Washington sentinel., 1853-10-09
6abfrnmeat 96bertissmemt.
FOREIGN MAILS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Sept. /, 1883.

PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT. Sept. /, 1853.
We following Is copy Of section 3 OF the
Il act OF Congress, entitled "An'act making APP
preparations for the transportation of the United
States mail by ocean steamers, and otherwise,
during the fiscal year ending the Both of June one
thousand eight hundred and ify-four," approved
March 3, 1853, viz:
"SEc. 3. And be H Gtrther enacted That the
Postmaster General shall cause the facts to be in
yesiigated in relation TO the contract of A. G.. Sloo
for the transportation of the mail in ocean steam
ers from New York TO New Orleans, Charleston
Savannah, Havana and Chagres and back, per
| act of March third, eighteen hundred and forty
seven, for the purpose of ascertainng how far the
contract corresponds with the original bids and
shall report 10 Congress at the next session the
facts and circumstances connected with the said
contract; and also for what amount the said mail
service could be performed If new contract
should be made, and whether the ships furnished
under said contract built according TO its terms
Tho Postmaster General is further directed by this
act 10 ascertain, and report 10 Congress ut its next
session, for what amount the service now per-
formed under the several contracts with the NAVY
and Post Office Departments for carving the mail
IN ocean steamers can be hereafter performed
upon the suppositlon that the United States shall
take the steamers according TO contract and sell
or transfer them"
Except in respect to the New Orleans and Vera
Cruz route, which may be discontinued by the Post
master General, on the allowance Of one months
extra pay, the clause in all the contracts giving 10
the United States the right 10 take possession of
the ships, is, in substance, as follows:
"And the said Secretary of the United States
Navy, for the time being, shall at all times exer-
else control over said steamships, and shall al any
time have the right TO take them for the exclusive
use and service the United States, and to direct
such changes IN their machinery and internal ar
rangements as the said Secretary may require; the
cost OF such changes TO be ascertaned by the bills
actually paid therefor, and the proper compensa-
ton oithe value OF the ships, when so taken as
| aforesaid TO be ascertained by appraisers 10 be
mutually chosen by the parties aforesaid"
NOW, NOTICE Is HEREBY GIVEN, that
with view OF reporting TO Congress, in as com
plete manner as possible, the information called
for by Congress in section third above quoted from
the act of Sd March last
PROPOSALS
Will be received at the Post Office Department in
the city of Washington, until o'clock D. M, Of
Monday, 3lst day of October next, for conveying
the mails of the United Suites for six years from
the first day of October, 1854, in the manner and
time herein specified.
No. |. From New York 10 Cowes, in England,
and thence TO Bremen Haven, in Germany and
from said Bremen Haven, by Cowes, to New York,
once month
Proposals for one additional trip year, each
way, will be considered.
No. 2 From Charleston, South Carolina, by Sa-
vannah, Georgia, and Key West, Florida, to Ha-
vana, in Cuba, and from said Havana, by Key
West and Savannah TO Charleston, twice
month
No. 3. From New York TO New Orleans twice
month, and back, touching at Charleston, Gf
practcableD Savannah, and Havana, and from
Havana to Chagres (AspinwalD and back, twice
month. d
Proposals TO omit Charleston and Savannah
will be considered.
In lieu of above proposals will also be received
for service from New York TO Aspinwall direct,
1000 miles, and back, semi-monlhly, in not ex-
ceedlng nine days to the trip each way from New
York by Havana 10 New Orleans. 2, 900 miles, and
back, seml-monthly in not exceeding ten days 10
the trip each way; and from New Orleans to As
pnwall, direct, l 400 miles and back, semi-month-
ly: IN not exceeding seven days 10 the trip each
way.
No. 4. From Panama, New Grenada, TO San
Diego, California, Monterey, San Francisco and
Astoria, in Oregon. twice a month each way
touching, if practicable, at Port Oxford in Oregon
and al such other intermediate ports on the coast
OF Oregon or California, in the opinion of the
Postmaster General the public interest may re-
quire.
The schedules of Nos. 3 and must be SO ar
ranged as to make due connection al the isthmus
OF Panama, thus forming continuous route from
New York, &c, 10 Astoria and back, twice a
month.
No. S. From New York TO Liverpool in Eng
land, and back, twenty-six trips per annum, at
such times as the Postmaster General shall direct
Proposals to touch at Hoyhead in England
will be considered.
TO lIavre, in France, and back, once month
Proposals for changing the terminus Of this
line from Havre TO Antwerp, in Belgium, and for
one additional trip year. each way, will be con-
sidered =
No. 7. From New Orleans, louisiana 10 Vera
Cruz, Mexico, and back, three times month
supplying Tampco, Mexico, by side mail going
and returning
Leave New Orleans on the first, fourteenth, and
twenty-ffth days.
Arrive at Vera Cruz same month by the fourth
seventeenth, and twenty-eghth days.
Leave Vera Cruz every month on the first sixth
and twenty first days.
Arrive at New Orleans same month by the
fourth, ninth, and twenty fourth days.
The proposals i'll each instance should specify
the number Of days TO be taken for the trip each
way and the mode of conveyance which must be
by steamships in all respects suitable for the SER
vice.
lfconracts should be entered into contractors
will be required to conform in all respects 10 the
laws and regulations applicable 10 the ordinary
contracts of the Post Office Department.
The bids should be sent duly guaranteed, under
seal, to the Postmaster General. and the words
"Mail Proposas-Foregn Mais7-written on the
face of the letter. JAMES CAMPBELL,
Sep 2l-law3W Postmaster General.