New-York tribune., 1869-04-03
ATURDAY. APRIL 3. ls69-TRIPLE SHEET.

to send his answer by the steamer leaving NewYork
on Wednesday The answer should reach Queens
town Thursday night or Friday morning of the next
week but one and be delivered in London on Satur-
day morning-exactly three weeks from the date OF
the first. This is perfectly possible. and the Cunard
line sometimes does it, IL they would build more fast
ships and be little less economical of coal, they
could make the rule what is now tho exception.
But the Cunard fleet does not keep pace with the
improvements In building, with some of the
competing lines 1t has at this moment but one ship
which be called frst-class in every respectthe
Russia. The Scotia is fast but she belongs to race
| of which she will be the last example. No more
padde-wheel steamers will be built for navi-
CATION. The Scotia is no swifter than the Russia,
and burns tive tuns of coal to her one Beside these
| two vessels, there is not ono of the Cunard heet
which is equal to the ships of the North German
Lloyds or Hamburg American lines. The China,
Cuba Java and vessels of that class, are however,
probably good enough to do the work which,
| as have explained aboye-ought to be demanded
from them. They can make the voyage from Queens
town to NewYork in less than nine days, SO as to
complete a correspondence between London and
| New-York in three weeks.
| But the Cunard Company donot use the ships they
have. They put their slow cargo boats even on the
Saturday passenger line In this mornings London
New-York on three successive Saturdays, and two
out Of the three are slow freighting ships-the
Siberia and Samaria. On the other lines the old
slow ships are being rapidly replaced by new ships
of great power and speed. The Hamburg line has
been driven by the policy of the British Post
Office, from Southampton and Havre. and is ont of
the question for the present mail line, unless the
Government throws overheard the Cunard con-
tract and accepts service from all lines on equal
terms But compare the Hamburg and Cunard
ships 0nt of the eight of the Hamburg boats ad-
vertised this morning to leave Havre five arc new
Ships one of the five having her first voyage yet to
make. What has the Cunard line to show in COM
parison with the Hammonia, the Holsatia the
Cimbria, and tho Westphalias Or take the North
German Lloyd line from Bremen 10 New-York, still
leaving Southampton on Tuesdays the same day on
which the cargo Cunarders leave Liverpool. Out OF
four ships advertised three are new the Deutschland
Main, and Donau, and there no faster or better
ships atioat. The Rhein the Union, the Weser, and
others are equally good. This line
leaves New-York on Thursdays, ono
day later than the Cunard, and delivers
its mails with regularity in London on Mondays with
tho Cunard mails, which are "a hours older. The
Hamburg ships. leaving New-York on Tuesdays, fre-
quently deliver their mails in London on Saturdays,
and are sometimes IS hours ahead Of the Cunard
mails leaving "a hours later. For instance the HAM
monia which left New-York Tuesday week, arrived
early this morning at Southampton, and her mails
arc already distributed In London. The CunaEder,
which left New-York "a hours later, has not even
been teleeraphed at Queenstown which she ought TO
have reached as soon as tho Hammonia did
sonthampt pton-there being nearly days diff
ference between the two places. Her mails
will not bo in London till Monday morn
ing. But the British Government In its eagerness to
show favor TO its pet Cunard line, withdrew from the
Hamburg line even the privilege of carrying tho
mails for the postage only and unless the House re-
fuses 10 sanction tho new Cunard contract the mails
are 10 a. withdrawn also from the North German
Lloyd. Luckily the British postoflice does not con-
troll the American, so that we still receive mails by
both the German liues-and q great boon it is. l
wonder that New-York merchants have not dis
covered how great They still send the bulk OF their
mails on Wednesday. The Cunard ships bring some
times hundred sacks tho Southampton steamers
commonly not moro than forty, though l see the
IIammonia to-day has eighty
Mr. Seely's motion for n committee OF inquiry
was carried on a division by 1l5 10 Sc tho Govern
mcnt not actively supporting but not opposing it..
They talked about etiquette, and such nonsense. as
N reason for leaving IL wholly for tho house to say
whether n scandalous job pcrpetrated by the old
Ministry should be oyerhauled.
Finally, tho exposure was so complete, Mr.
Gladstone had TO get up and say he did not
think the inquiry could be resisted. The con-
tract must DO disapproved within fortnight or
cannot be rcscnded at ALL aud it is very doubtful
matter whether a committee can be appointed zeal
GUS enough to get through its investigation and make
is report within that time. 1t can be done If the
Government really wants the bargain broken up. and
an honest competition for honest service at honest
price,