M THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ^5^^ GIFT OF Mrs. R. M. Logan Mi A Link of Empire 'm1v->w^^-ia-Xo (^\ s^ (Ux i^L^ &^ j«if c? ^, i| [IfM mw Vi[(CT(D)JRl[/V Ju^y 5 th. Supplemental Royal Charter granted establishing the principle that the Company is to be, and remain, under British control. 1905, July 14th. Maiden voyage of the first of the new " A " Class Steamers to Brazil and River Plate. 1905, September 30th . Resumption of the R.M.S.P. Service, via Jamaica, to New York. 1905. Cuban Line extended to Mexico. 1906, February 24th. R.M.S.P. "Amazon" launched at Belfast, the ceremony of naming the vessel being performed by Mrs. Owen Philipps. 1906, February 26th. R.M.S.P. again entered Australian trade by acquiring the Pacific Steam Navigation Company's share of interest in the Orient-Pacific Line. 1906, June 6th. The Countess of Aberdeen, Wife of the Viceroy of Ireland, launched the R.M.S.P. " Araguaya " at Belfast. 1906, June 15th. Maiden voyage of the R.M.S.P. " Amazon " to Brazil and River Plate. 1906, October 12th. Maiden voyage of the R.M.S.P. " Araguaya " to Brazil and River Plate. 1907, January nth. R.M.S.P. " Amazon " left South- ampton with specie to the value of £i,2S3yS75 o"^ board for South America. 1907, April loth. Acquisition of an interest in the Shire Line of Steamers engaged In a regular service from London to Port Said, Suez, Colombo, Penang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nagasaki, Kobe, Yokohama. 1907, June 28th. Maiden voyage oftheR.M.S.P. "Avon" to Brazil and River Plate. 1908, January 24th. Maiden voyage of the R.M.S.P. " Asturias " (12,002 tons) to Australia, which was then the largest British Mail Steamer which had visited that Colony. 1908. The R.M.S.P. Company acquired an old-established service from London to Gibraltar, Morocco, Las Palmas, TenerifFe and Madeira, and under the new auspices the first sailing was made by the R.M.S.P. "Agadir" from Morocco Wharf, Wapping, on 1 8th June, 1908. 1908. Cruises to Norwegian Fjords commenced by the sailing of the R.M.S.P. " Amazon " from South- ampton on 31st July. 1909, May 6th. Launch of R.M.S.P. "Berbice" at Belfast for the Intercolonial Mail Service between the West Indian Colonies and British Guiana. 1909, July 23rd. R.M.S.P. "Araguaya" left South- ampton with specie to the value of ;^i, 383,292 on board for South America. 10 w EXTRACTS FROM CHARTER of INCORPORATION GRANTED TO The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company ORIGINAL ROYAL CHARTER GRANTED 26th SEPTEMBER, 1839 ^ucen, Pefcn6er of t^e §tait^, fo ^U fo w^om t^cse presents st)ttU come ^reefing: *7]YfT| bCtCHS it is expedient that the trans- ^■'^''^ mission of the Mails for the conveyance of Letters from Great Britain to the West Indies and elsewhere should be conducted through the medium of a regular succession of steam or other vessels to be specially employed for that purpose. And whereas it is considered that it will be for the advantage and convenience of the public service that such steam and other vessels should be furnished through the medium of merchants and other persons of capital. II And whereas the several persons hereinafter named and others have united together to enter into con- tracts with Her Majesty's Government for the conveyance of the Mails to and from Great Britain and the West India Islands and North and South America and other foreign parts and for that purpose to establish a regular supply of steam and other vessels and the said persons propose to open a sub- scription for raising a capital of _^ 1,500,000 sterling for the purpose of carrying on the business of the said undertaking and have humbly besought Us to grant to them and the other subscribers of such capital Our Charter of Incorporation which we are minded to do on the conditions hereinafter mentioned. Now know ye that as well upon the prayer of the said persons and others as also of Our special grace certain knowledge and mere motion We have given, granted, made, ordained, constituted, declared and appointed, and by these presents for Us, Our heirs and successors do give, grant, make, ordain, constitute, declare and appoint that John Irving, Andrew Colvile, Thomas Baring, George Brown, James Cavan, Robert Cotesworth, Henry Davidson, Russell EUice, George Hibbert, John Irving the younger, William Skinner Marshall, Patrick Maxwell Stewart, Thomas Masterman and Abraham George Robarts, Esqrs., or such of them as shall become subscribers of not less than _^2,ooo each towards the capital or joint stock hereinafter mentioned in the manner hereinafter provided, together with such and so many other 12 person or persons, bodies, politic or corporate, as shall become subscribers of, or towards the capital or joint stock hereinafter mentioned, in manner hereinafter provided, and such other person or persons, bodies, politic or corporate, as shall, from time to time in the manner hereinafter provided become a proprietor or proprietors of any part of such capital or joint stock, not being a fractional part of ^^loo of such stock, shall be one body, politic and corporate, in deed and in name by the name of " THE ROYAL MAIL STEAM PACKET COMPANY," and by that name shall and may sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, in all Courts whether of law or equity, and shall have perpetual succession with a common seal, which may be by them changed or varied at their pleasure : And We do declare that the said Corporation shall be established for the purpose of providing vessels, to be impelled by steam or any other power, together with all engines, machinery, articles, matters and things, necessary for the same, and of employing the same upon such stations as may, from time to time, be contracted for by the proper authorities in that behalf for the transmission of the Mails to and from Great Britain, the West Indies, North and South America, and such other foreign parts as the public service may require. And We do further declare, and ordain, that the capital or joint stock of the said Corporation shall consist of the sum of ^1,500,000 sterling to be 13 subscribed in 15,000 shares of^ioo each, and that all such capital or joint stock and the profits and advantages thereof, shall be, and be deemed personal estate and be transmissible accordingly : And We will, and direct, that books shall be opened for taking subscriptions to the said capital or joint stock, and that all and every person and persons, bodies, politic or corporate, by and from whom any subscription shall be made and accepted, and any payment on account thereof made pursuant to the provisions herein contained for that purpose for, or towards, the raising of the said capital of ^^1,500,000 sterUng as aforesaid, his, her or their successors, executors, administrators and assigns respectively (no such subscription being for less than £100 sterling, and being either the sum of jTioo or some multiple of j^ 1 00) shall have, and be entitled to, a share of and in, the said capital or joint stock of the said Corporation in proportion to the monies which he, she or they, shall have so subscribed towards making up the same, and shall have, and be entitled to, a proportionable share of the profits and advantages attending the capital stock of the said Corporation, and shall be admitted to be a proprietor or proprietors of and in the same : And We do further declare, and ordain, that the said Corporation shall cause the names and designations of the several persons and the names of the bodies, politic or corporate, who shall subscribe for, or become entitled to, any share of