The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-22

side OF the Atlantic mails" This line has been
extended 10 Boston.
On the goth March, 1870, contract was en-
tered into between the Commissioners OF The
Admiralty and ''the Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company for conveying call her Majesty's
mails" from such port in the British channel as
the commissioners shall prescribe, 10 the West
India islands, the coast Of South America,
Mexico, and the United States, touching and
delivering the mails al the ports specified on the
map annexed 10 this report on which are traced
the various lines Of communication 10 be estab-
lished in pursuance of the contract. The com
pany is bound TO .provde, maintain, keep sea-
worthy, and in complete repair and readiness,
for the purpose of conveying the mails, "a sui
fcient number-not less than iourteen-of good,
substantial and efficient steam vessels, OF such
construction and strength as to be fit and able TO
carry guns Of the largest caliber now used on
board of Her Majesty's steam vessels OF war"
To adopt from time 10 time, and al all times,
such changes or Improvements in construction,
machinery, armament, and rigging, as the com
mssioners may require. To- carry a certain
number, of Government officers and men, al a
stipulated price, and at all times to hold their
vessels subject 10 the orders of such officers as
may be placed on board TO assume command
This company is TO receive two hundred and
forty thousand pounds sterling per annum, which
may, in certain events, be increased 10 three
hundred and ten thousand or to 81, 1885, 500
These steamers are all in rapid progress of
construction. They are To be about 1900 tons
burden, and to receive engines of 500 horse pow
er each. Those that have been launched are
estimated 10 be in all respects equal TO sixty-gun
frigates. "Thus,n it is said, "the country will
be doubly served and, while il pays to the mail
company 100000 pounds per annnm for the
transport of the mails, il will defray, by the
arnp ~ fhp al oh IF thn In
est and most powerful steam feet in the world,
fully armed with the heaviest ordnance, to act
as war-trlgatcs when required by the Govern
ment for that purpose" To which may, at any
time, be added the steamers employed in Gu
nard's line, and those running from London and
Bristol 10 New York. Ii is also said TO be in
to cstablishanotherline from some
port IN England to st. Johns, New Brunswick,
under a contract similar 10 that made with the
Royal Mail Stcampacket Company. All these
lines will soon be in full operation and employ at
least twenty five, and perhaps thirty, steamers
OF the largest class and most approved construc-
ton; those on the southern line, and probably
those on the northern lines also, having their
guns on board These steamers are 10 be com
manded by officers of the Royal Navy, and 10
carry such number Of officers and men as the
Government, under certain regulations, may re-
quire who will thus derive all the necessary in
structon to enable them To command and man
age vessels OF this description. OF the fourteen
designed To carry the West India mails, nj least
Ten will be constantly employed in conveying
them on the variou, lines as traced on the map
hereto annexed ; and it will be seen by rete-
renee 10 1T that this formidable feet will be at all
times within three or -four DAYS run of our
Southern coast. In the event Of declaration
of war by Great Britain against the United
States, as she will, OF course, possess the lhtor
nation necessary TO enable her TO concentrate
her forces, all the steamers in the West India
mail service can be collected at any point on the
southern coast by the time the declaration would
be communicated to the President. Those en-
ployed on the Northern lines to New York and
Boston, may commence hostlliues before the
least preparation can be made to meet them
DepotS Of coal are to be established at Hall
fax and at several ports in the Vest Indies, from
whence these feet, can be supplied, and the
prediction made some wears since by an ntelll-
gent and experienced BRUSH officer, that their
sailing ships of war would become coal carriers
to Their steamers, will be fulfilled
There are, il is said, at this time 10000 black
troops in the British West Indies, and that or
ders haze recently been issued TO increase the
number to twenty five thousand. These troops
are disciplined and commanded by white Off
rcrs, and no doubt designed TO form most inn
any future contest that may arise between Great
Britain and the United States; and, by refe-
renee TO the map of the West India mail lines,
II will be seem that in our present deienceless
condition, force, composed of armed steamers
and troops OF that description, would not only
give great annoyance To our coast, but most Ell
Iectuay and al once put stop To all communl-
cation around Cape Florida, or through the pas
ses OF the West Indies to or from the Gulf of
Mexico, and consequently the commerce of the
great valley of The Mississippi must fall into the
hands OF the enemy, or It's vast productions, cut
off from market, be rendered valueless.
France is pursuing a course of policy in eve
" respect similar To that of Great Britain. The
last official register of her Navy shows that she
then had thirty armed steamers, carrying
heavy guns equal in all respects, if not superb
or, to those of any other nation. The sudden
appearance of one of them some two years
ago in the harbor Of Baltimore, must be reco-
cctcd by all. A law has recently been enacted,
authorizing the Government To establish line
Of armed steamers from Havre TO New y ork,
On The plan of the British West India mail line
and surprising as il may seem, number OF gen
ilemen in Boston have actually sent in propo
sails TO take the contract, ii that city instead of
New y ork shall be inserted in it. Thus it will
be perceived that our own merchants, driven by
The laws of trade and intercourse, are about
throwing the whole weight of their skill, en-
erprise, and capital, into the hands of one of
our great maritime rivals, for want of proper ac-
ion and encouragement on the part OF their own
and that the humiliating spectacle
$ likely to pc presented, of American merchants,
who have excelled all others in commercial pur
suits, being employed TO support a naval force
hat may be directed against the cities in which
they reside.
Under the old system of maritime war, our
,quadrons could be employed in the protection
li our commerce and our flag abroad, without
LANCER OF aggression on our own coast, because
he fleets of an enemy could no sooner approach
70 assa than our own return to defend u. But
he introduction of steam power has effected
such astonishing changes, that ornaments on