Contents

PREFACE

I INTRODUCTION

II BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES IN THE HISTORY OF COMMUNICATIONS

III MEASUREMENT OF THE SPEED OF COMMUNICATIONS – METHODS AND SOURCES

IV OVERSEAS MAIL AND SPEED OF COMMUNICATIONS BEFORE 1815

V NORTH ATLANTIC

The Great Innovation of Sailing on Schedule

Wind vs. Steam – a Decade of Struggle

Benefits of Competition

Business Information and the Telegraph

VI THE WEST INDIES AND SOUTH AMERICA

Wind vs. Wind

Overnight Change from Sail to Steam

International Competition and the Influence of the Telegraph

VII EAST INDIA AND AUSTRALASIA

Breaking a Monopoly

Building a Monopoly

Further Development

VIII CONCLUSION

IX EPILOGUE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIX – TABLES

LIST OF DIAGRAMS, MAPS AND TABLES