The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-26 00:00:00

THE GALWAY CONTRACT.

The Lords of the Treasury have presented to par-
liament further papers in regard to the application of the At-
lantic Royal Mail Stearn Navigation Company for %renewal of
their contract for the cooveyaors of mails between this
country and North America. They coosist chiefly of the
reports of the gentlemen appointed to inspect the condition
of the Vl4o4llSof the company and to report on their capabi-
lity to perform the work to be done under the proposed new
contract, and they are the reverse of favourable for the
company. One of the inspecting officers says of the Hibernia
that the same observations respecting her fitness to be em-
' ployed on that service will generally apply to the Columbia,
namely "that,. the materials employ ed to strengthen the sbip
have brought her down bodily about two feet in the water,
nod at a deep loud draught of water the wheels will be stall
more injuriously immersed, I consider it doubtful.
with the margin of speed obtained under favour-
able airmainetauces at Southampton over and above
the contract averages, whether she will be able
to do more than keep her time under favour-
able circumstances as to weather, and this more especially if
200 tons of ballast are to be introduced to correct her crank-
new, in addition to her sea stores." The report of the
other Admiralty inspecting officer is still more unfavourable;
indeed. he gore so far as to say of both these vessels
that they have not sufficient speed to ensure their making
the voyages in the time specified in the proposed contract
with that regularity which is requisite to carry on the
postal service with efficiency.

The Bath Chronicle says :—" It is reported that
the Prince of Wales will be invited to lay the first stone of
the new wing about to be a Wed to our United Hospital.
We can scarcely hope that the application will be success -
fol. as invitations of a similar character have no doubt been
forwarded to the Prince by scores ; but should his roya
highness favour Bath with his presence, he will meet with
a brilliant reception from the loyal inhabitants of the
' faithful city.'"

The Reader publishes s list of contributors,
including the following well-known writers :—The Rev.
Calm end Profemor Stanley, Rev. Mark Pattison, 8.D.,
Professors Rawlinson, Rollestoet, H. J. Stephen Smith,
Charles Kingsley, Brewer, Hall, and Gollstucker ; the
niece Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein; Vitae:tot Bury,
; CoL A. L. Cole, Rev. F. D. Maurice, Mrs. Cleakell,
Miss Craig, T. Hughes, J. Y. Ludlow, E. Dicey, E. V. Neale,
lesuresce Oliphant, F. J. Furnivall, Francis Genoa, Torn
Taylor, H. Kinpley, W. Cave Thomas, Dr. Reginald, F.
Thompson, Meredith Townemsd, John Westlake, H. T.
Riley. Esp., J. L. Roget, Esq., P. S. Worley, Esq., F. C.
Names, Esq., J. R. Seeley, Fag.
Soctsre or ABTA.—At the weekly meeting yes-
terday, Thomas King Chambers, Esq., M.D., in the °heir,
the paper rued was' On the Supply of Quinine. and the
Oshavatios of the Chisoons Pluses in India," by Mr.
Clements It. Markham, P.S.A.
REDUCTION or SRL TL AND SUGAR DUTIES.—
, At a meeting of the Cowbell of the Liverpool Chamber of
1 Commerce yesterday, a reaosimendatios that the Chaneel-
lord the Exchequer should be petitioned to reduce the
duties at present levied upon tea and sugar was negatived
by an amendment being carried to the effect that it was ad-
visable to defer any action upon the subject until after the
Chsooellor has produced his budget.