The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-28

SohSicsS, IN lSlJ, auth0rlZed
TO enter into contract for the conveyance OF the mails TO
Europe in steamships to be constructed as to be SUIT
able for purposes, with authority to the President to
take them Tor such purpose, upon appraisal II he should
deem II expedient. The Postmaster General Colonel
Johnson) issued an advertisement obtained proposals,
and adjusted the terms OF contracts but before closing
the same, he submitted ii the special consideration of
Congress- for lis approval This approval granted,
after full examination and debate and the whole
has since been placed improved footing by passing
from the hands OF an individual who took the contract,
into that OF company organized under act of ncor
poaton granted by the Legislature of the State OF New
York.
The first ship intended for the line the noble steamer
W ashngon, has been constructed and completed, and
is ready TO take her departure from the port OF New
York on the Isl OF June Her trial trip has been made.
and ii augurs favorable results She takes out full
complement oil passengers and mails that will be landed
nj Cowes Southampton for the British islands and for
the East Indies and also at the port, 10 be sent
to Hayre, mails for France Belgium, Holland
SPAIN and Portugal, and the eastern countries OF
the Mediterranean and at Bremen those addressed 10 all
other parts of the continent
The Postmaster General also sends out in the 'Washng
ton" his first assistant Seah r. Eobbe, esd, his spe
ca agent this occasion Col Johnson could not have
selected person better qualified by his experience tai
ents accuracy Of judgment, and promptness OF execu
ton, for the purpose of collecting the necessary nor
nation, OF making the proper arrangements, and OF setting
this whole machinery into complete action than his
accomplished colleague, Major Hobbie We rejoice that
he is going forth for the purpose OF seeing, arranging, and
directing everything. The presence of officer with full
powers and competent to exercise them, appears TO be
Indispensable on this first trip. Regulations and arrange
ments for the mails have TO be made in respect To the
mode and terms which they 10 be received the
ports and as to then transit into the interior and this
latter subject presents many perplexites and embaass
ma that cnllf for IN
tenn (f il may be called of mail intercourse between
this and other countries Whether the port of call be-
tween New York and Bremen shall be Cowes South
ampon, is an important question, requiring personal in
vesgaon; and the establishment, of a regular, frequent
and stated mail conneXion mot eXstng) between
those ports and Havre would 10 be Indispensable
incident to great European mail line And the adop.
lion OF system that would enable letters be conveyed
between the United States and foreign nations between
several States, with only charge of postage pay
able al the office OF mailing at the office OF delivery
al the option of the parties would confer benefits
upon thousands in this and other countries OF which they
deprived Indeed, the spirit of the age demands
that the old shackes imposed by the Jealous spirit of
monopoly and desposm should be knocked off What
is contemplated by the American Post Office De-
parment, of those movements intended to bring
the family OF man INTO happier concord, and the civilian
ton OF the day into more widely diIsed and higher
state of moral and intellectual improvement The Post
master General has given his special instructions to Mr.
tobbe, placing the particulars above referred 10 in his
charge; and has also directed him, if time will allow, TO
make examinations at the Paris and London Offices
with view to improvements in system. Mr..
H. we know, will be most assiuous in the performance
of his agency, aud nothing but the short interval of abb
sence from his duties here Ito which he is unavoidaby
restriced will, are satisfied, prevent lis successful
accomplishment.
The following is the account of the experiment trip of
the Washington, from the New York Sun:
The steamer Washington made her trial trip yesier
day. She left quarantine about halipas O'clock
the weather being very fine, and proceeded directly for the
sea, sailing about 20 miles south of Sandy Hook About
o'clock breeze sprung up. creating considerable surf The
steamer gallanly rode the swes in the graceful
and manner, creating shake violent rocking
Her two engines worked even better than the guine
could have expected In this respect the Washington pc
culiar We could conceive it possible for large
vessel TO be propelled gently and yet swiftly She
made l6 knots easily, and yet there the least jar
from the motion of her engines Abou haf-pas 10 o'clock
she changed her course, being worked with the greatest
ease and made 30 miles of Sandy Hook obeyng her
rudier perfectly Returning, the wind in her favor
and she set full sail The gearing OF the sails is peculiar,
they being made the order of Mr. Hewitt. her com
mander, who says he could manage her with six
The let Off the paddles having merely enough
motion prevent dragging. She proved herselfa saier
with without About g p. m, while under SAIL
she fell in with the Boston steamer John Marshall. Can
were fired, bells rung and cheers responded from
both vessels The Washington immediately dropped sail
and held for but the John Marshall soon
left miles behind She then up the North river, firing
salutes she The commander the Spanish steam
ship Guadalupe, the Russian minister and Captain Brown
ell boardthe latter under orders government
her who says he is incapable giving report
deserves Capt Hewitt is charmed with his vessel and
denty expects that he will beat the Britannia which sails
the day She had her highest speed ii pounds
steam, but she make % pounds Too much praise
be given TO her officers contractors and directors
Their accommodations and entertainment of their visitcs
were on the extensive scale Their kindness and co
esv will be long remembered. And the pas.
sengers will be much pleased with the courtesy OF the
complished commander, Mr. Hewitt.
At a meeting board the steamboat John Marshall, on
taken by the mechanics of the Novelty Iron
Works. order 10 the sailing qualities of the
Washington, the following resolutions We're unanimously
adopted
Navigation Company having noble specimen of
American ingenuity and skill is dis played in the
stmction of the United States mal.stea'neI Washington
I'd Thai we consider the construction of the hun By
Messrs Westervc Mackay noble specimen OF Amer
lean naval architecture and skill
3D. That also congratulate the propetos of the Nov
city Iron Works the successful operation oil her engines
ih That consider the sailing qualities OF the steamer
Washington being unsurpassed by transatlantic
demonstrating an opportunity OF Judging her speed by
that of the steamer John Marshall
9th That tender thanks Capt. Sandord for his
oblgng and gentemanly treatment OF during the
sion.
9th. That the foregoing resolutions be published in the
sun, Herald, and Tribune
D LEVITT, Chairman
C. c. GREEvouGH, Secretary.
THF UNITEp STATES STEAMER George WASHINGTON
The New York papers filled witl desert pton of ibis
new steamer which leaves for Bremen the LIST June,
and the alrrip of which has resulted very satisfactorily
tho a ,I,fs