Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1855-03-10
Large Contract.

ltSeli, III the heaviest penalueS WHICH Inc
jealousy of Government can impose, TO
supply to the British army IN lis presen!
position, or anywhere within 200 miles
OF the coast, food consisting of three meals
day, to be cooked and delivered at the
headquarters of each battalion. The
breakfast is to consist of tea, coffee, or
cocoa, according 10 choice, and OF fresh
baked bread; the dinner of bread, meat,
and potatoes, with quart of malt liquor
and the ordinary allowance of rum. They
undertake to give fresh meat twice a week
and vegetables, besides potatoes. 10
this is to be added a substantial evening
meal. They are willing 10 bind them
selves under the heaviest penalties, not
merely for the performance Of the con-
tract in general, but for the Punciual de-
livery Of every meal to the soldiers. They
ask no assistance whatever from fhe Gov
erniaenl for performing this task, except
lheif fOrbeaIauce and nOn-lnterIerence.
They want neither our ships, our horses,
our carts, or our men. They are content
ed to take orr roads as they find them,
and to relieve the British soldier from
any care or thought for his own nalnlen'
ance. Aud this service they are ready TO
perform at the rate Of IS. sd. head per
diem, expressing every confidence that
they shall gain at least 90. head by the
contract! Observing also the mlsetIes
suffered BY our men from defective tents,
they are wiling to undertake, for another
81. head. TO provide our soldiers with
excellent tents, to be approved by the COM
manding officer, and 10 be replaced wheE-
ever dlSaIowed. Thus, for IS. Cd. a
head per diem is firm Of the most I'M
doubted responsibility and soIvencv will
ling To undertake, under the most rulnouS
penalties, to provide our troops with
food and shelter. A rough
calculation will show that, at this rate, an
army Of 10000 men might be fed and
sheltered for about 4I ,S25,000 per an.
nurn--a sum which would not only pro-
vide our men with that which, with all our
machinery of boards, of transports, Of
officers, mules, carts, re-
urns, contracts, vouchers, and invoices,
We are not able 10 do, but would set at
liberty the vast amount of shipping now
employed in this lruilless and wasteinl
tempt and leave us in the undisputed
Of the energies OF all our com
niSsariat officers, if We could find any
Useful purpose 10 which we could apply
hem. If the contract were really per-
ormed the saving TO the public would be
enormous.
We learn, also, from the Liverpool
Mercury, that Mr.. Lindsay, Nj. p. for
left Paris or Friday evening
or Marseilles, for the purpose of making
he arrangement for the carrying out OF a
which he has ust entered into
With the French Government. Mr..
lindsay has contracted 10 dispatch every
week from Marselles a steamer capable
# carrying 500 troops and clipper to
AIRY stores. The engagement is 70 last
urng the continuance of the war IN the
Irimea. While making the arrangement
With the Minister of Marine Mr.. Lindsay
uggested that the ships, instead of return
ng empty, might be made available for
he transport of sick and wounded troops
rom the Crimea to Marseilles, it being
DIRECTLY supposed that the climate Of
france would be more favorable to the
ecovery Of the men the climate of Scutari
II Constanlinople during the heats of sum-
ner, 10 say nothing Of the known advan-
age that invaIids are said to have derive
rom their native air. The suggestion
vas considered by NJ. Ducos, the Mn
ster of the Marine, so good that he al
nee entered into a supplementary con-
raci to this effect, and it is calculated that
he same ships which carry ont 800 fresh
-oops, with the usual proportion OF stores,
ill be able TO bring back,if need be. about
so inva!idS and wounded men. The ar
angement is considered an excellent one
Y all practical men, and the readiness
iilh which the details Of it were concIud-
d is fresh proof OF the advantage derlV-
d here from giving a minister the neces-
airy power to conclude such q transac-
ION without passing, as it would have to
o in England, through half adozen DIFF
erent Offices, each claiming lis share in
he affair. 1t is 10 be hoped that the hint
will not be lost on our new Minister oil
Var. Ilappears that transports are not
o scarce as is generally imagined, as Mr..
lindsay has offered to provide the French
Government with any quantity that may
,e wished.
FEMALE SEMINARY BURSED.-On the
I'D ull. the French Seminary, at Henry |