The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-21 00:00:00

TUE AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICE.

The directors of the Peninsular and Oriental
Company have published a statement in answer to
the one made in the House of Commons, by Mr.
Wilson, the Secretary to the Treasury,relative to

the Australian mail contract. Mr. Wilson stated
that one reason why the contract was given to the
Glasgow company, was because that company en-
gaged to commence the service immediately,
whereas the Oriental company could not begin
it until their ships were discharged from the trans-
port service, and had been refitted. The directors
assert that while the Glasgow company will not
commence carrying the Australian mall, via India,
before February next, they (the directors) could
have commenced carrying it before that period, and
they offered to run three powerful steamers from
Galle to Melbourne, at a fortnight's notice, so that
a postal communication between Southampton and
Australia could have been opened at once. Mr.'
Wilson, likewise, stated that another reason why
the Australian contract was given to the Glasgow
company, was because they offered to con-
vey the Australian mail between England and
Australia, 'whereas the Peninsular and Oriental
Company offered" only to convey it between Suez
and Melbourne. The directors of the latter corn-

pany assert that the reason why they offered only
to convey it that distance was because the terms
of the Government tenders specified only between
Suez and Melbourne. The directors admit that
they would not engage to convey the Australian
mails if cumulative penalties were enforced upon a
non-fulfilment of the contract, "from whatever
cause arising, and in no case to he relinquished,"
because in the event of the mail packet striking on
an unknown and sunken rock, or being destroyed
by lightning, they would be mulcted in the cumu-

_
lative penalties. The sum which the Glasgow
company have engaged to convey the Australian
mails for is about 7,7001. per voyage, which extends
to a distance of nearly 13,000 miles ; and according
to a table of the cumulative penalties which the
directors of the Peninsular and Oriental Company
have published, the Glasgow company's mail
packets must be behind time 17 days each voyage
before the above-named sum will be forfeited.

AUXILIARY SCREW STEAMERS FOR

A USTRALIA.

(From the Liverpool Albion, of this clay_)
SUCCESSFUL VOYAGE OF THE ROYAL 1
CHARTER.
Before the Royal Charter left this port we took consi- '
derable interest in the preparations which were being
made by the Australian Screw Steam-ship Company to
shorten the voyage between England and the gold-pro-
ducing
land at the Antipodes, and to establish something
like regularity and certainty in the communication be-
tween the two. The principle adopted in the construc-
tion of the Royal Charter was pronounced, by those in
whose opinion we place reliance, to be exactly that best
suited to the peculiarities attendant upon the voyage,
comprising, as she does, the advantages of a first-class
sailing clipper for a fair wind, with the option of using
the screw when canvas would be of little or no use, We
ventured on that occasion to express a belief that she
would make the run to Melbourne under 60 days ; and
she has accomplished it in 59, leaving margin sufficient
to justify the confidence we entertained of her success,
and to warrant the, expectation that she will yet do it in
still less time. For it should be borne in mind that all
the vessels which went out about the same time as hers
self made long voyages, having met with severe weather
and contrary winds. The Kent, the crack London clip-
per, left six hours before the Royal Charter, and bets
were freely made in the metropolis, and even in Liver-
pool, that she would arrive out as soon as the auxiliar
screw-steamer. She was 71 days out, and was therefore
beaten by the Iloyal Charter by 12 days. The gratifying
result of the Royal Charter's voyage justifies the boast
that Liverpool continues to have the credit of diminish*
ing the distance between the old country and her valu-
able colony, and that the private enterprise of her mer-
chants, which, combined with her natural advantages all
a port, has made her what she is, will enable her vessels
always to outrun those proceeding from other ports.
The log of the Royal Charter shows that she sailed ors
the 17th of February, and crossed' the equator in 17 days,
having made in that time 3,219 knots, or 189 per day.
She passed the Cape of Good Hope on the 38th day, ti
distance of 4,632 knots from the equator, making 220 k
knots per day ; and from the Cape to Melbourne was 21
days in running 5,469 knots, or 260 per day. The total
distar ci being 13,320 knot., and the average 2251 knots
per day, or 10} miles per hour.
Writing to the owners, from Melbourne, on the 25th
April, Captain Boyce says :—" The Royal Charter
arrived in Hobson's Bay on the 16th instant, making
the passage in fifty-nine days ; all the passengers highly
delighted with the ship and their kind treatment ; 1113
sickness nor any other unpleasant occurrence during
the voyage. Outside the Heads I delivered to Cants
J. Gilmore, steamer Telegraph, the Sydney mails,
which were landed in sixty-one days, he making
the passage in forty-six hours. At the same time
I put the mails for Van Diemen's Land on hoard
the Fenella steamer ; he also landed them in 61 days,
which has caused quite a sensation throughout the Colo-
nies. All our saloon cabins are taken ; a great marl
families in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, and Van Die
tnea's Land are disappointed in getting one. Amongst
our homeward passengers are Dr. Scoresby and Lieuts.
Jansen and Chimmo, who were highly pleased and as-
tonished to see how we manage affairs and drive along.
Their accounts and writings about the ship will be very
interesting to the world ; and I have felt very proud to
have so many scientific gentlemen on hoard, to whom r
have rendered every assistance in my power, The
Royal Charter, with a few alterations, may be made the
most perfect ship afloat ; perhaps she is the finest Sea'
boat ever built ; has beans enough to bear any quantity
of canvas, and is easy in rolling. Tho engines are in
splendid order, and work beautifully. Yon will see our
consumption of coal is very small, very little more than
200 tons. The connecting, disconnecting, lowering, and
raising the screw has become quite a siu,ple affair to set
a few minutes suffice for it."
From private sources we are not surprised to learn
that Captain Boyce has won golden opinions from all
, the passengers, Rho have borne testimony to his ur
I remitting care and attention to their comfort and cow'
ceaience ; while the scientific men have been loud ist
their praise of his skill, and close attention day and
night to the sailing of the ship. They have presented
• him with addresses, plate, &c. They had what Dr*
i Scoresby pronounces to have been a cyclone on the 6th
instant. Captain Taylor and other nautical men de'
clam that they never saw it blow so hard in their lives,
but the ship scudded through it all beautifully with her
two lower topsails and a reefed foresail. Dr. Scoresby
has been able to pursue his observations on the compael
and magnetic influence in the southern hemisphere
almost uninterruptedly.(although his health has not been
good), and is in great spirits, his theoretical specula: -
Lions before leaving England having been verified almost
to the letter. _

