Extract from the Naval Chronicle for Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010

The "Naval Chronicle" celebrated achievements in the nautical field. Of interest in this entry from the second edition of 1817, besides the fast transits described, is the open admiration of progress made in the former colonies and a reference to the British victory at Waterloo, only two years earlier.

EXPEDITIOUS NAVIGATION.
THE recent arrival from China, at Cowes, of an American merchant
vessel, in one hundred and eight days; and, a little while back, of another
large American schooner from the Isle of France, in sixty days, are instances
of celerity and of nautical skill and facility, deserving our notice and emulation.
We have had two similar and nearly equal of late : a transport
from Ceylon, with troops and passengers, in 77 days, and the arrival of
13 large heavy laden ships of the East India Company from China to our
Channel in 109 days; the last a triumph of mercantile navigation, a combination
of nautical skill with good fortune, of which there is no record of
an equal exertion; to cut through l5,000 miles of ocean in that short time,
is, with so many vessels, without example in marine experience. With
similar passages we ought to communicate with our Asiatic Presidency at
Calcutta within six months, instead of once in 12 or 15 months, as is now
the loitering and dilatory habit of that important intercourse. The Americans
of New York and Washington will soon exchange letters and products
with Bengal in five months! The only early account we had of the victory
of Waterloo being heard of at Calcutta was from New York.

XXXVIII, 189
From JULY TO DECEMBER, 1817