the capital 14 stock of the said Corporation, with the amount of such share to be fairly and distinctly entered in a book or books to be kept by their clerk or secretary, and that the several persons, bodies, politic or cor- porate, who shall subscribe for, or have or hold any share or shares of the said capital stock, shall and they are hereby required to pay the sum or sums of money by them respectively subscribed at such times and places, to such persons, and in such manner, as shall be ordered and directed by any court of directors for the time being of the said Corporation pursuant to the provisions herein contained. Provided always, and We do further will, and declare, that it shall not be lawful for the said Cor- poration to commence business by employing any such vessels for the purposes of such contracts, or any of them, or otherwise under and by virtue of these presents until the sum of ^300,000 shall actually have been paid up on account of such capital stock, and that it shall be lawful for the several proprietors of the said Corporation, their executors, administrators, successors and assigns, to sell and transfer any share of the capital stock of the said Cor- poration of which they shall respectively be possessed or any part thereof (not being less than £100 of such stock, and being either the sum of £100 or some multiple of ^100 of such stock) and that every such transfer shall be in such form, and to such effect, as shall be devised by the court of directors for the time being of the said Corporation, and that every such IS transfer shall be under the hand or hands, or common seal, of the proprietor or proprietors so transferring such stock, or of some person or persons lawfully authorized for that purpose by some writing under the hand or hands, or common seal, of such pro- prietor or proprietors underneath which transfer the person or persons, bodies, politic or corporate, to which such transfer shall be expressed to be made, or some person by him, her or them, lawfully authorized by writing, shall sign his, her or their name or names or affix their common seal signifying the acceptance of such transfer, which said transfer shall be made, and entered or registered in a book to be kept by the said Corporation for that purpose, and that such transfer so to be executed as aforesaid shall effect the transfer of such stock, and shall convey the whole estate and interest therein of the proprietor or pro- prietors so transferring or authorizing the same to be transferred to the person or persons, body, politic or corporate, so taking or accepting the same, which person or persons, body, poHtic or corporate, shall thereby forthwith become in all respects proprietor or proprietors of the said Corporation in respect of such stock, in the place of such proprietor or pro- prietors so transferring the same, and that until such transfer shall be made and entered in such book in manner aforesaid, no person or persons, or body, politic or corporate, claiming an interest in any such stock, by purchase or otherwise, shall be deemed the proprietor thereof, and that a copy of such transfer i6 to be extracted from the same book wherein the same is entered and signed by the clerk, secretary or other officer of the said Corporation duly authorized thereto, shall be sufficient evidence of every such transfer and be admitted and received as such. And We do further w^ill and ordain that general meetings of the proprietors of the said Corporation shall from time to time be assembled at such times and places in London or Middlesex as the court of directors shall direct, but so that at least one such meeting shall be held in every year, and that notice of the said general meeting shall be given to the said proprietors in such manner as the court of directors shall think proper, and that at every general meeting the chairman for the time being of the said Corpora- tion shall be chairman of such meeting, or in case of his absence or declining to take the chair, the deputy- chairman for the time being of the said Corporation shall be the chairman of such meeting, and in case neither of those officers should be present and consent to take the chair, then any proprietor shall be appointed chairman of such meeting by the pro- prietors present thereat ; and every such chairman shall be entitled to his vote or votes as a proprietor, and in case of any equality of votes he shall in addition thereto also have the casting or deciding vote ; and the orders and proceedings of every general meeting shall be entered in a book or books to be kept for that purpose, and shall be signed by the chairman of such meeting, and such orders and 17 proceedings signed as aforesaid shall be allowed to be read in evidence in all courts and places whatsoever : And We do further will and ordain that the said Corporation shall have power and authority at any- special general meeting convened for that purpose to remove any member of the court of directors or any auditor of the said Corporation for the time being nominated or to be elected by virtue of this Charter, for misconduct or any other reasonable cause, and to elect any other proprietor who shall be at least entitled to ^2,000 in the capital stock of the said Corporation in his stead, and from time to time to elect any other proprietor qualified as aforesaid instead of any chairman, deputy-chairman, or other director or auditor for the time being of the said Cor- poration who shall go out of office or shall die or resign or cease to be a proprietor in the said Corpora- tion or to be entitled to ^^2,000 stock therein, and also to settle the amount of the remuneration to be made to the directors and auditors for their services : And We do further will and ordain that previously to every yearly general meeting an account shall be prepared by the court of directors of the debts and assets of the said Corporation with an account of the profits made in the year ending the 31st day of December preceding such general meeting for the time being as near as the same can be ascertained, and with all such other information as may, to the directors, seem necessary to be given or as may be required by any bye-laws of the said Corporation, 18 H Z a* which account shall be signed by at least one of the auditors of the said Corporation and shall be laid before such meeting to be audited and settled as aforesaid : And for the better ordering and governing the affairs of the said Corporation, and for making and establishing a continual succession of persons to be directors of the said Corporation, We do by these presents for Us, Our heirs and successors, grant unto the said Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and their successors, and We do hereby order and appoint that there shall be from time to time constituted in manner hereinafter mentioned out of the members of the said a chairman and deputy-chairman of the said Corporation, who shall also be directors and such other number of directors, not exceeding ten, as a special court of directors shall from time to time determine and two auditors of the said Corporation, which chairman and deputy-chair- man and other directors, or any three of the several directors, shall constitute and be called a court of directors for the ordering, managing and directing, in the manner and under the provisions hereinafter contained, the affairs of the said Corporation, and that the said John Irving shall be the first chairman, the said Andrew Colvile the first deputy-chairman, and the said Thomas Baring, George Brown, James Cavan, Robert Cotesworth, Henry