Ina letter to the owners, Dr. Scoresby speaks in the
highest terms of the performance of the ship. He says'
—"lt may be noted as something remarkable in nautical
history, that in 29 days we passed through the tropics!,
that in 40 days (note ithstanding unusuallylight and shot'
trades) we had made a distance of above 8,000 miles, or
200 per day, and that at the conclusion of the fifty-eighth
day we were within 330. miles of Melbourne. In Ong,
part of our voyage, in a period of 12 days consecutivel:4.
the Royal Charter made 3,522 miles, or 292 miles P°l
day. The qualities of the vessel were proved by encoull'
tering the transit of an Indian Ocean cyclone, whilst
scudding before it, and are of the highest order. }lel
euoyancy, liveliness, ease of action in the crossest and
most tremendous seas, are as astonishing as admirable-
The adjusted compasses performed remarkably well, a: a
did not change so much as usual, owing to their centre'
position, and other favourable airangements. The
compass aloft performed admirably throughout, proving
a correct and safe guide under all eircuinstauces, and
on all courses. The pivots never failed, and were net
required to be changed ; and the intinaatiune of the
compass, though wantina bold tranisneent pare! to be
viewed from the deck, could- be consulted eatiefactouly
in any gale, or in any sea. Nothing more, I am pm-
fectly satisfied, is necessary for safe compass guidance
in iron ships. Congratulating you, and the Liverpool
and Australian Navigation Company, on this first *eat
~uccess of their plan and enterprise, and trusting that,
under the Divine blessing, the return voyage may be
propitious and satisfactory," &c.
Dr. Scoresby has also written a gratifying letter, ern-
bodying the above facts, to the Compass Commit•oe, is
Liverpool. Speaking of the Royal Charter, he says
" You will have learnt from other sources some parti-
culars of the successful and splendid passage, under the
blessing of Divine Providence, of the Roy al Chartlr to
qer outward destination of Port Philip or Melbourne.
rue performance and behaviour of the ship were truly
admirable; but I am decidedly of opinion that her lull
capabilities have as yet by no means been brought out.
tier qualities as sea boat,' and her model in respeot
of naval architecture, are, I think, perfect, or at all
events as perfect as anything yet produced."
Expressing a hope that the enterprise of Messrs. •
Gibbs, Bright, and Co., who have done so much to de;
velope the 'advantages of the screw as an auxiliary will
prove eminently successful, and that tae Australia"
Steam Navigation Company will receive that support
in Liverpool to which it has proved its claim, we take
[nave for the present of the Royal Charter, which Will
as doubt rmive general attention in a few days, whCk
she makes her appearance in the Mersey.

AUSTRALIA. -- PLYMOUTH, Sunday Night. —The
Joshua arrived off Falnicuth, last evening, Irons Syd:
uey; saled April P. She landed neatly two tons or
,nails and newspapers. Amount of gold brought not
known. Her news has been anticipated by thriller
irrivals.

---SAll4Ol` CROWN LANDS.—The Crown has given notice
~f the sale of the manor of Epworth, and it will be ae
well if they sell off all lands and prop,rty they cannot
manage.—Building News.
LORD WI NSLEYDALL—We have reason to belie
that the que lion so long pending as to the ambigua' 0
position of Lord Wensleydale will be immediately soh ed
the conversion of the life peerage which that eminent
awyer now holds into an hereditary peerage. -under
dl the circumstances of the case wo cannot but expros
)ur satisfaction at this termination of the dispute : our
;urpriLe is only that so simple a solution of the ditliou'lY
-should not have been thought of at an earlier period in
tho Bening—Time,