Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1842-03-22
THE BRITISH STEAMERS

The following account OF the steam packet line
lately established between Great Britain and the
West Indies designed in the event 81 a war TO aot.
ohsnsivelyNg1inst VS.. and which We are cUnlribu
ting 10 suppooI by allowing the steamers TO rundow IA
our coast 10 sarry passengers and tho mails. Is eI
traeied bp the Baltimore American from the French
JOurnUl Des Dpbais.
On March 90. 1910 a contract was entered into
between the Government and the Royal Mail Steam
Navigation Company BY which the latter eng1 'ed
TO organise a line Of steam packets between Engt
land md the Gulf Of Mexico. Ia less than twenty
months from the signing Of the contract the running
Of the vessels vas commenced.
The conditions imposed on the CO mpany were
rhaI they should build II large steamers each Of
400 horse power, aud capable Of carrying he heavy
artillery now in use. All these vessels were 10 be
completely found IN every respect. From The time
should be pre- pared 10 commence the running Of
these vessels, they were 10 dispatch NJ equal inter-
walls twice IN a month n steamer whI~h should car
~ the mail TO the island Of Barbados anI rom ihenc
10 The GuifOf Msrrcoanl the company were bnund
10 take measures for the landing and receiyingmails
Of ell the different p oinis at which they came To
IN an interval Of not exceeding % Laws Except in
case OF accIien)frnm their arrival nt Barh'dpes To
the ir departure from SANTANA IN the island Of Hayii
on their return 10 Europe.
The Government on It's part engaged 10 raw The
company an annual sum of2l0,000l; payable IN "
tH'' lf'ih"lH'llH every QuAIltE.
MOI 20 months have els ps-i since ihis contract
wus sisned, and already eight NJ those sinponduns
vessel =, ready for sen have assemhied at S1ulhamp
ton which is TO he the point Of their departure The
vessels are said To be magnificent; and IN Their rriaI
To which they have been submitted have shown
Their Amazing powers, none Ofihem performing less
Than twelve knots an hour. AMI one Of them, the
Clyde fifteen. The remaining sir vessels vii be-
Al Southampton by The 18Th Of January. One of
these fine vessels started last week FIR her voyage.
and will he the frst'vesse that has made the run
between Europe and the Gulfof Mexico. by steam
% Ner alone. Others will follow in regular success
sion.
These vessels got NJ and sustained have been al.
lowed to run between the United States. AMI this
country has thus been fostering aud paying as ~
sunl a serpent 10 bite It in case Of war. The prog
ress Of these steamers shsuld be forthwith arrested
They are constructed expressly fer The purpose Of
being converted into vessels Of war in case Of war
they are commanded by officers Of The British Navy
who will lea n all the secrets Of our coast mud har-
bors-and moreover they will by competing with
ourralroads in carrying passenger greatly diminish
the revenues Of those Com 7aGies.
The insolence and gri'ping ambition Of Grsai
Britain in This and numerous other things should be
checked by a strong and firm baud even should j
produce q war II war mr,i come as now seems
inevIia5lc,the sooner !'cJines the better cjm2lrs-
atively will We be prepared or H..