Davidson, Russell Ellice, George Hibbert, John Irving the younger, William Skinner Marshall and Patrick Maxwell 19 Stewart, the first ten other directors of the said Corporation in addition to the said chairman and deputy-chairman, and that the said Thomas Master- man and Abraham George Robarts shall be the first auditors of the said Corporation, and that the said chairman, deputy-chairman and ten other directors and the said auditors shall continue in their respective offices until the yearly general meeting to be holden in the month of July, 1841, and afterwards until others shall be duly elected in their stead : And We do further will and ordain that the chairman and deputy-chairman of the Corporation respectively shall from time to time be elected from amongst themselves by the court of directors for the time being and for such period as to them shall seem meet : And We do further will and ordain that any member of the said court of directors or any auditor may at any time vacate his office by sending in his resignation in writing to the office of the said Corporation in London or Middlesex, and in case any member of the said court or any auditor shall during the continuance of his respective office by transfer, forfeiture, bankruptcy or otherwise reduce the amount of stock held by him in the said Corporation below ^2,000 or otherwise shall become disqualified to be a member of the said court, or shall be removed by any general meeting as aforesaid, then and in every such case the office of such member of the said court or of such auditor as the case may be shall instantly become vacant : 20 And We do further will and ordain that the court of directors of the said Corporation shall have power to manage, superintend, regulate and control all the affairs and concerns of the said Corporation, and to appoint all the agents, officers and servants thereof as well in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland as abroad, and to fix their respective salaries or wages, and from time to time to remove or discharge any such agents, officers or servants and to appoint others in their stead, and to make such rules, orders and bye-laws for the good government of the said Company and for regulating the transfer of the shares in the capital stock thereof, and for making calls in respect of such stock and enforcing the payment thereof and for forfeiting any shares in respect of which such calls shall not be duly paid, and also for regulating the proceedings at the general meetings of the proprietors of the said Corporation and of the meetings of the court of directors and for declaring dividends out of the profits to be made by the said Corporation and generally for the superin- tendence and management of the said Corporation, and from time to time to alter and repeal the said rules, orders, and regulations, or any of them, in such manner as the said courts shall from time to time think expedient and proper : 21 And "We further will and ordain that the said court of directors shall have power to order and dispose of the custody of their common seal and the use and application thereof and to execute all the powers hereby given to the said Corporation : And We do further for Us, Our heirs and successors, grant unto the said Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and their successors, and We do, will, and direct that it shall, and may be lawful for the said Corporation, from time to time out of the funds and property of the said Corporation, to build, purchase or contract for such vessels, steam engines, apparatus, articles, and materials as may appear to them necessary for the purposes of the said Corporation, and may contract for, hire and provide such sailing vessels as may be necessary for carrying on the business of the said Corporation : Provided always that it shall not be lawful for the said Corporation to employ such vessels for the conveyance of passengers, specie, and other mer- chandize, except to and from such ports and places and at such times as may be defined in any contract or contracts for the time being in course of fulfilment for the conveyance of the mails. And We do further ordain and declare that it shall be lawful for the said Corporation, notwithstanding the statutes of Mortmain or any other statutes or laws, or anything herein contained to the contrary thereof, to purchase, take, hold, and enjoy to them and their successors such wharfs, docks, houses, offices, buildings. 22 lands and other hereditaments, and also such ships and vessels as shall from time to time be actually and bona fide necessary and proper for the purpose of managing, conducting and carrying on the affairs, concerns, and business of the said Corporation, but not for any other purposes nor so as to be in any manner made instrumental for the purposes of speculation, and to sell, convey, and dispose of the same respectively when not wanted for the purpose of their said business. And We do hereby grant unto all and every person and persons and bodies, politic and corporate, who are or shall be otherwise competent, Our special licence and authority to grant, sell, alien and convey in Mortmain unto and to the use of the said Cor- poration and their successors any such wharfs, docks, houses, offices, buildings, lands and other heredita- ments, and any such ships or vessels whatsoever as aforesaid accordingly. And We do for Us, Our heirs and successors, grant and declare that these Our Letters Patent or the enrolment thereof shall be in and by all things valid and effectual in the law according to the true intent and meaning of the same, and shall be recognized as valid and effectual by all Our Courts and Judges in Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and all other officers, persons and bodies, politic or corporate, whom it doth, shall or may, concern, and that the same shall be taken, construed and adjudged in the most favourable and beneficial sense, and for 23 the best advantage of the said Corporation as well in Our several Courts of Record in Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland or elsewhere, notwithstanding any non-recital, mis-recital, uncer- tainty, or imperfection in these Our Letters Patent. In witness whereof We have caused these Our letters to be made Patent. Witness Ourself at Our Palace at Westminster this twenty-sixth day of September in the third year of Our reign. By writ of Privy Seal. EDMUNDS. (REDUCED FACSIMILE OF SEAL.) 24 Extract from Supplemental Royal Charter, dated 1851, extending the sphere of the Company's operations :— It shall be lawful for the said company, and the said company is hereby empowered in addition to the powers granted to them by Our said Royal Charter, which are to continue in force from time to time, to establish any and all such other lines of communication by steam or otherwise with all or any ports or places in the West Indies, and in North and South America, and such other foreign parts as to the said company shall seem desirable, so as such lines of communication shall be connected with and be in the nature of auxiliary branches to the several lines of communication which the said com- pany have established as aforesaid, or are by Our said recited Charter authorized to establish. Extract from Supplemental Royal Charter, dated 1882, further extending the sphere of the Com- pany's operations : — The Company .... shall be entitled to exercise the following powers, that is to say. Power to employ their ships and vessels for any lawful purposes, both within and without the limits pre- scribed by, or referred to, in the said Charters. 