A General Plan for a Mail Communication by Steam, Between Great Britain and the Eastern and Western Parts of the World

"A General Plan for a Mail Communication by Steam, Between Great Britain and the Eastern and Western Parts of the World" by James MacQueen is an early 19th-century exploration of a technologically advanced postal network. The author champions the idea of using steam-powered ships to revolutionize mail delivery between Great Britain, Asia, the Americas, and the Caribbean. Highlighting the increasing need for rapid communication within the British Empire, MacQueen meticulously outlines the proposed routes, projected expenses, related logistical challenges, and their answers. The publication drives towards the claim that swift governmental backing is vital to make this vision a reality, pointing to the potential economic and strategic edges that a steam-based mail system could give Great Britain on a global scale.