Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-19
RICHMOND. SATURDAY,, MARCH 10, 1870
TIE British .Sffamers.

The British Steamers.
The late communication of"A Citizen, in this p,oA
strikes deeply in the public mind. II is re.pubsec
several papers, and has called forth various Comments
The following are the remarks of the "Baltimore Ams
rican
"British Steamers The suhjoined communicated
taken from the Richmond Enquirer, presen MS Con-
sderations which too important to be overlooked
Il is one thing to have lines of British steamers run
ming directly from our ports 10 British ports, and an
other thing to have them keeping up communicating
along coast between our own seaeoard cities Tie
character Of these steamers is truly stated to be tina, Of
vessels ready to be turned into ships at any time
thew are commanded by officers Of the Royal Nav
they supported, in part, by the British Govern.
ment-and the proprietors Of them are under spec.g
contract to receive armaments on board, and 10 weld
them up the control of the Admiralty, whenever C.
casion shall require their service as vessels OF
"If there is need Of steam communication between
Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, and New York, III.
means for keeping it up might be found, presume,
at home II is sort of service which should no, b.
committed to q foreign Government. The dictate. o(
selfrespect and the feeling of national dignity wouIt
suggest this, without any reference 10 the mpoicy
the thing, and the dangers which might result from
"TnE BRlrrsH WAR STEAMERs.-lt appear, from
the public papers, that at meetings of citizens OF So
vannah, Charleston, Norfolk, and this city, invitations
have been given to the steam packets plying between
Great Britain and the West Indies, to touch at these
ports in going and returning, and that Mr. Forward
Secretary of The Treasury, in reply to letter from NJ
Buchanan, the British Consul General at New York,
says there is nothing in the existing laws 10 proven,
these steamers taking letters and passengers between
the points on our coast at which they touch.
Upon this subject a correspondent OF the Richmond
Enquirer says and agree with him. that II The
istng laws defective, it is 10 be hoped they wl
speedily be corrected by additional legislation Is II
possible that countymen, especially OF the South,
can have little foresight as not to perceive, that
fostering this line of steam packets, they are dong
every thing in their power to nourish end support
powerful weapon of offence the part Of England
the event of war with the L. S.; and, at the same
time that they are weakening the lines OF coast rail
road, on which, in The same contingency, we must
mainly rely for the transportation of troops and mun
tions Of war for defence and protection? 1t really must
be amusing to Lord Aberdeen, to find so dull Of per
ception to be willing that British cor seamf built
expressly for contingency of acar ,rh .3mtr!ra aud
BY officers Of the Royal Navy, who will Il
course profit of the opportunity TO make themselves M
tmaely acquainted with the soundings OF our coast ami
harbors allowed to enter ports and TO transport
regularly our mails and passengers
". is object, in noticing this, TO attract publcal
tention to matter which seems so far most unaccouni
ably, TO have escaped observation and remark. It
impossible if properly weighed That any portion OF oG
countrymen can be willing TO incur the hazard OF IN
creasng the power OF England TO Inure and devasae
every part of coast, in the possible and not impO
bable contingency of an early struggle with her.
.sLe il be generally understood, that the steamers
question are supported by large contribution annually
made by the British Government, on conditions that
they shall be built Of adequate strength for war vessels
that they shall be commanded by British naval off
GERS and placed under the control of the British Go
vernment in the event of war. ~. Y. .Nem Era
"THE BRITISH SrEAmERs.-The following account
of the packet line line lately established between
Great Britain and the West Indies, designed IN the
event of TO act Extensively against US, and which
contributing to support by allowing the steamers
TO down coast 10 carry passengers and The mails
extracted by the Baltimore American from the French
Journal des Debats:
"On March 90, 1910, contract was entered into te
tween the Government and the Royal Mail Steam Ma
visaton Company, by which the latter engaged TO OF
ganze line of steam packets between England andlhe
Gulf Of Mexico In less than 20 months from the sign
ing of the contract the running of the vessels has CON
menced.
"1he conditions i'm posed on the company were that
they should build ID large steamers, each of 400 horse
power and capable of carrying the heavy artillery nov
in USE All these vessels were TO be completely found
in every respect. From the time the company should
be prepared to the running of these vessels
they TO despatch, Mt equal intervals, twice ma
month, steamer which should first carry The mail 10
the island of Barbados, and from thence INTO the CUR
of Mexico; and The company were bound TO take mea
for the landing and receiving mails at all the d
ferent points at which they 10 touch in inter
val of not exceeding % days Except in case Of acc
den from their arrival at Barbados TO their departure
from SANTANA, in the island of Hayt, their return to
Europe.
"The Government on its part engaged TO pay The com
pany annual of f240,O0o, payable in equal pro
portions, every quarter.
"Not ~ months have elapsed since this contract was
signed, and already eight of those stupendous vessels
ready for sea- have assembled at Southampton, which
is to be their point of departure These vessels are sad
TO be magnificent; and in their trial to which they have
been submitted have shown their amazing powers none
Of them performing less than twelve knots hour and
one oflhem, the Clyde, fifteen The remaining SIX yes
sells will be at Southampton by the 18th January. One Of
these fine vessels started last week for her voyse and
will be the first vessel that has made the run be
tween Europe and tie Gulf of Mexico by steam power
alone. Others will follow in regular succession
We are not astonshed al the Richmond Wing copy