25 Extract from. Supplemental Royal Charter, dated 1904 :— It is to be regarded as a cardinal principle of the Company that it is to be and remain under British control, and accordingly — (a) No foreigner shall be qualified to hold office as a Director of the Company, or to be employed as one of the principal officers of the Company. [b) No share in the Company shall be held by or in trust for any foreigner or foreign Corporation, or by or in trust for any Corporation under foreign control, but this prohibition shall not apply to any holding existing at the date thereof. 26 o u o z o :^ List of R.M.S.P. Company's Original Fleet No. Name. Gross Tonnage. I ACTAEON 650 z AVON 2,069 3 CITY OF GLASGOW 1,700 4 CLYDE 1,841 5 DEE 1,849 6 FORTH 1,900 7 ISIS 1,900 8 LARNE 300 9 LEE 250 10 LIFFEY 35° II MEDINA 1,800 12 MEDWAY .,895 «3 SEVERN 1,886 H SOLWAY 1,700 '5 TAY 1,858 i6 THAMES 1,889 «7 TEVIOT 1.744 i8 TRENT 1,856 '9 TWEED 1,800 Total 29,237 27 List of Past Steamers Stiamers. Date Commissioned. Gross Tonnage. Propulsion. Material. ACTAEON 1842 650 Paddle Wood AVON 1842 2,069 y* 11 CITY OF GLASGOW 1842 1,700 99 1» CLYDE 1842 1,841 )> >» DEE 1842 1,849 »» 99 FORTH 1842 1,900 » 99 ISIS 1842 1,900 >» " LARNE 1842 300 Schooner 11 LEE 1842 250 19 » LIFFEY 1842 350 )> 99 MEDINA 1842 1,800 Paddle 11 MEDWAY 1842 1,895 »> 11 SEVERN 1842 1,886 >> >» SOLWAY 1842 1,700 11 » TAY 1842 1,858 11 11 TEVIOT 1842 1,744 ,, 99 THAMES 1842 1,889 11 11 TRENT 1842 1,856 1> 19 TWEED 1842 1,800 11 99 REINDEER 1845 600 11 99 CONWAY 1846 895 ») 1> EAGLE 1846 630 >» 11 GRKAT WESTERN 1847 '.775 11 11 DERWENT 1849 794 »» 1» ESK 1849 232 Screw 11 AMAZON 1851 2,256 Paddle 11 DEMERARA 1851 2,318 11 11 ORINOCO 1851 2,901 11 99 PRINCE 1851 446 11 Iron LA PLATA 1852 2,826 11 Wood MAGDALEN A 1852 2,943 jj 11 PARANA 1852 3,07° 1) 15 CAMILLA 1853 539 11 99 28 List ot Past Steamers {contd.). Date Gross Stiamirs. Commissioned. Tonnage. Propulsion. Material. SOLENT 1853 1,804 Paddle Wood ATRATO 1854 3.467 „ Iron TAMAR 185 + 1,850 „ Wood WYE 1854 819 Screw Iron TYNE 1855 2,184 Paddle ONEIDA 1858 2,284 Screw MERSEY 1859 1,001 Paddle PARAMAl'l'A 1859 3,+39 9) SHANNON 1859 3,+72 ri TASMANIAN 1859 2.445 Screw SEINE i860 3.440 Paddle ARNO 1865 '.134 »» DOURO 1865 2,824 Screw EIDER 1865 1.569 Paddle RHONE 1865 2,738 Screw DANUBE 1866 2,000 Paddle CORSICA 1868 1. 134 Screw NEVA 1868 2.999 »> ELBE 1870 3.063 » NILE 1870 2,994 ) KAIKOURA (TIBER) 1871 1,501 » MOSELLE 1871 3,252 » RAKAIA (EBRO) ... 187I 1,456 y RUAHINE (LIFFEY) 187I 1,504 » TAGUS 1871 3,252 ) BELIZE 1872 1,015 » BOYNE 1872 3,318 1 ESSEQUIBO 1873 1,887 » LARNE 1873 1,664 > SEVERN 1873 1,736 r* MINHO 1874 2,540 » MONDEGO 1874 2,564 M DEE 1875 1,858 >i GUADIANA 1875 2,054 « 29 List of Past Steamers [contd.). Date Gross 1 Steamers. Commissioned. Tonnage. Propulsion. Material. PARA 1875 3,805 Screw Iron DON 1876 3.805 ?j MEDWAY 1878 3,687 »» SOLENT 1879 1,908 n TAMAR 1879 2,923 »» TRENT 1879 2,912 9> AVON 1880 2,225 )> DERWENT 1880 2.4-71 >» HUMBER 1880 2,371 j» LA PLATA 1882 3,240 » DART 1884 2,641 » EXE 1885 61 »j WALTHAM 1889 87 Steel TYNE 189I 615 J» EBRO 1896 3,376 » LA PLATA 1896 3,445 )) MINHO 1896 3,376 )> LA PLATA I90I 4,464 Jt MANAU 1906 2,748 )» 30 List of the Company's Present Fleet (1909) No. Name. Gross Tonnage. AS'l'URIAS I 2,002 AVON 11,073 ARAGUAYA 10,537 AMAZON 10,037 ARAGON 9,441 6 ORTONA 7,945 7 OROYA 6,297 8 OROTAVA 5,980 9 ORUBA 5,971 10 NILE 5,887 II DANUBE 5,885 12 THAMES 5,621 13 CLYDE 5,618 H TAGUS 5,545 15 TRENT 5,5^5 16 MAGDALENA 5,373 •7 ATRATO 5,347 18 MONMOUTHSHIRE 5,091 19 SEGURA 4,747 20 CARMARTHENSHIRE 4.745 21 ORINOCO 4,572 22 PARDO 4,410 23 POTARO 4,378 «4 PARANA 4,182 *5 DENBIGHSHIRE 3,844 26 FLINTSHIRE 3,815 27 SEVERN 3,760 28 TEVIOT 3,271 29 TAMAR Carried 3,207 forward 174,106 31 List of the Company's Present Fleet (1909) — conta. No. Name. Gross Tonnage. Brought forward 174., 1 06 30 TYNE 2,902 31 MARIMA 2,742 32 AGADIR 2,722 ■ 33 ARZILA 2,722 34 CARONI 2,628 35 CONWAY 2,650 36 CATALINA 2,645 37 BERBICE (Twin Screw) 2,500 38 NEW STEAMER (Twin Screw, Building) 2,500 39 EDEN 2.145 40 ESK 2,'4S 4-1 DEE 1,871 4* EIDER 1,236 43 KENNE'l'T 827 44 ARNO 607 45 SPEY 470 46 YARE 299 47 TAW 180 48 TEES 180 49 WEAR 180 STEAM LAUNCHES, &c. ... 1,666 Total 209,923 1842 1902 1908 MILEAGE 392,976 miles 1,265,824 „ 2.746,4*5 .. 32 l-l > H CO O < to said sailing vessels, shall be also provided with a proper and suitable berth, and be duly victualled by and at the cost of the said Company without any charge being made for the same. And that if the said Commissioners shall at any time during the continuance of this contract think fit to entrust the charge and custody of the mails to the master of any of the vessels to be employed in the performance of this contract, or if the officer or other person appointed to have charge of the mails shall, from illness or any unfore- seen accident, be unable to proceed on the voyage, and no other officer or person be sent on board by the said Commissioners or any of their agents in his stead, in any of such cases the master shall, without any charge to the public, take due care of, and be responsible for, the receipt, safe custody, and delivery of the said malls ; and shall make the usual declaration or declarations required, or which may be required, by Her Majesty's Postmaster-General In such or similar cases ; and every such master having the charge of such mails shall himself. Immediately on the arrival at any of the said ports or places of any vessel so conveying the same, deliver the said malls Into the hands of the post- master of the port or place where such mails are to be delivered, or into the hands of such other person as the said Commissioners shall direct and authorize to receive the same, receiving, in like manner, all the return mails to be forwarded in due course. That at each port or place where the said mails are to be delivered and received, the naval officer or such other person to be appointed as aforesaid shall, whenever and as often as by him deemed practicable or necessary, be Boat for conveyed on shore, and also from the shore to the vessel landing to be employed for the time being In the performance of this P''°^'^^^- contract, together with or (If such officer or person considers 43 Penalty for delay. £100. For delay of 12 hours by vessels from England and back £500. requisite) without the said mails, in a suitable boat, with not less than four oars, to be provided and properly manned and equipped by the said Company, and that the directions of the naval officer or other person as aforesaid shall in all cases be obeyed as to the mode, time and place of receiving and delivering the said mails. That if any vessel employed in the performance of this contract, having the mails on board, shall stop, linger or deviate from the direct course on her voyage (except from stress of weather or other unavoidable circumstances, or when authorised as aforesaid), or shall delay starting at the appointed time, or shall put back into port after starting without the sanction in each and every case of the officer or other person authorized to have the charge of the said mails, then and in each and every of such cases, and as often as the same shall happen, the said Company shall and will forfeit and pay unto Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, the sum of ^loo ; and that if any vessel which ought to leave the place which may be appointed for her departure from England for Barbados in the performance of this contract, shall not proceed direct on her voyage for 12 hours after the proper and appointed time (except as aforesaid), the said Company shall and will, so often as any such omission shall happen, forfeit and pay unto Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, the sum of ^500, and also the further sum of ^500 for every successive period of 12 hours which shall elapse until such vessel shall proceed direct on her voyage in the performance of this contract. And that if any vessel which ought to leave any other port or place in performance of this contract shall not proceed direct on her voyage for 1 2 hours after her proper and appointed time (except as aforesaid), the said Company shall and will, so often as any such omission may occur. 