The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-10-11
Steam CouAmunncatiOn with Irel and and
tine American Minister.

Mr. Abbott Lawrence, on his recent visit to Gal way,
expressed his admiration of the shipping accommo-
dation afforded by the noble bay Of that town sig
nifcantly adding that she was from six to seveo
hundred miles nearer to his home that day than he
had been for . very long time past" will, we
trust, together with the other interesting incidents
cussion of a question which is of the utmost
interest to the sister island, and which has, per-
haps, somewhat too hastily been regarded as
Internationally settled in the negative. We allude
TO the question of the establishment of an
Atlantic packet station on the western coas;
of that country. II may be remem bered that,
towards the close of last year, commission was
appointed, at the urgent request of very large
quire into the expediency of adopting port ON
the west or south west coast of Ireland, as packet
station for the mails between this country and
North America, and to report the result OF the in
presented to the missioners in some what blum
deripg shape-for they were directed to examine,
first, which of the harbo's of Ireland was best
adapted for the purpose in question: and secondly,
whether any Irish harbor was suitable to the OBJ
ject in view. In no way disconnected, however,
they proceeded, with the most laudable energy and
perseverance, to- collect every scrap of evil
dence which could possibly assist them in form
ing an opinion upon the matter refer ed to them
The substantial and closely printed Blue
Book, which was some time since pre-
sented to Parliament, containing their report
and its appendix, shows at least that in the inves-
tgaton entrusted to them, 10 labor spared, and
DO conceivable source of information disregarded
That document had been looked for with the great
est interest By the well wishers of Ireland II
bought, by many sangaine persons who sympa-
thised deeply with the dstresses Of that country,
that, while the recent efforts Of Eng land to relieve
the sister island had been made at the cost If
sal, the adoption of which, while it would very
greatly benefit Ireland, could not fail to be also
advantageous to the rest of the United X ing dom.
Nor did these anticipations appear unreasonable
kA ys.<sk. q
Ireland to North America, and the esta blush ment
of railway communication between Dublin and the
principal ports on that coast, seemed to show that
even for English and Scottish travellers increased
speed, unaccoDpaned by any diminutior in comfort
would be attained by the contemplated measure.
When at lengt III the report appeared, the disap
pointment which it occasioned was in proportion to
the hopes which had been formed and, seeing
almost inclined to recommend any of the Com
missioners who might be disposed, during he
present vacation, to visit the Lakes of Killarney,
or the wild and picturesque shores upon which
they had lately been sitting in judgment, t.
postpone, for awhile, their contemplated expedi-
tion. The document in question, after specifying
Galway and Foynes, in the shannon, as the most
eligible harbors for the purpose of packet station
proceeds to discuss the second and more important
of the points brought under the consideration of
the Commissioners The question before them
was simply this lis it, or is it not, desirable with
reference to the general interests of the empire,
that Liverpool should cease to be the packet sta
ton for the North American mails, and that 60 ne
port on the coast Of Ireland should, in future, be
used for that purpose! This question the Commis.
siopeIs answer in the negative, and we proceed to
state the grounds of their decision At present
large sum (El45,0O0) is paid annually by the g,-
veInment to Messrs Cunard, Burns, and McIver,
OF Liverpool in consideration of their contract to
carry the North American mails; and tine manse-
nance OF the most powerful line Of ste amers ever
yet established in any country is the result of this
arrang cement These magni icent vessels run weekly
hat.r .v,1N N..fr IL
need not say, ofthe greatest possible convenience to
merchants andtravellers. The ommissioners argue
that, were these packets transferred to an Irish
port, they would cease to be available for the
veyance Of goods, and even Of passengers, from
England and Scotland. BY very elaborate and mi
mute calculations which presented to the reader
in a tabular form, they show that the utmoss saw.
ing of time which could be effected by the change,
would be something under ten hours. This saving,
they contend, would not be in any way suit ,ent to
concordance the Inconvenience of those repeated
transfers from steamer to railway carriage, and uce
pGSa, which would be rendered necessary by the
adoption Of the new route. Thus, in their opinion,
great detrimept would be sustained by the mercan-
tile and travelling community on this side Of the
channel-while, as the receip pts Of the company,
from merchandise and passengers, would fall off in
consequence of the diminished traffic, large addi-
tional sum would have to be paid by the govern
ment tor its contract
In the general conclusion arrived at BY the com
missioners-that it would not be advisable to re-
move Messrs Cunard's packets from Liverpool
We entirely concur. The maintenance of a regular
and effective packet service betw New York aud
SO central and convenient port of Great Britain is
OF the utmost Importance to this country. But the
question with regard to the desirableness of Irish
packet station is by no means set at rest By this de-
cision. 1t may possibly be found, on further con-
mail steamers, plying from an Irish port, might be
advantageously established Notwithstanding wha.
Is said by the commissioners to the ruinous na.sre
OF such an experiment. We have little doubt that for
ks.L
Cunard and Company would engage to perform the
necessary service. The commissioners appear to
us TO have been far too hssty in taking for granted
that none but Irish travellers would avail thems elves
OF the new routes and, moreover, they have evil
IDENTIFY overlooked the fact, that, we're such q mode
Of communication established between Irelaad
and America, tho number Of irish goods and
passengers would. in all probability be very greatly
Increased. Nor can we altogether agree With them
in the opinion that emigrants would not be con-
veyed by the new line Of steamers; the contrary,
one Of the arguments upon which we should rely
for the support Of our suggestion is derived from
the vast amount Of Irish emigration. It must
frequently happen that, when the poor emigrant
has 10 make journey, in the first instance, from
some distant part Of Ireland to Liverpool, he
not afterwards afford to take passage n costly
steamer But the case will be very different Fhen,
on the one hand, his voyage is greatly shortened,
and, on the other, the expense Of his transit
the ocean is nearly the whole of the Iilay which
he has to incur. And here another and most in.
portant consideration presents itself IL isimpos-
sible to watch the steady current of emigration
which has set in across the Atlantic without wish
Ing that II had taken more northerly direction
Might not the arrangement TO be entered into
with the contractors be so framed as to change
Us coursel Would it be impos ible to provide tina
Tor the FUTURE the flower of the Irish people should
leave our shorts-if SO it must be-not to be incor.
porated with a rival nation, but to add vigor and
energy to our own Canadian population At least
We trust that the reportof the Packet Station Com
missioners will be taken for than il is really
worth, and that the government will not abandon.
without the fullest consideration, an idea which ms
IL appears TO us, might be realized with the greatest
possible advantage to Ireland, m a At c9ppara.
lively Insignificant cost to tie imperial revenue
Inc Teiegraph between England and
France.
1be actual submerslon of the great cable tele.
graph, now attracting so much interest and atten-
ton, and which arrived NJ Straits Of Dover Thurs
day, the 18th ult, By Her Msjesty's ship Blazer,
was commenced that morning at six o'clock, at |
whieh hour Capt Bullock, X. N was ready with |