The Sun. — 1869-03-23 (London, England)

OCEAN HAIL CONTRACTS.  The select committee moved for by Mr. Seely to inquire into the contracts entered into by the late Govern• meat with the Cunard and Inman lines of steamers for the conveyance of the mails between this country and America met again yesterday. The duty of reporting to the House on this important matter has been confided to Mr. Dent (chairman), Sir Massey Lopes, Bin Hamilton, Mr. Graves, Mr. Seely, and Mr. Greaves• Though the evidence taken by the committee has assumed vast proportions, and has been obtained by lengthened examinations of a great number of official and non-official witnesses, the actual points to be decided are simply whether or not it is a wise thing for the post Office to subsidise the contractors who carry the mails rather than to pay them for the services they actually render, and to enter into arrangements with them for a long term of years. When Mr. Seely brought forward the subject in the House of Commons, he contended that the amount of £120,000, which was the sum named to be paid annually for three services a week in the contracts made with Messrs. Cunard and Bin Inman by the late Conservative Government, v 135 not only too large, but was in reality sacrificing about R 40,000 per annum. He also argued that the proposed mode of contracting was unnecessary, and that by entering, into an arrangement with the contractors for eight years, the Post Office would be precluded from taking advantage of increased speed and other improvements, and would Le preventing the adoption of the ocean penuY postage. The motion for the committee of inquiry, which was not resisted by the Postmaster-General, was carried by 115 to 86. The committee sat in private yesterday simply for the purpose of considering their report.  Mrs. Plow, the widow of the clergyman who Iv° murdered at Todmorden last year, died on Friday evenings at \Vantage, Berkshire. It is stated the agreement to submit to an open Court of Arbitration all matters connected with the " Edruands' scat.dal" has come to nothing. The action for libel (Edwards v. Greenwood), which stood for the end of February last, but which was withdrawn during the above negotiations, will now be proceeded with, and will come on before a special jury in the Court of Ccmmon Picas, \Vestminster Hall, the first sitting day after the forthcoming Easter Term, viz., the 10th of May next. The Birmingham Post states that the recent con duct of the released Fenian convicts has caused the Government to stop all further steps in extending the Royal clemency. The Irish Executive was investigating the claims for the pardon of several other prisoners, but the conduct of the released men caused * stop to be put to such proposal. The Government is not indisposed to consider the claims of the convicts, but more substantial guarantees for good conduct will be required., and at present no further liberations will take place. Mr. Sergeant Cox has issued an address to the electors of Taunton, in which he does "not attempt to disguise the pain" the recent judgment has given him. ll° trusts that at the next election the Conservative party Will endeavour to secure their share in the representation of the borough. The learned sergeant concludes as follows:-" I Lid you farewell for a season, in the assured confidence that when a new Parliament shall be summoned (and none can spy bow soon that may be), you will restore me to the honour of which I have been legally, but not equitablY-and I am sure not deservedly—deprived."