44 forfeit and pay unto Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, the sum of ^200, and also the further sum of ^^200 for Betweenother every successive period of 12 hours which shall elapse until P^^^^^^tK^OO. such vessel shall proceed direct on her voyage in the performance of this contract. That every naval officer or other person authorized to have the charge of the said mails shall, either alone or with such other persons as he may consider necessary, have full power and authority, as often as he may deem it requisite, to examine and survey in such manner, and with the assistance of such persons as he may think proper, any of the vessels employed, or to be employed, in the performance of this contract, and the hulls, machinery, and equipments thereof, on his giving notice to the master for the time being of the vessel about to be examined of such his intention ; and if any defect or deficiency be ascertained, and notice thereof be given to such master, and if the said master shall not immediately, or as soon as possible, thereupon remedy, replace or effectively repair or make good every such defect or deficiency, the said Company shall in every case forfeit and pay to Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, the sum of ;^ioo ; but the Penalty for payment of such penalty shall not in anywise release or , . r / r J J vessels when discharge the said Company from remedying, replacing or necessary, effectively repairing or making good such deficiency or £^^^- defect, or from being considered not to have committed a breach of this contract. And that the said Commis- sioners shall also have full power, whenever and as often as they may deem it requisite, to survey by any other of their officers or agents, all and every, the vessels employed and to be employed in the performance of this contract, and the hulls thereof, and the engines, machinery, furni- ture, tackle, apparel, stores and equipment of every such 45 vessel ; and if any such vessel or any part thereof, or any engines, machinery, furniture, tackle, apparel, boats, stores or equipments, shall on any such survey be declared by any of such officers or agents unseaworthy, or not adapted to the Service hereby contracted to be performed, or if such officers or agents shall deem it necessary or expedient that any alteration or improvement shall be made therein, or any part thereof, in order to keep pace with the more advanced state of science, every vessel which shall be disapproved of, or in which such deficiency, defect or want of improvement shall appear, shall be deemed inefficient for any service hereby contracted to be performed, and shall not be employed again in the conveyance of the mails, until such defect or deficiency shall have been repaired or supplied, or the alterations or improvements as the case may be, shall have been made to the satisfaction of the said Commissioners, and if employed before such defect Penalties for or deficiency shall have been supplied or such alterations or employing improvements, as the case may be, shall have been made to , . the satisfaction of the said Commissioners, the said Company ported unfit, shall forfeit and pay to Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, £500. the sum of ;^500. Orders as to That the said Company and all commanding and other the landing officers of the vessels to be employed in the performance and receiving - , . , ,, , ^ , the mails to ° contract, and all agents, seamen and servants or the be obeyed. said Company, shall at all times, during the continuance of this contract, punctually attend to the orders and directions of the said Commissioners, or of any of their officers or agents, as to the landing, delivering and receiving Penalties to the mails. And it is hereby agreed by and between the be considered parties hereto, that all and every, the sums of money assipaae hej-gby stipulated to be forfeited and paid by the said damages. •' '^ . . ' ' Company unto Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, shall 46 be considered as stipulated or ascertained damages, and shall and may be deducted and retained by the said Com- missioners out of any monies payable, or which may there- after be payable to the said Company, or the payment may be enforced, with full costs of suit, at the discretion of the said Commissioners. That the said Company shall and will, when and as often Naval as in writing they or the masters of their respective vessels "W^^ers, t&c, , 11 , -1 J 1 ■ 1 /^ ■ as passengers shall be required so to do by the said Commissioners, or by ^^ jg charged such naval or other officers or agents acting under their only two- authority (such writing to specify the rank or description ^^^''f^ ^f '^^ of the person or persons to be conveyed and the accom- f^^^g modation to be provided for him or them), receive, provide for, victual, and convey on board each and every or any of the vessels to be employed in the performance of this contract (in addition to the naval officer or other person authorized to have the charge of the said mails) any officers in the navy, army, or civil service of Her Majesty, not exceeding two, as chief cabin passengers, and any persons, not exceeding two, as fore-cabin passengers, and any number of seamen, marines, or soldiers, not exceeding ten, charging for such passengers two-thirds only of the fares or rates charged by the said Company for ordinary passengers of a similar description. And that the said Company shall and will receive on Small board each and every of the said vessels employed in the packages to performance of this contract any number of small packages, ^ t^'^'^j^ containing astronomical instruments, charts, wearing apparel, or other articles, and convey and deliver the same to, from, and between all or any of the said ports or places to or from which the said mails are to be conveyed in the performance of this contract, when and as often as directed by the said Commissioners, or their Secretary or agents duly authorized, 47 Stores not exceeding five tons to be paid for at usual rate. Payment for Services under the contract. Further pay- ment in the free from all costs and charges ; and also shall and will receive on board each and every of the said vessels, and convey and deliver to, from, and between all or any of the same ports or places, any naval or other stores, not exceeding five tons in weight at any one time, in any one vessel, at the rate of freight charged by the said Contractors for private goods, on receiving from the said Commissioners, or any of their officers or agents, two days' previous notice of its being their intention to have such stores so conveyed. And the said Commissioners, in consideration of the premises, and of the said Company, their officers, servants, and agents, strictly and punctually performing the whole of the said Service hereby contracted to be performed, and observing and keeping the