The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-10-02 00:00:00

FALMOUTH PACKETS.

(rsou The REIT BRITON.)
We leans that it has far some time been under the
consideration of Government to transfer the soperin-
tendence of the Packet Establishment at Falmouth,
from the Post-Office to the Admiralty. 'lke first ef-
fect of this measure would be, the appoiotmest of Na-
val Officers as Commanders, of the Packets, and
conseqnently the discharge of the far greater part of
the persons now employed in these vessels ; the pro.
bable remit would be, the removal of the Packets
from Falmouth to Plymouth, a project which has lone
hien ente►taleed by persons possessing powerful Pao-
liamentary Interest, and towards the aecomplishment
of which the proposed transfer of the Packet Eats-
blishment is probably. 'Mewled to be the first step.
When the -number of families who are dependents.
the Falmouth Packets for sapport, and the amount ol
the property embarked in these vessels, are considered,
it will be readily admitted, that the attachment of
some important public advantage•—a redaction of es.
pease, or an Increased facility of communication—cos
alone justify the adoption of a measure that would
ine►itably involve such numbers in absolute rola.
Now, It is abundantly evident to all who are, even la a
moderate degree, acquainted with the subject, that sei•
thee of the cases above stated can have any Wisner
in suggesting the proposed transfer. The system on
which that Establishment is conducted is unquestion-
ably the most economical of any connected with the
public service'; as will be instantly seen, by com-
paring the expense of the Packets with that required
for Transports or Revenue Crain's. In fast, the
very lowest possible rate is allowed; and it is admitted,
that the expedition with which the foreign mails sal
forwarded from and to Falmouth, casein be accelerated.
but may be greatly retarded, by the istesded ahem.'
don. It is now the interest as well as the duty of the
Captains of Packets, to complete their voyages as
speedily as possible; and the whole of the Officers
and crews are of the first class of seamen, to whom
experience has given as intimate knowledge of the
coasts they frequent and the particular ditties they
have to perform.—We are, therefore, utterly at a loss
to discover any one perpo.e of public utility which the
placing of the Falmouth Packet Estabfistnneet under
the direction of the Admiralty can answer, unless the
increase of the patronage of that Board is to be coo-
sidered a national object.—lf the Rickets are to be
commanded by Naval Officers and; subjected, to the re-
gulations adopted on board vesseloof war, the present
economical Post-Office Establishment, by which the

Packet service at Yarmouth is superintended, will no-
ily be replaced by the appointment of one from
the Admiralty; probably a Flag Officer, &c. will be
thouilit necessary and if the i ed expeose should
be objected to, is under the present circumstances of
the country, it nundoobtodly would be, the transfer of
the Packet Establishment, to the enwerintendoose of
the Port Admiral at Plymonth, would he the remedy.
It may be of little consequence to the public what
regulations are adopted respecting the Packets, pro-
vided no additional expense is incurred, nor the fa-
cility of intercourse with foreign parts diminished ;
but is it nothing in a time of general distress like the
present, to deprive hundreds of industrious families
of their only means of support : to annihilate the
great amount of property sunk in the °comfy, in con-
Sequence of the establishment of the Packets at Fal-
mouth, and to reduce to poverty and rain, thousands
who have hitherto been able to bear up against the
tide of distress that is sweeping so many before ii
Nothing, we repeat, but a great public object, coo'
possibly Justify the resorting to each a measure as
that which we understaill is in the contemplation ut
Government. with respect to the Falmouth l'.,cket
Establishment; and, therefore, we confidently hope
twat before they form a final determination on the sub•
ject, Ministers wid make themselves acquainted with
the whole cote, and that thole Members of both
(louses of Pariistnent who are interested in she wel•
fare of Cornwall. will Inert themselves, whilst it may
'De done with effect, to avert a measure that would be
the greatest calamity indicted ou the county within
the memory of any now living.