22
In order that if, at a future day, the Company should find it their interest to pact on Steamers entire opium crops from China, they would no doubt have the earnings of both presidencies. We may safely estimate the carrying of Bombay opium alone as yielding the Company at present £25,000 sterling per annum.
The return freight of specie is yielding about the same sum, or £50,000 per annum for both; the latter traffic having a fair prospect of increasing year by year, the former being precluded from any increase, unless the Company find it their interest to put on cargo Steamers.
1915
Probable amount of Freights accruing to the Peninsular and Oriental Company from the Export of Treasure from China to British India during the years 1845 to 1850 inclusive.
8.
1845. Exchange at 4/6 £. 149 - 1.8 1846. 32127.0 1847- 2654.3 1848.- 19078-5.9 1849.- 29,780.3.4 1850 19,552.17.7The rate of freight on specie to India is 2 percent against monsoon and 1 percent with it, giving an average throughout the year of 1.5 per cent. We may safely take the rate, however, all round at 1.5 per cent; as more or less of the treasure shipped here requires to be re-shipped to England, and such portion yields the Company 2.4 per cent.
The foregoing has been computed at this rate accordingly.
FEB.