covenants and agreements hereby entered into by them, do, for and on behalf of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, promise and agree that they the said Commissioners on behalf of Her Majesty will, for the time the whole of the said Service shall have been strictly performed, pay or cause to be paid to the said Company, by bills at sight, payable by Her Majesty's Paymaster-General, a sum after the rate of ^240,000 per annum, by equal quarterly payments, and with a pro- portionate part thereof should this contract terminate on any other day than a day of quarterly payment, such payments to be subject, however, to the abatement of any forfeitures which the said Company may have incurred as herein provided, and the first of such payments to be made at the expiration of three calendar months from the period when the first of such steam vessels shall have put to sea on her voyage to Barbados in performance of the entire service hereby contracted for. And it is hereby agreed, that if at any time and so long as the said Company shall make it appear to the 48 satisfaction of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury event of the for the time being (but not otherwise) that from any increase of , . 1 • 1 • J J insurance or change in the relations between this kingdom and any f^Q freight of foreign countries, or from war or other causes, distinctly coals. of a public and national character, to be judged of by the same Commissioners, the rate of insurance for steam vessels, and the freight payable by the said Contractors for coals which may be sent out from the United Kingdom to be used in the performance of this contract, and the rate of insurance on such coals shall have been raised above the averages hereinafter mentioned, that is to say, £6 6s. per cent, per annum on such steam vessels as aforesaid, £i 2s. 6d. per ton for the freight of coals, and £2 is. per cent, for the insurance thereon, the said Company shall be paid an additional yearly sum of money accord- ing to the increase above the said specified averages ; but the said additional sum of money for freight shall be paid in respect of 60,000 tons per annum, and no more, and the yearly amount of any additional sum of money to be paid as aforesaid, in any case or under any circum- stances, either for insurance and freight or otherwise, shall not exceed ^60,000 per annum. And it is hereby further agreed, that if after the said Commissioners of the Treasury shall have decided that some additional sum of money should be paid to the said Company in consequence of any such increase in the said rates of insurance and freight any difference should arise as to the amount so to be paid, such difference shall be referred to two arbitrators, one to be chosen from Difference as time to time by the said Commissioners of the Treasury *° ^'^^^ °J , , , , , . , ^ , T , 1 • insurance, and the other by the said Company ; and ir such arbitrators ^^ ^^ ^^ should at any time or times not agree in the matter or settled by question referred to them, then such question in difference arbitration. 49 If the whole Service not required a certain sum to be paid for each steam vessel employed. Provision in case of war. shall be referred by them to an umpire, to be chosen by such arbitrators before they proceed with the reference to them, and the joint and concurrent award of the said arbitrators, or the separate award of the said umpire, when the said arbitrators cannot agree, shall be binding and conclusive upon all parties. And it is hereby also agreed, that if in the opinion of the said Commissioners for executing the said Office of Lord High Admiral a portion of the Service herein- before mentioned can be satisfactorily performed before the period at which this contract is to commence, as herein- after provided, the same Commissioners shall, if they think proper, direct and allow such portion of the said Service only to be performed by such number of such steam vessels as aforesaid as they may deem necessary, and in that case there shall be paid to the said Company a sum after the rate of ;;^2o,ooo per annum for every such steam vessel while so employed. And it is hereby further agreed, that if an entire stoppage of any part of the Service hereby contracted to be performed shall occur by reason of any change in the relations between this kingdom and foreign countries, or by reason of war or other causes distinctly of a public and national character, the said Commissioners of the Treasury shall have power to make such alterations in the course and services of all or any of the vessels employed in the performance of this contract, even beyond the limits of the several ports or places to which the said mails are hereby agreed to be conveyed, as they the same Commissioners may deem most advantageous to the public, provided that for the effecting any such alterations it shall not be necessary for the said Company to employ any more such steam or sailing vessels as aforesaid than they are hereby bound to employ in duly SO performing the whole of the said Service hereby specifically contracted to be performed ; and in case the same Com- missioners shall consider that any such alterations cannot be satisfactorily made, and the said Company can perform the remainder of the said Service with a less number of vessels than is required to be employed by them while performing the whole of the said Service, then, and so long as such may be the case, there shall be a reasonable annual deduction made from the money hereby agreed to be paid to them, or such other arrangement made by the same Commissioners as they the same Commissioners may consider fair and just between the Company and the public. And it is hereby agreed and declared, that this contract Commence- shall commence on the ist day of December, 1 841, or on ment and ... , . , „ termination such earlier day as the parties hereto may mutually arrange, ^ f,g„f,.(jf.f and shall continue in force for 10 years from the first day on which the first of such steam vessels shall put to sea for Barbados with the mails, in performance of the entire Service hereby contracted for, and then determine if the said Commissioners, parties hereto, shall, by writing under the hand of the Secretary of the Admiralty for the time being, have given to the said Company, or the said Company shall have given to the said Commissioners, 12 calendar months' notice in writing, that this contract shall determine at the expiration of the said term of 10 years ; but if neither the said Commissioners nor the said Company shall give any such notice, this contract shall continue in force even after the said term of 10 years, until the expiration of 12 calendar months' notice in writing as aforesaid shall be given by either of the parties hereto to the other of them. And it is hereby further agreed and provided, that the Contract not said Company shall not assign, underlet, or dispose of 'o ^^ this contract, or any part thereof; and that in case of ^ SI the same, or any part thereof, being assigned, underlet, or otherwise disposed of, or of any breach of this contract on the part of the said Company, their officers, agents or servants, it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners for executing the said Office of Lord High Admiral (if they think fit, and notwithstanding there may or may not have been any former breach of this contract) by writing under the hand of their Secretary for the time being, to determine this contract, without any previous notice to the said Company or their agents ; nor shall the said Company be entitled