The Express.
London, England, 1850-12-31 00:00:00

THE WEST INDIA STEAM MAIL PACKETS.

Oa the 10th instant a paragraph appeared in the
Express, stating that the West India steamers were due
ocoording to the Admiralty at one time, by the General Post.
office another, and by the West India Company a different
one altogether. The object of that paragraph wss to draw
public attention to the anomaly, in order that it might be
discussed and exposed. It had the desired effect, for it drew
forth the inclosed from a patty competent to discus the
matter. It would be of some interest now, as a West India
steamer will shortly be due :
" Bristol, Deo. 15, 1860.
" Sir,—A paragraph appeared in your paper of the 10th
which has note little puzzled many of my mercantile bre-
thren swell as myselt ; and in the hope of having the mys-
tery elucidated by thou having the power to do so, I am
induced, at the instigation of several colonists to trouble you
with this letter. Referring to the West India steamers,
you inform the public that by the Admiralty Tables they
are due at Southampton" on the 4th and 18th of every
month; according' to the Post-office on the 6th and
29th ; and by the West India Company's calculation on the
7th and 22nd." Barely, sir, with such • superior and well
regulated department as the General Poet-office (which is
the admiration of all the civilised world), you will perceive
the difficulty of believing that in so important a matter there
should be three so widely different versions as to when the
West India steamers are due at Southampton; and in the
shames of other information on this point, allow me to state
the substance of what I have been enabled, through the
kindness of a friend, to read in a book having on its title- me
"printed for the company," oopies of which, I am credibly
informed, are handed ever to the Admiralty for the guidance
of their alms.

Theellal Mall Packets le TO Southampton on the 2nd
and 17th of every month, their outward voyage ending at
Grey Town on the 26th day, lb hours, calculating from
6 p.m. on the day after leaving Southampton, to which latter
plus they are timed to return on the 62nd day 8 hours, simi-
larly calculated. Renee, it is clear that their legitimate
days of snivel are the 3rd and 18th, at midnight, and on
the 4th and 19th at midnight—the difference of 24 hours
sometimes arising from the inequality of the length of the
months. Your remarks, sir, about the difficulties of cont.
mandating with Tampion during the northern seasons, are,
by what I learn of practical men, perfeetlz correct. It,
however, appears that when such cases exist, 24 or 36
hours ore given to affect, if posaible, a communication; and
should that extra delay occur, still, by the " book" I have
referred to, the packet ought never to be liter at Southamp-
ton than Bam on the 6th and 2lat of every month. It
would, indeed, be unreasonable to omit making due allow-
ease for contingenafee (in so vast a navigation) which would
be likely to prevent a packet from keeping faith, but when
they are overdue and anxiously looked for, I do not think it
fair to put forth statements to the effect that they are not
due, with a view of bolstering up a want of power in the
machinery of Ike vaniela.—l am Sir, &11.,
"A WBST INDIA MERCHANT."