The southern press., 1851-04-02
Mans NoMAus. LATE MArLs.-Complsinin

| MAILS. OMAIIs. LATE EMAILs-ComplsiElng
is no use perhaps, but when we feel In our body
polite that at length "our sufferings is intolera'
ble," we must fain groan little although we
feel continual that our case is "about The same,
complain we little or much. The only regu-
Iarity in our mail accommodations Is their irfeg-
ularty, the only satisfaction we have OF hurry
ing to meet the mail hour, is that OF learning that
our letters quietly lay over at Pico alta for the
next boat, and very likely two or three.
The fact of the matter is this, the company
who have the contract have two old miserable
boats, which are perpetualy getting aground,
breaking shafts, and when nothing else Will ans
wer, get up special and particular fog, to ac-
account for their late and long conngs. The
contract runs out in June next, and they are not
very particular how, or when they send the mails,
and if they are behind time, consider it OF no
Importance about taking up the return mails, as
they are sure Of both passengers and mail by
the next boat.
We are credibly informed that on Monday,
the Sd of March, the steamer st. Matthews did not
arrive ut Picolata until between the hours of 8 1
and o'clock, NJ. The post master delivered the
mail to the stage driver at 25 minutes past 9
o'clock, and between the hours of and 2 the
mail arrived in Augustine. The mail is due at
Picolata on Mondays and Thursdays, at 7
o'clock, A. NJ, and at st. Augustine at IL NJ
The mail was despatched from Augustine i'm
mediately aler, and arrived at Picolata at 81
o'clock in the morning, and the steamboat had
left Pcolata before the arrival of the mail from
here. The mail from st. Augustine arrived 81
hours before it was due, according to the time
allowed the stage contractor to bring and for
ward to Picolata, from the time it was first de-
livered at PicOlata
We are also informed that the st. Matthews
has not delivered the mail at Picoata when due
but twice in one year-the last time was deliv.
cred at A. NJ, at Picolata, on Monday the 10th
inst, and that can easily be accounted for by the
circumstance that Mr.. Oliver Owen, The mai
agent, was on board, coming to this place.
On Thursday the 18th inst, the mail again
failed in consequence OF which the st. Angus
tine mail was kept in this Office, and on Mon
day last, 18th instant, the mail did not arrive
till after IL o'clock at night, when it was due
there at l2 o'clock NJ. twelve hours behind the
time.
If these failures were purely the result o.
accidents or extraordinary causes, we shoulC
not complain, but we believe on the contrar,
that no sufficient effort at punctusllty is made
and that in the view of those in charge Of this
matter, it is matter Of indifference when they
arrive.
But in this matter we of st. Augustine arc
not alone concerned. We have during the
whole winter large" number of the most
respectable and influential citizens of Other
States whose correspondence is Of much impor
tance.
If our complaints are not heeded we hope
that our co-sufferers will cause theirs to be re-.
spected 1t should be made rule with the de-
partment to decline contract with parties
whose irregularities have shown their unwilling.
ness to comply with their former obligations
We seldom hear of failure between Charles
ton and Savannah, because two large cities
would not permit such failures to go unnoticed
but there seems to be prevalent opinion that
Florida can be made convenience Of Our
own contractor, Mr. Bridier, faithfully performs
his portion of the business and is entitled to
much credit for his endeavors to ensure prompt
ness and despatch