to any compensation in consequence of such determination ; but even if this contract be so determined, the payment of the sum of money hereinafter agreed to be made shall be enforced, should the same be not duly paid by the said Company. As to delivery And it is also agreed, that the notices or directions oj no ices. which the same Commissioners, or their Secretary, officers, or other persons are hereby authorized and empowered to give to the said Company, their officers, servants, or agents, may at the option of such Commissioners, or of their Secretary, officers, or other persons be either delivered to the master of the vessel, or other officer, agent, or servant of the said Company in the charge or management of any vessel employed in the performance of this contract, or may be left for the said Company at their Office or house of business in London. And lastly, for the due and faithful performance of all and singular the covenants, conditions, provisoes, clauses, articles, and agreements hereinbefore contained, which, on the part and behalf of the said Company, are or ought to be observed, performed, fulfilled, and kept, the said Company do hereby bind themselves and their successors unto our Sovereign Lady the Queen in the sum of ;^5o,ooo of 52 lawfulfmoney of the United Kingdom, to be paid to our said Lady the Queen, her heirs and successors, by way of stipulated or ascertained damages hereby agreed upon between the said Commissioners and the said Company, in case of the failure on the part of the said Company in the due execution of this contract, or any part thereof. In witness whereof two of the said Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral have hereunto set their hands and seals, and the said " Royal Mail Steam Packet Company " have hereto set their corporate seal the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed and delivered by the said Commissioners W. PARKER (L.S.) in the presence of DALMENY (L.S.) JOHN JAMES. The corporate seal of the above-named Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was hereunto affixed, by order of the Court of Directors, in the presence of W. H. PITCHER, Secretary to the Directors. JOHN JAMES. S3 Mail Contract with the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral 1840, March 20th. WEST INDIES SERVICE. Commenced i st January, 1 842, for ten years. Subsidy, ^240,000 per annum. Two sailings a month. Note. — The steaming and sailing amounted to 684,816 miles per year, but was reduced in October, 1842,10 392,976 miles. Later, in 1843, a further reduction of 40,000 miles was agreed. Mail Contracts with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty 1846, July I St. WEST INDIES SERVICE. Owing to further modifications in the original Contract, a new one was drawn up for six years from ist January, 1846. Mileage in excess of 389,448 to be paid for extra. 1850, July 5th. WEST INDIES & BRAZIL & RIVER PLATE SERVICES. For ten years from January, 1851. Two sailings monthly to the West Indies, and a monthly service to Brazil and River Plate. Mileage increased by 1 52,000 miles. Subsidy, ;^"2 70,000— an addition of only ;^30,ooo a year. 1858, February 25th. WEST INDIES & BRAZIL & RIVER PLATE SERVICES. Contract of 1850 extended by two years in considera- tion of improvements in the Brazil and West Indies Services. 54 1858, July ist AUSTRALIAN SERVICE. Owing to the failure of the European and Australian Mail Co., The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company agreed to continue the Australian Mail Service and entered into a Mail Contract for eight months, for a subsidy at the rate of ;^ 18 5,000 per annum, giving a monthly sailing, with Government indemnity of ^6,000 a month under certain circumstances of loss in the working. In i860 and 1863 about ;^6o,ooo was received by the Company under this head. Mail Contracts with the Postmaster-General 1863, July 13th. BRAZIL & RIVER PLATE. From I St January, 1864, for seven years. Monthly service. Subsidy, ^33,500. 1863, July 22nd. WEST INDIES SERVICE. From 1st January, 1864, for six years. Fortnightly service from Southampton, also an Inter-Colonial Service. Subsidy, ^72,914. 1864. WEST INDIES SERVICE. Supplementary Contract, terminable at three months' notice, for conveyance of mails to British Honduras. Subsidy, ^8,886 per annum. 1864, November i6th. WEST INDIES SERVICE. Supplementary to the Mail Contract of 22nd July, 1863, with reference to Government passengers, &c. 1865, April I St. BRAZIL & RIVER PLATE SERVICE. Supplementary to the Mail Contract of 13th July, 1863, with reference to Government passengers, &c. 55 1 868, June 26th. BRAZIL & RIVER PLATE & WEST INDIES SERVICES. The Contracts dated 13th July and 22nd July, 1863, extended to 31st December, 1874. 1 87 1, August 31st. ST. THOMAS & PORTO RICO SERVICE. To continue only as long as the West Indies Contract of 22nd July, 1863. Monthly service. Subsidy, ;^ 1,000 per annum. 1874, May 5th . WEST INDIES SERVICE. From ist January, 1875, for five years. Fortnightly service. Subsidy, ;^84,750. 1874, July 8th. WEST INDIES SERVICE. Supplementary to Contract of 5th May, 1874, arranging for a regular call at Plymouth homeward, with an extra subsidy of ;^2,ooo per annum. 1874, December 24th . BRAZIL & RIVER PLATE SERVICE. Commenced ist January, 1875, subject to six months' notice. Payment for conveyance of mails made on a poundage rate basis. 1875, February 9th. WEST INDIES SERVICE. Supplementary to Contract of 5th May, 1874, with reference to Government passengers, &c. 1876, June 15th. BRAZIL & RIVER PLATE SERVICE. Outward only, from ist September, 1876, subject to six months' notice. Fortnightly sailings. Payment for conveyance of mails made on a poundage rate basis. 56 g o Id Q 1878, August i2th. WEST INDIES SERVICE. From 1st January, 1880, for five years. Fortnightly sailings from Southampton, also an Inter-Colonial Service. Subsidy, ^80,000. 1884, July nth. WEST INDIES SERVICE. Contract of 12th May, 1878, extended for six months until ist July, 1885. 1885, March i8th . WEST INDIES SERVICE. From 1st July, 1885, for five years. When steamer goes to Greytown, Limon or Savanilla from Colon, the mails to be conveyed without extra charge. Fortnightly service from Southampton, also an Inter- Colonial Service. Subsidy, ^90,000. 1887, December 23rd. PORTUGUESE SERVICE. Parcel Mails between United Kingdom and Lisbon and back to be conveyed under Brazil and River Plate Contract by any of the steamers calling at the said port. Payment for conveyance of mails made on a poundage rate basis. From ist January, 1888. Termination by six months' previous notice, or end with Contract of 15th June, 1876. 1888, August 7t h. RIVER PLATE SERVICE Parcel Mails between United Kingdom and Monte- video, and United Kingdom and Buenos Aires and back, from ist September, 1889. Termination by six months' previous notice or to end with IVIail Contract 15th June, 1876. Parcel Mails to be conveyed by any steamer calling at the said ports. Payment for conveyance of mails made on a poundage rate basis. 57 1890, May 15th. WEST INDIES SERVICE. From 1st July, 1890, for five years. Fortnightly service from Southampton, together with an Inter- Colonial Service. Subsidy, ;^85,ooo per annum. 1895, May 24th. WEST INDIES SERVICE. From 1st July, 1895, ^°^ ^^^ years. Fortnightly service from Southampton ; also an Inter-Colonial Service. Subsidy, ;^ 8 0,000. 1900, September ist. WEST INDIES SERVICE. From 1st July, 1900, for five years. Subsidy, ^80,000, with an additional ^5,000 from 9th July, 1902, in return for the transatlantic mail steamers calling at Trinidad. Fortnightly service from Southampton, together with an Inter-Colonial Service. Subsidy from 1902, ;^8 5,000. 