The Press.
London, England, 1858-08-07 00:00:00

Volititai.

DEPUTATION TO THE EARL OF DERBY.
ON Wednesday afternoon a deputation of members
Pi parliament, merchants, shipowners, and others
interested in the Transatlantic trade, and also in
the prosperity of the town and harbour of Galway,
iveated upon the First Lord of the Treasury, at his
official residence in Downing-street, for the purpose
of bringing under the notice of the Government the
national importance of forming a secure and con-
venient harbour at Galway fur large American
steamship, and, with that view, to construct a break-
water and pier, at a cost of 15:2,000/.
The deputation consisted of Lord Dunkellin, ALP. ;
Mr. W. Gregory, M.P.; Mr. Vance, M.P. Mr.
'white, M.P., Piymouth ; Mr. Bowyer, M.P. ; Mr.
Calmat, M.P.; Mr. Milner Gibs( n, M.P.; Colonel
Mr. Grogan, M.P.; the Hon. Mr.
Bernard, M.P. ;
Ellice, M.P.; Sir Thomas Redington, K.C.8.; Sir
H. Fleetwood; the Rev. Peter Daly, Chairman of
the Town Commissioners, Galway; Mr. Thomas
noward, Manchester ; Mr. John Orrell Lever, of
_Manchester and Liverpool (owner of the Indian
I:wrire); Mr. G. P. Lascudi, London ; Mr. Pierce
,ii.yee, High Sheriff of the county of Galway; Mr.
bbri Wilson Lynch, High Sheriff of the town of
Galway; The O'Donoghue, M.P.; Mr. R. N.
Somerville, Galway ; Mr. Henry Bake ; Mr. T. M.
persse, Galway; Mr. E. C. Banke, Galway ; Lieut.-
Colonel French, Mr. R. M. Lynch, Mr. J. S. Adams,
Mr. P. O'Brien, M.P., ,i7c.
The Premier having received the deputation in the
Coancil-room,

The Rev. PETER D. (who acted as spokesman)
presented his lordship with a memorial from the
Harbour and Town Ceminissioners, in which they
set forth that steam communication between Galway
and America had already been commenced by the
energy and enterprize of an English mercantile
gentlrman of large pecuniary resources, and im-
portant connections with commercial men in the
manufacturing districts, who had already despatched
a large and powerful steamship to New York; that
two other vessels were preparing to sail, and that a
line of ocean steamers would ply fortnightly from
'Galway to New York and Halifax, and that pas-
sengers, mails, and goods could be forwarded by
this new route with greater certainty, safety, and
-despatch, than had hitherto been afforded. That
the port of Galv.ay had been selected from its posi-
tion and its great facilities and advantages as the
best in the three kingdoms for the American traffic,
but that its efficiency was to s wet extent marred
by the want of a breakwater anfl pier connecting
Button Island with the land, and projecting 500
yards outwards. These works, if constructed, would
-enable the largest vessels afloat to ride in perfect
safety and be moored to the pier, protected from
every wind and secured in the firmest anchorage.
The works would also afford to shipping in distress on
the western coast the surest and safest harbour of
-refuge. These advantages could be secured by an
-outlay of 152,000/., which Mr. Dargsn, the eminent
contractor, and Mr. Hemans, the engineer, had sug-
gested as sufficient. The memorialists submitted
that the Government should make a grant of the
-required sum to secure what they considered national
objects—namely. a packet station for the trade
between Great Britain and America, and a secure
harbour of refuge on the western coast.
The Earl of DERBY having examined the chart of
the harbour, said that he believed only one large
steamer had sailed for America, and inquired the
cause of the delay in despatching the Prince Albert.
The Rev. Mr. DALY replied that the delay was to
be attributed to the want of those very works which
the deputation were prepared to advocate. A
-tremendous storm in the Channel had detained the
vessel on her way from the port of London. The
rev, gentleman having explained to his lordship the
nature and extent of the proposed works, and all the
many natural advantages which the harbour of
Galway presented as a western packet station, and
place of refuge for ships, proceeded to say that what-
ever diversity of opinion might have previously
existed in Ireland on the subject of the best site for
an American packet station, all classes were now
agreed as to the superior claims of Galway to be the
point of embarkation for the American continent.
The Earl of DERBY: I thought the commissioners
bad reported in favour of Foynes.
The Rev. Mr. DALY : No, my lord, rather in favour
of Galway.