The Sun.
London, England, 1836-05-25 00:00:00

PORTPATRICK.

There are only two packets attached to this station, and
the total expenditure for the last four years has been
15,5021., the receipts during the same period 6,5051.
The stores are supplied and the accounts checked in the
same irregular manner which we have had occasion to
notice in our observations on several of the other estab-
lishments. _ _ _

The commander and officers of the packets are not held
in any way responsible for the stores assigned to their ves-
sels ; they have no regulations with respect to the receipt
or issue, and the. agent "is of opinion that it would be most
desirable to adopt the system pursued by the Admiralty,
not only with respect to stores, but in all other matters con-
nected with the maritime branch of the Post Office de-
partment."
We have received much evidence on the inconvenience
alleged to be experienced in Portpatrick and Donaghadee
as steam-packet stations, and upon the propriety of trans-
ferring the Post Office establishmment to other points, to
which we beg to call your particular attention. We have
already noticed this subject in a report to your Lordships,
and are inclined to believe especially from the testimony of
the captains of the packets, that notwithstanding the great
expenditure which has taken place on the present stations,
it would be expedient to substitute others for them, and
that it would be well worthy your Lordships' consideration
whether Lame and Cairn Ryan could not at a small ex-
pense be rendered available for this purpose.

Having now brought under the consideration of your
Lordships the general system upon which the packet de-
partment is conducted, as well as the present state of 'the
establishments at the several stations, we shall proceed to
suggest such alterations as appear to us best calculated to
promote the efficiency of this branch of the public service,
as well as to protect the interests of the revenue.
After the statements which we have submitted to you, it

is scarcely necessary for us to call your attention to the
total inadequacy of the existing system to ensure efficient
service, strict economy, and regularity of accounts. It
must be obvious to your Lordships that the control exer-
cised over the steam-packet establishment on the part of
the General Post-office has been completely nugatory in all
these respects. The evil consequences which have resulted
at the different stations, from the absence of all proper su-
perintendence, are detailed in the evidence which is before
you, and in the analysis which we have made of it. They
appear to us to offer a strong confirmation of the truth of
the remark made by the Commissioners of Revenue In-
quiry, that " there is a serious objection to the maintenance
of establishments under the nominal sanction of his Ma-
jesty's Postmaster-General, which persons who may be
suitably employed in the duties properly belonging to the
Post-office cannot be supposed to be well qualified to su-'
perintend."
After attentively considering the various modes which
have at different times been suggested, in order to ensure
the better performance of this service, we are of opinion, in
the first place, that it should as much as possible be reduced
in extent by contracting for its performance wherever it can
be clone on suitable conditions ; and, secondly, that the re-
mainder should be placed under the management of the
Board of Admiralty.
We are so convinced Of the advantages which a system
of contract must generally secure to the public over one
of establishment, however well conducted, that we wish
we could have felt justified in recommending that it should
be universally and immediately adopted. But we are sa-
tisfied that notwithstanding the great and rapid extension
which has taken place in the private steam navigation of
this country, it would not as yet be safe and expedient to
throw open to competition at once all the six stations
which are now maintained at the public expense. Al-
though, therefore, we are not prepared to recommend at

present the general adopting of a system of contract, we
think that it may without delay be had recourse to par-
tially with great advantage ; and we offer this suggestion
with the less hesitation because, while some packt esta-
blishments are still maintained, a sufficient check will al-
ways be in readiness in case the contractors should at-
tempt to force the Government into an ,agreement disad-
vantageous to the public.
If your Lordships should be inclined to accede to this
suggestion, we would point out Liverpool as a station
where a contract could probably be obtained on satisfac-
tory conditions. _ _ _

