The Sun.
London, England, 1829-05-14 00:00:00

POST-OFFICE PACKETS.

We yesterday took occasion to make a few re-
marks upon the vessels employed in the packet
service, called ten-gun brigs, and a correspondent
under the signature Nautilus, also favoured the pub-
lic, at the same time, with some admirable observa-
tions on the same subject. We again revert to this
question, because, in the first place, we consider it
one of great importance to the commercial world,
and because, in the next, we have been obliged, by
a gentleman of great nautical knowledge, with a
number of facts, many of which have not yet been
published. The ships caned the ten-gun brigs ,
he informs us, are built upon the plan of Sir Robert
Sepping, who though a man of talent as respects
ship-building, is little more than a theorist, and
the vessels tinder consideration are, in fact, the
result of an experiment. On account of their deep
waists they are very dangerous, their high bulwarks
rendering them more liable to ship a sea, as the sea-
men term it; and, when shipped, there is, for the
same reason, a great difficulty in getting rid of it.
In consequence of their deep waists and low decks
there is but little accommodation for passengers,
which, in packets, is, in itself, a great fault, One of
the principal Objects of such vessels being the sup-
plying persons with a commodious and safe passage
across the seas. As to their want of safety, we
shall only remark that their very appearance is so
dangerous, that there are many instances of persons
arriving at Falmouth having declined to risk their
lives in such craft. But the truth is, the conveyance
of passengers, which ought to be a principal object,
is made of a very second-rate consideration. It
is a common thing to hear the officer who has
the direction of the packets at Falmouth exclaim,
" -- the passengers, I don't want any of them !"
It is, of course, however, to the interests cf the
Captains who command these packets to get as
many passengers as they can. Notwithstanding the
present unfitness of the ten-gun brigs for the packet
service, we are informed that they might be easily
made good sea-boats, and, comparatively speaking,
very commodious vessels. They are ships mostly
built in the King's Yard—of 235 tons burden—a
very eligible size, and in every respect well adapted
to the purposes of security and dispatch, providing

their deck.s were raised from two and a half to three
feet, and providing their bulwarks were single
boarded, as in merchant ships.
An idea may be formed of the security of the
vessels which were formerly employed in the ser-
vice, as compared with the ten-gun brigs, by the
circumstance, which may be proved on inquiry,
that not one of the regular built packets former4u in
use everfoundered at sea. Those which were
or unaccounted for, were taken up for a temporary
purpose, being either French, Spanish, or Ame-
rican plantation built. Now, within the last 18
months, five packets have been lost, and out of this
number no less than three have unquestionably foun-
dered at sea. _ _

Under the old system there were employed in
time of war 38 to 42 packets; and notwithstanflinp7,
since the opening of the South American and Mex-
ican trade, several additional packet stations have
been fixed on—viz., Buenos Ayres, Brazil, and Vera
Cruz—yet there are now no more than 3 i or :38 in
the employ of the Government on this service, the
expense of which is said to he about 200,0001. to
250,0001. a year, instead of 50,0001. or 70,0001. a
year, as formerly I So much for patronage, and
employing, as the Commanders of these vessels,
Lieutenants of his Majesty's navy. The Com-
nruiders of the packets under the old system,
many of them well known to the mercantile commu-
nity, are individuals of great nautical talent, and
of great respectability. It would therefore be very
desirable, and of the greatest public benefit, if the
Lords of the Admiralty, seeing the fitalizy which
has attended the packets of the present day, were
to get their opinion upon the causes which have
led to such great losses of ships, and of human life,
which have lately occurred. We can supply their
Lordships with the names of some of them now
commanding packets, and others who have retired
horn the service--Captain John Bull, of the
Marlborough, who has commanded a packet about
30 years; Captain John Laurence, of the Duke of
Kent, 25 years; Captain Porteous, of the Magnet,
30 years; Captain John Telley, of the Camden, '2O
years; Captain Sutton, of the Steamer, 20 years ;
and Captain Hannah, of the Queensberry, 15 years.
Morning Herald.