The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-04


the shoulders Of the free soil soft shell spoils
democracy; and it may utterly defsat the plans
of John Cochrane and the administration at
Washington. Let us hear from the Prince.
The Struggle for the Supremacy Of the Seas.
1t will be perceived by reference to our
London CORES ondence that the superiority of
the Pacific and Panama route, as the medium
of communication between Great Britain and
her Australian possessions, is now generally
admitted in that country. 1t is now twenty
years since the British government first began
substituting large steam packet companies for
the convey anse Of mails. The object was to
have English packets with admiralty officers
on board, to watch what was doing in every
part Of the world, to provide for the exigencies
Of commerce in the quick transmission Of COR
respondence, and, in case Of war, to have .
large feet Of steamers ready to be converted
into armed vessels It was thus thought that
mails could be conveyed cheaper, and that a
large navy could be kept up with less expense
than . government feet would entail. Two
steam packet companies alone, at the present
Royal Mail Steam Packet companies--receive
$500, 900 year for carrying the mails. These
companies owing to q variety of causes,
have become unpopular The English are
nation Of grumblers-besdes which the compa-
MES themselves have behaved badly. After get
ting contracts they cared nothing about the
mails-their sole concern was about the passen-
gers and cargoes. The foreign postage also ne
yer paid for the mail packet service. Rival
companies in embryo, attacked the mail compa-
MES in the papers at length; and was also found
that the mail packets would not do for steam
ers---so that now mail steam packet companies
are in bad 0dor. The British government have
declared against them. They will show no favor
tosards them, nor win they any longer subsi-
disc new companies With all this it must,
however, be admitted that the rapid, frequent,
and regular conveyance of mails has promoted
commerce, and that the mail packets have been
found indispensable for troop ships
When gold was discovered in Australia,
general cry was raised for steam packet COM
munication between England and her gold colo
MES. But mail packet companies had then
done their best to disgust the government aud
the country with the service. Ten or twelve
years ago, the government would have unhesi-
tatingly granted q million Of dollars year to
any company that would have undertaken q
frequent steam packet communication with
Australia; but three years ago they grudgingly
allowed only $4,000 to one company. At
that period the troubles Of English steam packet
companies commenced. The strike of the Eng
lish engineers took place, seamen's wages rose,
and ths freight for conveying coal to distant
parts became frightfkGi.s,,u expensive The Aus
tralian Mail Company, via the U.sne 0f Co.'s
Hope, broke down; another Australian COM
pany, whose vessels were to traverse the Pacific
and run with the West India Company, was
refused government contract, and, after build
ing ships, they sold them, and relinquished
the undertaking. The General Screw Company
undertook to run steamer to Australia, but
they could get no favorable mail contract; and
though their ships fill we'll with passengers and
cargo, it is questionable whether the traffic pays
In fact, that company has already turned its at
tention to the United States. Their first ship,
the Indiana, has already made her first voyage
here, and there Is no doubt but that the compa-
ny will be obliged altogether to relinquish the
Australian trade,
To show the condition TO which the English
steam packet companies are reduced. it is only
necessary to state that the Peninsular and Oren-
tai Company, which was once the largest and
richest in the world--a company that has the
complete monopoly of the traffic to the East II /:
dies and China, by way Of Egypt, and which
never paid during late years less than eight
per cent dividend-has suspended pay ment
Of dividend, and is now before the
English government praying for compensation
for losses. Their Goals cost them one million
Of dollars annually more than formerly. Some
idea Of the enormous expense to which these
companies will be subjected may be formed
from the fact that the Royal West India Mail
Company consume 100000 tons of coal . year,
at cost Of twelve dollars a ton.
There is now only monthly mail commanica-
ton with Australia from England, alternately by
way Of India and the Cape Of Good Hope. The
communication with Australia by way of India
is performed by the Peninsular and Orientss
Company, who would gladly give it up if thew
could; and the other, by way Of the Cape
Good Hope, (the homeward route Of which IS
by Cape Horn is performed by the General
Screw Company, who, there is reason to be-
lieve, will relinquish it for the sake of toe
New York trade. In fact, IN Australian
steam packet communication is too much for
fho I'm oh Tha ~. I