The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-07 00:00:00

POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS.

Mr. J. BALL asked the Secretary of the Treasury
the following questions :—Whether, according to the
regulations of the Post-office department, inquiry is in-
stituted into each case of the non-arrival of mail trains
within a reasonable interval from the hour fixed by the
contracts made with the several railway companies ; and
whether sufficient means exist for instituting strict in-
quiry in such cases, and verifying the facts by sworn
testimony ? Whether any and what means have been
taken by the authorities of the Post-office to render the
London and North-Western Railway Company liable
for the frequent and great irregularity in the arrival of
the mail trains passing over that line ? Whether the
contracts for the conveyance of mails by railway com-
panies are so framed as to make the latter liable to a
pecuniary penalty, in cases where the non-arrival of the
mail train is caused by the act of servants of the railway
company— as, for instance, the despatch of a slow goods
train from a station immediately before the hour fixed
for the arrival of the mail train !
Mr. WILSON replied, that the course pursued by
the Post-office authorities, on any irregularity taking
place in the arrival of a mail, was to write a letter to
the secretary of the railway company, desiring an ex-
planation of the delay. On the chief railways a guard
accompanied the mail, whose duty it was to make a
note of any irregularity that took place on the journey.
There were at present no means of verifying facts by
oath. In answer to the second question, the right hon.
gentleman stated that the Postmaster-General had pro-
posed that there should be a mutual system of fines be-
tween the railways and the Post-office. It was due to
the railways to state that the irregularities were not al-
ways caused by them. With regard to the third question,
there was no doubt but that the contract did provide a
pecuniary penalty in cases where the non-arrival of trains
was caused by the act of the railway company's ser-
vants ; but the Post-office authorities 'were averse to
entering into litigation with persons with whom they
they were in daily communication. The Postmaster-
General thought it wiser to make arrangements on a
fair and friendly understanding; but, if he were unable
to secure by these means that punctuality the public
were entitled to, he would: be induced to apply to Par-
liament for other measures to obtain the desired effect.

Mr. SPOONER asked whether the fines spoken of
would be paid by the Postmaster-General or the public ?
Mr. WILSON replied, that hon. gentlemen would
see that it was no part of the duty of the Postmaster-
General to pay fines caused by the neglect of the officers
of the public while in the discharge of public duty. He
would remind the hon. gentleman that in the town to
which he belonged the letters had increased by thou-
sands. There was an increase of 70,000 letters as com-
pared with some few months since, so that all arrange-
ments could not be expected to be perfect. The fines
wonld be paid out of Post-office revenue.
IRISH INFIRMARIES AND HOSPITALS.
Mr. DAVISON asked his right hon. friend the Chief
Secretary for Ireland if it was the intention of the Go-
vernment to introduce any measure in the present ses-
sion to amend the law in relation to county asylums in
Ireland ?
Sir J. YOUNG replied that it was their intention to
do so.

Mr. DAVISON also asked his right hon. friend if it
was the intention of the Government to introduce any
measure in the present session to enable large commer-
cial manufacturing or other corporate towns in Ireland
to maintain general surgical and medical hospitals by the
imposition of a limited rate on the inhabitants of the
borough ?
Sir J. YOUNG replied, that such a measure was
under consideration, and, if one could be framed that
would meet the wishes of the large towns, it would be
introduced.

RECALL OF THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR.
Lord JOCELYN—Sir, I wish to ask the noble lord
the member for the City of London, if there is any truth
in the report that the Russian Ambassador has been re-
called ? (Hear, hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL—In answer to the question of the
noble lord I have to state that Baron Brunow, the Rus-
sian Ambassador, has given notice of his intention to
cease to have any further diplomatic intercourse with
the Court of St. James's, and he was to leave London
to-day.