Washington sentinel., 1853-10-14
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FOREIGN MAILS.

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PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT., Sept. /, 1853
Nhe following Is copy Of section 3 Of the
III act of Congress, entitled san 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 fhy-four," approved
March 3, 1853, viz
SEC 3. And be "a further enacted That the
Postmaster General shall cause the facts 10 be in
vesngated in relation TO the contract of A. G. Soo
Tor 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 ascertaning how far the
contract corresponds with the original bids and
shall report TO Congress al 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 are built according 10 its terms
Tho Postmaster General is further directed by this
act TO asceftan and report TO 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 suppostion that the United States shall
take the steamers according TO contract and sell
| or transfer them.'
Except in respect 10 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 TO 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 at any
time have the right TO take them for the exclusive
use and service ofthe United States and to direct
such changes IN their machinery and internal ar
engagements the said Secretary may require; the
cost OF such changes TO be ascertained by the bills
actually paid therefor, and the proper compensa-
tion ofthe value of the ships, when SO taken as
aforesaid, TO 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 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 31st 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. l. From New York TO Cowes, in England,
| and thence TO Bremen Haven, in Germany, and
from said Bremen Haven, by Cowes, 10 New York,
once a month.
Proposals for one additional trip year, each
way will be considered.
No. g. 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. 8. From New York 10 New Orleans. twice
month, and back, touching at Charleston, Gf
practicable,) Savannah, and Havana, and from
Havana to Chagres tAspinwalD 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 10 Aspinwall direct,
1000 miles, and back semi-monthy, in not ex-
ceeding nine days to the trip each way; from New
York by Havana TO New Orleans, 2, 600 miles, and
back, semi ni-monthly, in not exceeding ten days 10
the trip each way; and from New Orleans TO As
pinwall, direct, 1,i00 miles and back semi-month-
ly, IN not exceeding seven days to the trip each
way.
No. a. From Panama, New Grenada, TO San
Diego, California, Monterey, San Francisco, and
Astoria, in Oregon, twice q month each way
touching, if practicable, at Port Orford in Oregon
and at such other intermediate ports on the coast
OF Oregon or California, in the opinion of the
Postmaster General the public interest may re-
qure.
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, &c., 10 Astoria and back, twice
month.
No s. From New York 10 Liverpool, in Eng
land, and back twenty-six trips per annum, at
such times as the Postmaster General shall direct
Proposals to touch at Holyhead, in England,
will be considered.
No. G. From New York, by Cowes, in England,
to Ilavrc, in France, and back, once a 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. Z. From New Orleans, Louisiana, to Vera
Cruz, Mexico, and back, three times month
supplying Iampico, 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 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.
II lfcontracts should be entered into contractors
will be required to conform in all respects 10 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 Proposals--Foreign Mails'--wriiten on the
face Of the letter. JAMES CAMPBELL.
Sep 2l---law3w Postmaster General.