The 'Abyssinia,' the first steamer run between Vancouver's Island and
Yokohama, has made the return voyage in thirteen days fourteen hours, reaching Vancouver on June 14th. The weather was foggy, and the captain believes that the time occupied need not exceed ten days. That means that it would be possible,. with quick trains and careful arrangement, to send letters from England to Japan in twenty-four days, rid Canada, and troops might be sent over the distance within a month. We record the fact with a certain pleasure, because a new and quick route to the Far East which crosses no foreign territory may be of benefit to Great Britain ; but otherwise we see no reason for rejoicing. What does the human race gain by its habitat growing every year smaller and smaller p A single new and accurate conviction, say, on any sanitary subject, would yield ten times as much happiness, and probably at least as much potential force. We doubt if Japan will be the better for a rush of European tourists, and we know that we should not be the better for a swarm of Japanese.
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