The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-06 00:00:00

COMMUNICATION WITH BOMBAY.

The following declaration of mercantile firms of Lon-
don, Liverpool, Manchester, and Glasgow, connected
with Bombay, has been transmitted to the President of
the Board of Control by Mr. Gregson, M.P., chairman
of the London, East India, and China Association :

We, the undersigned, connected with Bombay, and
deeply interested in the security and punctuality of the
correspondence with that presidency, do hereby express
our earnest desire to see the mail service between S'nes
and Bombay thrown open to public tender and contract,
as recommended by the report of the special committee
presided over by her Majesty's Postmaster• General (Bth
ult.) to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury:—

Gregson and Co.
Matheson and Co.
John Entwisle.
Dallas and Coles.
Scott, Bell, and Co.

LONDON.
Crawford, Colvin, and Co.
Finlay, Hodgson, and Co.
Frith, Sands, and Co.
Grey and Coles.
Gledstanea and Co.

LIVERPOOL.
Arbuthnot, Ewart, and Co. Ogilvy, Gillanders, and Co.
Nicol, Duckworth, and Co. Thompson, Anderson, and Co.
Thomson, Finlay, and Co. Gladstone and Co.
Finlay, Campbell, and Co. Dirom, Davidson, and Co.
Rennie, Clowes, and Co. Browne, Hunter, and Co.
Jamieson, Bra., and Co. Charles Turner, Chairman of
Edward Lawrence and Co. East India Association.

MANCHESTER.
John Peel and Co. Robert Smith and Co.
John Ponder and Co. John Carlisle, jun.
D. Scott, Richmond, and Co. Potter, Veltmann, and Co.
John Leech. Thomas Ashton and Son.
George Fraser, Son, and Co. Richard Rostron.
Edward Lyon and Co. Henry Heyoock.
Francis Martin. Robert Barbour and Brothers.
Robert Gardner. Henry B. Jackson.
Heugh, Balfour, and Co. E. Ralli.
J. and J. Bell, John Slagg and Co.
S. Mendez.

GLASGOW.
Henry Watson and Co. A. and W. Ewing and Co.
Buchanan, Hamilton, & Co. W. Stirling and Son.
Hamiltone and Co. J. and A. Dennistoun.
W. Graham and Co. John Bartholomew and Co.
H. Monteith and Co. Campbell, Cockburn, and Co.
R. Dalglish, Falconer, & Co.
August 31.
The report above referred to (Papers, No. 195, Sess.
1853, Contract Packet) says :
According to a statement received along with the
copy of the present memorial, the net charge of the
postal communication between Bombay and Suez and
Bombay and Aden, which it was thus considered by
Lord Canning's committee could be defrayed for 40,0001.,
appears for the year 1848.9 (the latest period to which
the accounts from Bombay had been received), notwith-
standing the unsatisfactory performance of the service,
to have been 171,0131., exclusive of 17,7701, the year's
incidental expenses in Egypt and at Malta, towards
which charge Parliament contributes 50,0001. per annum.
Wo have no doubt that, if the service were executed by
contract, greater speed and punctuality than have hitherto
existed, and increased convenience to passengers and for
the carriage of merchandise, might be secured.

And further :
As to the cost, we have reason to think that 40,0001. per
annum would defray it ; and if the East India Company
are willing to bear a share of the expense proportionate
to that which they have accepted in the case of the other
other portions of the line east of Suez, and upon the same
terms, we are of opinion that the change of system would
be advantageous to her Majesty's Government and to the
public, both in this country and in India,

SALE OF THE ESTATE OF ISLAY.—This large and
valuable estate was, on Wednesday, exposed in Messrs.
Cay and Black's rooms, Edinburgh, at the upset price
of 440,0001., and, after competition between Mr. Morri-
son, of the great firm of Morrison, Dillon, & Co., Lon-
don, and Mr. James Baird of Gartsherrie, M.P. for the
Falkirk burghs, was knocked down to the former at
451,0001. The estate has been in the market for up-
wards of &ye years.