Washington sentinel., 1853-10-07
@0bsrament aSbfrtis&mfat.
FOREIGN MAILS.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT, iSept. /, 1853.
Nhe following Is copy Of section 3 of tn


WE following Is a copy OF section 3 of the
IL act OF Congress, entitled San act making ap-
preparations for the transportation of the United
States man by ocean steamers and otherwise,
during the fiscal year ending the 30th of June one
thousand eight hundred and iifty-iour,n approved
March g. 1853 viz:
SEC. g. A,ld be a f,rthsy enacted That the
POSTMASTER General shall cause the facts 10 be in
vesigated IN relation to the contract of A. c. Sloo
Tor the transportation of the mail in ocean steam
ers from New York to New Orleans Charleston
Savannahy. Havana and Chagres, and back per
act of March third, eighteen hundred and forty
seven, for the purpose OF ascertaining how far the
contract corresponds with the original bids and
shall report TO 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 il new contract
should be made, and whether the ships furnished
under said contract built according 10 its terms
Tho Postmaster General is further directed by this
act 10 ascertain and report 10 Congress at its next
session for what amount the service, now per-
formed under the several contracts with the NAVY
and Post Office Departments for carrying 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
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 TO
tue DHiteu STATES lne rlgnt 10 take possession OF
the ships, is, in substance, 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 at any
time have the right 10 take them for the exclusive
use and service OF the United States and TO direct
such changes in their machinery and internal ar
engagements as the said Secretary may require; the
cost OF such changes TO be asccrtaned by the bills
actually paid therefor and the proper compensa-
ton tthe value of the ships, when taken as
aforesaid, 10 be ascertained by appraisers TO be
mutually chosen by the parties aforesaid"
NOW, NOTICE Is HEREBY GIVEN that
with view of reporting TO Congress, in as com
plete manner 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 3 o'clock D. M. of
Monday, 3lst day of October next for conveying
the mails of the United Stetes for six years from
the first day of October, 1854, in the manner and
time herein specified.
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 a
month.
No 3. From New York to New Orleans, twice
a month, and back, touching ut Charleston, (f
practicabeD Savannah, and Havana and from
Havana 10 Chagres (AspinwaD and back, twice a
month.
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 semimonthIy, in not ex-
ceeding nine days 10 the trip each way; from New
York by Havana to New Orleans, 900 miles, and
back semi-monthly, in not exceeding ten days TO
the trip each way; and from New Orleans to As
pinwall, direct, 1,400 miles and back semmonth-
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 month each way
touching, if practicable, at Port Oxford in Oregon,
and AT such other intermediate ports on the coast
Of Oregon or California, as 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 at the isthmus
OF Panama, thus forming continuous route from
New York, Nc, to Astoria and back, twice
month.
No. 5. 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 IIolyhead, in England
will be considered.
No. 6. From New York, by Cowes, in England
to llavre, 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 TO Vera
Cruz, Mexico, and back, three times a month
supplying Tampco, Mexico, by side mail going
and returning.
Leave New Orleans on the first, fourteenth, and
twenty-fiflh days.
Arrive at Vera Cruz same month by The fourth
seventeenth, and twenty-eighh days.
Leave Vera Cruz every month on the first sixth
and twenty-frst days.
Arrive at New Orleans same month by the
fourth, ninth, and twenty fourth days.
The proposals in 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.
If contracts should be entered into contractors
will be required 10 conform in all respects TO the
laws and regulations applicable to 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-Foreign Mails'-written on the
face of the letter. JAMES CAMPBELL
Sep 2l-law3w Postmaster General.