The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-15 00:00:00

THE BRAGANZA STEAMER.

We the undersigned passengers on board the Penin
sular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's vessel,
detained at Falmouth until the departure of the next
weekly mail, in consequence of the Braganza's return to
harbour, after having put to sea, conceive it to be our
duty to make public the following statement of facts.
The voyage from Southampton, usually accomplished
with weather more unfavourable Ilan we encountered, in
twenty hours, occupied thirty.
The Braganza quitted Falmouth with the mails on
Monday at noon, but it was soon evident that her speed
was more than ordinarily slow, and it was remarked that
her wheels made but seven revolutions a minute. A con-
siderable escape of steam through irregular channels was
perceptible, and, owing to the leakage of her boilers,
the pumps were constantly going. At half-past seven,
P.m.,although the Braganza was making four knots an
hour, she was put about, as was subseqUently ascertained,
in consequence of the engineer's report that the defective
condition of her boilers prevented her generating suffi-
cient steam to work the engines effectively. Happi'y,
although it was blowing a gale, with a heavy sea, we
reached Falmouth Harbour about an hour and a half
after midnight.
In due course the boilers were emptied and examined,
and the defects nominally repaired. The steam was
again put on, and Wednesday, at noon, the Blue
,Peter
was again hoisted ; but those who, even now, calculated
upon pursuing their voyage were doomed to a new dis.,
appointment, for it was soon apparent that the leakage
had not been stopped. The pumps were once more at
work, the mails were landed, and the Braganza returned
to Southampton to be supplied with new boilers, which,
we understand, to have been for some time in readiness ;
*but which, owing to an insufficiency of steamers to
perform the service, the Braganza has not yet been laid
up to receive.

With the loss thus occasioned to her Majesty's service
we have nothing to do ; the penalty attached to the non-
fulfilment of the contract rests with the Government to
enforce or forego, as it may deem fit ; but, with regard
to our own personal inconvenience, anxiety, and risk, we
conceive that we have just cause for remonstrance and
complaint : the more so, because this is by no means a
solitary instance in which vessels wholly unfit have been
sent to sea by this Company, thereby subjecting the
passengers to unnecessary delay, hardship, and peril.
Not two months since, in the " Royal Tar," the passen-
gers were forced to work at the pumps, and when these
were choked, to assist in baling out the water with their
hats.

The still graver case of the " Wilberforce," last year,
must be yet in the recollection cf the public.
Until an efficient control is exercised over this and
other Companies, it is but too apparent that passengers
cannot depend upon that due provision being made for
their personal security which they are entitled to expect.
It therefore behoves those who have been sufferers from
such culpable indifference, to hold out a beacon to others.
It is this conviction and this alone, which induces us to
publish these facts.
Had we been further at sea, or had the duration of the
gale net favoured: our return to port, it is difficult to
conjecture the disastrous results which mightphave ensued.
Falmouth, 9th December, 1841.
JOHN CLEMENS. MATTHIAS MAHER.
J. M. HUGHES. M. O'DONNELL.
JOHN SHORTER. G. BERESFORD.
BREAKSPEAR IVENS. JAMES THRAPP.
GEORGE It. PURDON, Clerk. JOHN AULDJO.
JOHN MAHER.

WEEKLY STATEMENT OF LON-
DON LETTERS, DEC. 14, 1841.

THROUGH THE GENERAL POST.
Four Weeks, ending Dec. 11, 1841 5,504,139
Corresponding period of 1840 4,408,706
Ditto, as nearly as can be given, of 1839 1,682,912
Increase since 1840, on the Four Weeks' Letters 1,095,433
Ditto, 1839, ditto
THROUGH THE DISTRICT POST.
Four Weeks, ending Dec. 11, 1841 1,787,325
Corresponding period of 1840 1,564,135
Ditto, as nearly as can be giveni; of 1839 1,021,386
Increase since 1840, on the Four Weeks' Letters 223,190
Ditto, 1839, ditto