Washington sentinel., 1853-12-16


much the greater part of the mails were con-
veyed by the former. For instance.
While the postage on the letters
sent during the year from Great
Britain TO the United States by
Cunard steamers was. $4,000. s325,2oo 90
BY the Collins steamers performing
just half the number Of trips, il
was but. ....................... lO6,O65 40
Showing difference Of. ......... 2l9,l4 SO
More than treble the number ofletters having
been sent to this country by the Cunard than
by the Collins steamers. Again
While the sum paid TO Great Britain
for the conveyance ofclosed mails
fnr the year was. ............... 7O,Osl 10
The amount paid by that govern
ment 10 the United States, exclu-
sive of the sum received on the
California closed mails, via the
West Indas and Panama direct,
was only. $4S,222 %
And this includes the land conveyance of the
British and Canada closed mails.
The partiality of the British government in
behalf of the Cunard line is presented in still
stronger light by the accompanying statements.
where it is shown that in the matter simply of
sea postage on closed mails during the last
three-quarters Of the year, dating from the time
the United States and Prussian arrangements,
went into operation, the British charge against
the United States is $28,l80 60.
While during the same time the United
States received from Great Britain for Atlantic
sea conveyance of all closed mails, including
those to and from the British North Ameri-
can provinces, Havana, and California, only
$3,513 60.
But in the mails dispatched from the United
States for England by these two lines no such
difference appears. Thus, taking the same
period on the mails sent by the Cunard steamers,
By Collins steamers l27,207 60
l25,625 46
From this last comparison it is apparent that
rs regards the mails sent from the United
States, each line received very nearly its due
proportion. Comparing the Bremen and Havre
lines with the Cunard line, the difference in
favor of the latter is still vastly greater.
Thus, by the Bremen and Havre lines per-
forming unitedly twenty-three voyages, the
postage on mails sent from England was only
$45, ,999 80.
This great inequality can be accounted for
solely by the fact, that, while the United States
makes no discrimination in respect to the lines
carrying the Prussian closed mails, the British
postal authorities employ the Cunard line al
most exclusively for the transmission OF their
closed mails which pass through the United
States.
Another extraordinary feature in this matter
is presented with reference to the mails from
the continent of Europe received in the United
States through England. 1t will be seen that
of this class of correspondence for the year
there were received by the Brit
ish steamers $1,000 letters.
And by the United States steam
ers, performing but three trips
less, only 5,737
| Difference in favor of the Brit
ish line Of nearly ten to one 5l,322
Whilst these most unjust determinations
have been taking place, other facts connected
| with the same subject should be borne in mind.
Great Britain received for the transit through
that country of our Bremen closed mails, in the
first quarter of the last fiscal year, thirty cents
an ounce, and on the United States and Prus-
| sian closed mails, is now receiving seventeen
and half cents an ounce; whilst the United
States has received but twelve and half cents
an ounce for the British and Canada closed
mails, though performing service at least
equal in point of Importance.
The whole amount of letter postage collected
in the United States and Prussia, respectively,
under the United States and Prussian postal
arrangement, during the aforementioned Pc
riod is as follows viz: