ABSTRACT
The history of the development of steam communication with the East after 1839, therefore, is the record of private initiative backed by government support supplanting government owned and operated lines. The projectors of the East India Steam Navigation Company were offered seats in the direction of the Peninsular Company and the Comprehensive subscribers were to receive proportional shares in a new stock issue of the Peninsular Company, which was about to increase its capitalization and become a joint stock concern. Although much remained to be done in the way of systematizing and synchronizing the service, all of India was definitely connected with the home country by 1843 through the agency of steam communication. In the rapid development of communication by the overland route, the railway had cooperated with the steam vessel. The working out of a complete system of communications with India awaited the establishment of regular steam service to China and Australia.
