The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-03
Cur Southampton Correspondence.

SOUTHAMPTON, June o, 1915.
Our Steamship Depot-The Oriental Steam Line, &C.
Now that the United States government has estab-
lshed line of mail steamers between New
York this place and Bremen and shat other lines be-
tween New York and Liverpool, and New York and
Havre contemplated, it may be useful and int
resting to the American public in general and in par
ticular to all those interested in ocean steam naviga
ton, to have details before them concerning the
British mail steamers employed under con-
tract to convey the mails from this port various parts
of the world.
Southampton is port peculiarly fitted, from its al
vantages ge geographical position, for mail packet sta
ton. Its harbor is safe and easy of access at all
times of tide and in all Winds for ships of the largest
class. Its docks have been constructed at vast
pense and the tidal basin for steamers is certainly
of the finest in the world. The London and South
Western Railway has its terminus close to the docks
can be landed from ships dischargng into the railroad
wagons. The distance from Southampton to London
by railway is as miles which is performed by ordinary
trains in hours and by express trains in hour and
three quarters The safe harbor of Southampton its
spacious and convenient docks, and its conguity to
the metropolis, were the inducements which led the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to fix the mail
packets here; and Southampton has in consequence,
in the course OF seven years. become the great packet
station of the worldhaving direct communication by
steam, with the whole of the West India Islands,
Mexico New Orleans, Spain, Portugal, Malta Constan-
tinople, the Black Sea- Egypt, India China, &c.
AS purpose in this and succeeding communications
to lay before your numerous readers all the arrange
ments and details Of the various lines of steam COM
munication from this port, the present occasion
shall merely content myself with giving you list of
the ships employed by the Pcninsular and Oriental
Co., and some few interesting particulars concerning
them.
The Pennsuar and Oriental Steam Navigation
Company is an Incorporated joint stock company ha-
wing capital of 81 in shares of ESQ each The
undertaking has been successful from its CONNIE
ment. and pays dividend of eight per cent to the
Shareholders besides having fund Of f24O000
invested in government stock exchequer bills loans
mortgage &c. to provide against losses of ships de-
probation Of floating property, and other incdentas
BY means Of this reserve fundthe heavy charge and
cost Of insurance of vessels avoided and the profits
of the company thereby much increased. The COM
pany are, in fact, their underwriters to q large
extent, with this advantage, that the amount annu-
ally laid by rs insurance fund is available and pro-
ductive capital for the uses of the company; and in
the event Of no ship being lost, Is actual and po
sitive gain In the of the company's opera
tions during eight years only three ships have been
Der. The reserve insurance fund of the company
promptly replaced their vessels without inconve-
nience TO its finances and thus the great benefits Of
so prudent course of management were developed.
The following Is list Of the ships belonging to this
company, their tonnage horse power and the station
on which they are employed
East India and China station, under contract with
the British Government to convey the East India and
China mails from Canton and Hong Kong Singapore
ana Point dc Gale Ceylon, and from Calcutta Madras
ana Ceylon, via Alden, on the Red Sea, to Suez, and
vice versa, once month Terms f160000 sterling
per annum Penalty for non performance s36,O00
The contract not o terminate fiji lS53