calculations are correct, and if there be no disturbing forces depending upon the meteorological condition of the southern hemisphere, upon tides, currents, &c., there can be no question that the members of the Association are entirely justified in their view. The object of our remarks to-day is to bring before the notice of our readers a slight divergence from the Diego Garcia route which has been proposed by various persons, who agree with the proposition of the Association in the main, but who are of opinion that the object in view will be better attained by making the Mauritius the house of call in the Indian Ocean. We do not embrace either view in the spirit of partisans. The subject is one which depends entirely upon technical considerations, and therefore requires discussion. The weight of the argument rests upon those who recommend the substitution of the Mauritius for Diego Garcia. The latter island, which is one of the Chagos group, lies directly in the way from Aden to King George's Sound. The following figures, however, may give a more correct notion of the point at issue, as far as mere figures can do so. The comparative distances are as follow—taking Aden as the starting-post, for so far as there is no dispute:—
| Aden to Diego Garcia, | 2074 | miles. |
| Aden to the Mauritius, | 2314 | „ |
The difference in favour of Diego Garcia is, there-
