The British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (usually known as the Cunard Line) was founded in 1842. By 1849 there was a complex system of regularly scheduled communications between London on the east side of the North Atlantic Ocean, and several ports on the west side of the North Atlantic.
The main link in this system was the Cunard steamship fleet, which, under contract with the British Admiralty, carried the Royal Mail and news across the North Atlantic, between Liverpool in England. and Halifax, Boston, and New York in North America. Cunard's ships also carried freight and any passengers who wanted to make the trip, but the regular mail service was the reason the British Government was willing to pay Cunard a large subsidy to operate his transatlantic transportation system. In 1849 Cunard's annual subsidy for carriage of the Royal Mail across the North Atlantic was £173,340.
In 1847 it had become apparent to the government that the postal facilities had become too limited for the demands arising from the rapidly extending commercial relations between Britain and America, and they wisely determined to double the Atlantic mail service. A new contract was entered into with the Cunard Company whereby a vessel of not less than 400 horsepower, capable of carrying the highest calibre guns, should leave Liverpool every Saturday for New York and Boston alternately. To accomplish this new agreement four new ships were built: America, Niagara, Europa and Canada. Europa was launched in September 1847 and departed Liverpool on its maiden voyage on 17 July 1848 to Boston and Halifax; the final destination on subsequent voyages varied between New York and Boston.
In April 1848 Cunard's average time from Liverpool to New York (including the stop at Halifax) was down to 12 days 22 hours. In 1851, Cunard averaged 11 days 12 hours eastbound, and 12 days 9 hours westbound.
For those interested in early transatlantic travel, a description of a westbound voyage made by RMS Canada in May 1856 can be found at [PAGE4120].
DETAILS OF RMS EUROPA
In Cunard service between 1848 and 1867. Launched September 1847. Builder: Robert Steele & Co., Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland. 1,834 gross tons; Dimensions: 76.5m x 11.6m. One funnel; Three masts; Wood hull. Propulsion: Paddle (sidewheel). Two side lever jet condensing reciprocating steam engines, built by Robert Napier, Glasgow. 670 horsepower [500 kilowatts]. Normal working steam pressure: 18 pounds per square inch. Four boilers, flue (fire-tube) type. Sixteen furnaces consuming 60 tons of coal per day. Bunker capacity: 450 tons (7.5 days at normal speed). Service speed: 10 knots. Fuel consumption: 7.3 kilometres per ton of coal. Accomodation: 140 First Class passengers. Crew: 90. Cargo capacity: 450 tons.