombay on the 1st of October. This was brought as
usual by steamer to Suez, thence by Arab couriers across the desert to Cairo, and
up the Nile and canal by steamers to Alexandria. Off this place, Mr. Waghorn
awaited the mail, in the Austrian steamer ' Imperatore,' and it was placed in his
hands on the twentieth day of its transit from Bombay. The steamer, notwith-
standing the heavy weather which it encountered, arrived at Dwino, near Trieste,
after a passage of six days and thirteen hours. From thence he made his way by
post-chaise from Dwino through Inuspruck, Ulm, and Bruchsal, tlience to
Mannlieim by railway, and from the latter place to Bergen by steamer down the
Rhine. Being prevented by an accident from continuing tlie voyage, he landed
and posted to Cologne, whence he proceeded to Ostend by railway. Here the
' Heme' steamer waited to convey him to Dover ; and he arrived in London by
train, after one of the most rapid journeys ever made across Europe. Despite
delays and accidents, the entire distance was accomplished in ninety-five hours
and fort^'-five minutes. On the 1st of October, another mail had been despatched
from Bombay, with extra speed, by the Marseilles route, in order to see which
would first reach London. Mr. Waghorn had, liowever, anticipated its arrival
by two days. This triumph of rapid travelling, as it was justly considered at that
time, was entirely accomplished by private enterprise. The proprietors of the
' Times He had
' supplied the pecuniary means, and Mr. Waghona did the rest.
commenced his negotiations with Mehemet Ali in 1833, but not until twelve
years later was the scheme on which lie had set his heart accomplished in its
entirety, and a mail was brought from Bombay to London in thirty-five days.
The Government and clie East India Company, compelled to acknowledge their
own miscalculations, united in starting an opposition. Superseded in his mail
traffic, Waghorn set about providing easier means of transit, and more comfort-
able accommodation for the few travellers by the new route from East to West.
He may be said to have created the passenger traffic, but again was superseded by
an influential company under the patronage of the Government and the India
House. Foiled in liis every attempt, impoverished and in debt, he applied for
assistance to discharge the obligations he had contracted in the pubhc service.
After wearisome delay, tlie East India Company granted him a pension of £200
a-year, and the Government did the same, but neitlier would pay his debts. The
pensions, therefore, were handed over to his creditors. His constitution was
shattei'ed, and he expired in 1850, having only drawn the first quarter of the
Government pension, and eighteen months of the Company's. His widow was
left in distress, but the East India Company gave her an annuity of £50, while
the Government awarded her £25, wliich was afterwards increased to £40 a-year.
A memorial has been erected at Suez to Lieutenant Waghorn by the French
Suez Canal ComiJauy.