We have stated that we advise your Lordships to pro-
pose to the Lords of the Admiralty to undertake the ma-
nagement of the steam-packet establishment ; we conceive
that the business and expendituro of the stations, the build-
ing, outfit, and maintenance of the vessels, the care of the
stores, the appointment of the Commanders, and the navi-
gation of the packets will be much better placed under the
control of a department conversant with such subjects than
under one which possesses no practical knowledge or expe-
rience in them ; and we believe that such a transfer would
be preferable both with respect to efficiency and economy,
to an attempt to introduce into the General Post Office offi-
cers acquainted with dock-yards and steam-vessels, for the
purpose of superintending this particular service. We trust
that under this arrangement it may be found practicable to
effect any considerable repairs which the packets may re-
quire in the Kingis naval yards, and that consequently the
expensive establishment which is kept up for that purpose at
Holyhead may be greatly reduced, if not altogether aban-
doned.

h is obvious that if the alteration of system which we
have proposed is carried into effect, it will nevertheless be
necessary that the steam-packets should, in certain respects,
be under the control of the Post Office. This department
must have the discretionary power of regulating the hours
of departure, and must be authorised to receive the report
of the agent whenever the mail may have been delayed.
Although this divided controul may appear to be liable
to objection, yet we believe that it need occasion no prac-
tical inconvenience, but that regulations may, without di-
fficulty, be framed, which will enable the two departments
to act together in promoting the efficiency of the service.
We have taken
_much pains. to ascertain what' descrip-

tion of vessels would generally be best adapted to the ser-
vice of the Post-office. Your Lordships will find in the
evidence much valuable information on this point. The
concurrent testimony of almost all the practical men whom
we have examined, induces us to recommend the use of
a larger class of vessel and a greater power of machinery in
proportion to the tonnage, at every station, not only as a
means of ensuring the greater efficiency and regularity of
the Service, but because we are satisfied that the example
of private Companies in this respect is in itself a sufficient
guarantee of the ultimate economy of such improvements.

It has been stated to us that much inconvenience has
been felt by the public from their not knowing the time
fixed for the departure of the Post-office packets, and that
when persons are at a distance from the station, this infor-
mation is with difficulty procured. Private companies
usually make their hours of departure known by means of
advertisements, but the Post-office has a great advantage

in this respect, since it possesses in every town and many
villages a house where, without any additional expense,
this information might be deposited for the convenience of
the public.
With regard to the passage fares at the different sta-

tions, wherever the service is conducted by a public esta-
blishment, we would recommend that the rates should be
fixed by the Post-office, with the concurrence of the Trea-
sury, and that no fees of any kind, in addition to the
sum so fixed, should be allowed to be received. We are
also of opinion that the salaries of the officers of the
packet service ought to be revised by the Lords of the Ad-
miralty, and that these charges as well as the rest of the
expenditure incurred by them for the Post-office, should
be annually submitted to Parliament in the Navy Estimates.
Your Lordships will find in the appendix a letter ad-
dressed by Mr. Freeling to the Postmaster-General, and
communicated to us, on the subject of the Holyhead sta,-
tion,.as well as a reply by Mr. Gardiner and Captain Evans
to some animadversions which it contains on their report.
We think it unnecessary to make any other observation on
the statement of Mr. Freeling, except to say that we feel
persuaded that your Lordships will find in it the strongest
confirmation of the opinion we have expressed of the total
inadequacy of the existing system of control over the steam-
packet establishments on the part of the Post-office, and
of the evils which must be expected to result from accu-
mulating in the Secretary's office such a variety of in-
congruous duties and powers.
e desire, in conclusion, to state to your Lordships,

that if the sieam-packet department is transferred to the
Admiralty, and you are disposed to act upon the recom-
mendation we made in a previous Report to substitute a

Board of Commissioners for the office of Postmaster-Ge-
neral, we are of opinion that three Commissioners will be
sufficient to execute the duties which will devolve upon
them.

DUNCANNON,
H. LABOUCHERE.
SEYMOUR.

Office of Woods, April 30.

