ABSTRACT

Steamship services connected imperial, colonial and extra-imperial sites during the nineteenth century, facilitating the movement of capital, people and texts around the world. The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (RMSPC) sought to privilege the circulation of imperial news and correspondents, and the movements of imperial careerists. It is notable that as well as Company aspirations for a predictable and regular service, the British Admiralty also expected ships to move in strict adherence. The RMSPC was only one of several shipping companies with crew and vessels near to St Thomas and Peter Island that day, and other vessels in the harbour were either sunk, smashed to pieces, or driven ashore dismasted. Despite the Company's desire to provide a service characterized by predictability, order, and regularity, the steamship service was a contingent network of material, human and more-than-human elements that had to coalesce in particular ways to produce regular' journeys that might progress in accordance with the Company's scheme of routes.