The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-01

November, and the frgAte Constitution, Captain Con
over in twenty two days from Genoa, the 23d and
remained at anchor in the bay on the 2tth, being
homewArd bound.
The American and British Steamers.
From the London Times, Dec. 81
The United States mail steamer Franklin (of the
New York and Hsvre line) Is expected to arrive of
Cowes about the 18th inst She was to leave New Yori
on the 9Th. The American steamer Washington, Capt
Floyd will reach Southampton the nth, from Bre-
men, in order to depart hence for New York on the
that the competition between the British and Ameri
can mail steamers for the carrying Of French mer-
chandse to the United States is beginning to de-
velope itsefin earnest Till the repeal Of the English
navigation laws and the reciprocal relief afforded to
British ships by the government Of the United States
it will be recolleoted that the American from
southampton had complete monopoly Of conveying
foreign goods to New York; and that In consequences
vast quantities Of goods of the most valuable character
cent to Southampton, for trAnsshpUent, by the
Paris Ly one, and other continent merchants. In
January last the privilege OF landing such merchan
disc in the United States was thrown open TO British
vessels. and the North American Royal Mail Comp amy
Immediately prepared to avail itself OF this important
trade by putting line of steamships between Liver
pool and Havre conjunction with their TranssNsn
tic packets The effect OF this to decrease ths
quantity Of goods sent to Southampton for transit to
America by the United States steamers but rather TO
increase and extend the trade itself merchan
taking advantage OF Iapidty and certainty afford
ed by steam conveyance forced others to resort
der 10 pete with their enterprisng neghbors
Such was the position of ths matter till recently
when another and formidable competitor appeared in
the field, in the shape OF direct line of American
steamers between Havre and New York. Hitherto
immense rates Of freight have been paid the French
shipper and $40 per ton of 40 cubic feet with per
cent primsge, equal to nearly Is los per ton,
cheerfuly given for the conveyance OF goods sent from
Havre, ria Southampton, to New York. The Cunard
Company also charged the same rates for goods sent
from Hsvre RIA Liverpool. Now, however, that the
Brtieh Steam Company has to enter the lists with two
American lines Of steamer viz the Southampton and
New York line and the Hayre and New York line, the
ships Of the latter having great capacity for stowags
and being aim ost II not quite, equal in speed to the
best Of the British steamers, the Cunard Company
apparently determined to monopolize the French
trade from Hsvre, or, at all events to render It uu
profitable to the Americans. This company &C.
cordingly lowered its OF freight first from $40
to $40 and recently to $40 per ton with per cent
prmags, equal to f2 A. sterling; this charge TO in
cuds freight By steam from Havre for Liverpool trans
shipment at that port, and delivery in New York.
ste every week between Liverpool and Havre
for the special conveyance Of this merchandze and,
IS the expense Of goods transferred by steam from
Hayre to the Mersey can hardly be estimated at less
than IL ton the reduction virtually amounts to the
tree conveyance OF French merchandise from Liver.
pool to New York. While this neck and neck compe-
titon is going there strange anomoly, that the
freight upon British goods from Liverpool charged
at S35, cay f7 per ton, ana Manchester shipper
sending British goods by the Cunard steamers pays
ton more freight than s charged from avre to Liver
DOL and thence to New York Supposing to be the
cost Of freight by steam from Liverpool to Havre and II
two or three days object British goods could
be cent from Liverpool to France thence returned to
Liverpool, and transhipped for New York the mer-
chant saving f3 ton upon the freight charged If he
were to ship direct from his door. Not withstand
ing this competition OF the Cunard Company the Ams
rosn packets will not lower their freIghts below $50
they affirm that If British steamers choose to
good.sor nothing they do not intend to follow in
such q course, and that eventually the Liverpool Com
pany will be driven to make some equitable arrange
mt with their Yankee competitors la orie that ne
trade may be established upon such footing TO sf
ford fair remuneration TO both.