COPY OF TREASURY MINUTE, OF 19TH JANUARY, 1836.
Read letter from the Commissioners of Post-office In-
quiry, dated 16th instant, transmitting a special report from
Captain Evans, and Mr. Gardiner, on the subject of the
establishment of the Post-office at Holyhead, for the steam-
packet service, together with the evidence on which it is
founded, and recommending the dismissal of Mr. Roberts,
the storekeeper, and Mr. Johnston, the resident engineer,
from the public service ; and that a more efficient and trust-
worthy person should be appointed agent to the packet es-
tablishment there, in the room of Mr. Goddard.
Write to the Postmaster-General, and transmit to him
the several reports and papers. Inform him that upon a
full consideration of the report and evidence, my Lords con-
cur entirely with the Commissioners respecting the conduct
of the storekeeper, and engineer, and consider it their impe-
rative duty to direct that they be forthwith dismissed from
the public service. Express to the Postmaster-General the
desire of my Lords that they will take the necessary mea-
sures to carry these directions of my Lords into effect
without delay.
With respect to Mr. Goddard, my Lords understand
that he has already tendered his resignation, and that such
resignation has been accepted. However much my Lords
would object, as a general course, that any public servant
should be permitted to resign while an inquiry upon his con-
duct is pending, my Lords, in the present case, do not re-
gret Mr. Goddard's retirement. His neglect and miscon-
duct rendered it impossible that he should continue in his
situation ; but my Lords are glad to have it in their power
thus to•mark the distinction between the case of this gentle-
loan and that of the other two officers, who have been guilty
of misconduct of a still more serious character
In furtherance of this object, my Lords consider that the
gatekeeper, Owen Thomas, should be immediately removed,
and any other party in the yard who may be found to have
been guilty of peculation should be at once dismissed ; and
my Lords rely upon the zeal and firmness of the Post-
master-General to invest the officers who may be selected

to perform the duty, together with Mr. M‘knight, with
ample powers to investigate and put an end to a system
which appears to my Lords a disgrace to the public service.

The plant which springs from the earth, after at-
taining its growth, and perpetuating its species, falls to the
ground, undergoes decomposition, and contributes its remains
to the nourishment of plants around it.. The myriads of ani-
mals which range the woods, or inhabit the air, at length die
upon the surface of the earth, and, if not devoured by other
animals, prepare for vegetation the place which receives their
remains. Were it not for this law of nature, the soil would
be soon exhausted, the earth's surface would become a barren
waste, and the whole race of organized beings, for want of
sustenance, would become extinct. Man alone, the master of
the creation, does not willingly stoop to become a participator
in the routine of nature. In every age, he has manifested a
disposition to exempt himself, and to rescue his fellow from the
common fate of living beings. Although he is prodigal of
the lives of other classes, and sometimes sacrifices a hundred
inferior bodies to procure himself a single repast, yet he re-
gards with scrupulous anxiety the destination of his own re-
mains; and much labour and treasure are devoted by him to
ward off for a season the inevitable courses of nature. Under
the apprehension of posthumous degradation, human bodies
have been embalmed, their concentrated dust has been en-
closed in golden urns, and monumental fortresses have been
piled over their decaying bones.—Chamber's Journal.
On Thursday evening, as the Perseverance coach
was passing Flockside, on its way from Glasgow to Kilmar-
nock, a lad, named James Paterson, about 14 years of age,
leaped on behind, and by some means or other became en-
tangled between one of the hind wheels and the body of the
coach. By the action of the wheel his body was pressed so
tight that it had the same effect as a drag, and the coach was
drawn along for a few yards in this manner, when fortunately
the driver, suspecting that there was something wrong, drew
up, and one of the passengers behind noticed the perilous
situation of the boy. He was pent up so firmly that he could
not be extricated until the coach was backed a little distance.
On being released he had just power to make a painful excla-
mation, and immediately fainted. He presented a frightful
spectacle, the flesh being torn in several places off his back.
He is now considerably recovered, and is able to partake of
food.—Kilmarnock Journal.
As Mr. John Hasselby, supervisor of Excise, of
Newcastle Emlyn, was proceeding on his way home on horse-
back, from Eglw•yswrw, some ruffian from behind a hedge
struck'him with a stone or the head, which almost cut off his
left ear. He was so stunned by the blow that he fell off his
horse, and remained insensible on the ground for some time.
—Wekhman.
The Inverness Courier had an advertisement a fort-
night ago, thus—" Wanted, an ass with milk, apply person-
ally." It would be 'a little amusing to know what number of
long-earned applicants offered themselves, and who acted as
interpreter to them.