1905, July I St. WEST INDIES SERVICE. No Contract was in force from this date until ist June, 1907. During this period the mails were despatched by the Post Office by first steamer of any line sailing to the West Indies, and were paid for at the rate of ^d. per letter, and the parcels on a poundage rate basis. 1907, June ist. WEST INDIES TRANSATLANTIC SERVICE. Expiring six months' notice. Fortnightly service. Payment for conveyance of mails made on a poundage rate basis. 1907, August 29th. WEST INDIES INTER-COLONIAL SERVICE. Contract for ten years. Subsidy, ^^2 5,000 per annum. 1908, November 2oth. MOROCCO SERVICE. Expires at six months' notice. Payment for con- veyance of mails made on a poundage rate basis. S8 Mail Contracts with Colonial Governments 1872, February 23rd . BRITISH HONDURAS SERVICE. Jamaica to Belize and back. From 17th November, 1 87 1, for three years and then terminable by six months' notice. Monthly service. Subsidy, ^5,000. 1889, December 19th. LEEWARD ISLANDS SERVICE. For five years. To be maintained by a steamer of 500 tons gross register, with a speed of ten knots per hour. Subsidy, .;^3,ooo per annum. 1892, March nth. ST. LUCIA COASTAL SERVICE. To be performed by two steamers for five years, com- mencing 1st August, 1892. Subsidy, ^1,000. 1892, May 24th. GRENADA COASTAL SERVICE. To be performed by three steamers for five years, from 1st August, 1892, terminable by six months' notice. Subsidy, ^1,500. 1897, July 31st. ST. LUCIA COASTAL SERVICE. Contract of 1892 extended for five years from 31st July, 1897. 1 901, March 22nd. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. One steamer each for Trinidad and Tobago. From 19th March, 1901, for five years. 1901, June 24th. ST. LUCIA COASTAL SERVICE. "Weekly service from Castries to Dennery for two years. Subsidy, ^250. Discontinued 1902. 1902, August 2 1 St. ST. LUCIA COASTAL SERVICE. Contract of 1892 continued with one steamer only from 1st August, 1902, to 31st December, 1906. 59 I902, October 3rd . GRENADA COASTAL SERVICE. To be performed by "Taw" and "Wear" — with "Exe" as relief steamer. From ist September, 1902, to 31st December, 1906. Subject to six months' notice. 1902, November 20th. DOMINICA COASTAL SERVICE. For five years from 25th December, 1901. To be performed by a steamer of not less than 80 tons gross register, and eight knots speed. 1905, AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH SERVICE. From 4th April, 1905, to 31st January, 1908. Fort- nightly service. Subsidy, ^120,000 per annum. (Jointly with Orient Steam Navigation Company, Limited.) 1906, March 19th. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO COASTAL SERVICE. 1907, January ist. ST. LUCIA COASTAL SERVICE. 1907, January ist. GRENADA COASTAL SERVICE. 1907, November 15th . AUSTRALIAN COMMON- WEALTH SERVICE. Extension of Contract of 1905, providing for an additional payment of ^^4,000 for calling at Brisbane. 1909, January ist . DOMINICA COASTAL SERVICE. 60 Mail Contracts with Foreign Governments 1875, April 20th. COSTA RICA GOVERNMENT. For ten years. To call at Port Limon monthly out and home. Subsidy, ^1,200 per annum. 1876, September nth . PORTUGUESE GOVERN- MENT. From I St October, 1 8 7 6, at six months' notice. Lisbon, Southampton and Lisbon to St. Vincent, Brazil and River Plate. Fortnightly service. Payment for conveyance of mails made on a poundage rate basis. 1876, October 12th. BRAZIL GOVERNMENT. Payment for conveyance of mails made on a poundage rate basis from Brazil to Europe, also to River Plate and between Brazilian Ports. Six months' notice. 1877, July 30th. ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT. Contract for fortnightly service from the Argentine to England and the Continent. Terminable at six months' notice. Payment for conveyance of mails made on a poundage rate basis. Note. — -Payment ceased June, 1886, and was resumed from January to November, 1888, and since 1888 the Company has had to carry the mails from the Argentine to England and the Continent without receiving any payment. 1877, August 31st. BRAZIL GOVERNMENT. From 22nd October, 1877, until terminated by six months' notice. For conveyance of mails from Brazil to Europe and to River Plate, and between Ports of Brazil, giving two sailings monthly. Payment for conveyance of mails made on a poundage rate basis. Note. — Payment ceased 1900, since which date the Company has had to carry the mails from Brazil to England and the Continent without receiving any payment. 61 1878, October 2 3rd. BRAZIL GOVERNMENT. For five years from December, 1878. Six months' notice. Subsidy, ;^2,500 per annum. Monthly call of South American Mail Steamers at Maceio. 1883, October 27th. BRAZIL GOVERNMENT. Contract of 23rd October, 1878, extended for five years from 24th November, 1883. 1885, October 20th. COSTA RICA GOVERNMENT. Contract of 1875 extended for five years. 1890, December 2 1 St. COSTA RICA GOVERNMENT. Contract of 1875 extended for a further five years. 1892, December 2nd. BRAZIL GOVERNMENT. Contract of 23rd October, 1878, extended for five years from January, 1893. 1895, August 23rd. COSTA RICA GOVERNMENT. Contract of 1875 extended until 8th April, 1898, with option of renewal. 1897, December loth. PORTUGUESE GOVERN- MENT. Rates of payment revised under Contract of 1876. Fixed sum per annum for Foreign Mails passing through Portugal (except from Spain). Separate fixed sum for mails from Spain. From ist January, 1898, to 31st December, 1904 — thereafter till ended by six months' notice. 62 Transport Work by the R.M.S.P. CRIMEAN WAR, 1854. During the Crimean War, 1854-56, the British Government chartered from The Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. the following steamers as transports for troops and stores to the Black Sea : — R.M.S.P. "MAGDALENA" R.M.S.P. "MEDWAY" R.M.S.P. "ORINOCO" R.M.S.P. "SEVERN" R.M.S.P. "TAMAR" R.M.S.P. "THAMES" R.M.S.P. "TRENT" and the Company was highly commended by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and Brigadier - General Bentinck for the excellent services rendered by these steamers. Similar comments were made by the French Authorities in regard to the R.M.S.P. "Parana," which steamer was chartered by our ally for the purpose of conveying French troops from Marseilles and Toulon to the Black Sea. It was while the R.M.S.P. "Orinoco" was under charter at this time that she made the passage from South- ampton to Malta in, what was considered at that period, the short time of nine days. 63 The following statement appeared in the Illustrated London News of January 6th, 1855, in regard to the services rendered by The Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. during this grave crisis : — "Although we have frequently had occasion to notice the services of the steam transport fleet chartered by the Government for the conveyance of troops and stores to the Black Sea, there are many of the vessels employed which deserve more than a passing word. The West Indies mail steamer 'Trent,' under the command of Captain Gordon Ponsonby, is one of those which has been found most useful since the commencement of the operations in the Black Sea, as the following record of her services will show : — "The 'Trent' left Southampton on the 4th April, 1854, with the 23rd Regiment — 11 80 strong — for Constantinople. Notwith- standing her heavy living freight she towed up from Malta, on her R.M.S.P. "TRENT" AT MALTA WITH ROYAL WELCH FUSILIERS ON BOARD. (Reproductd by permission 0/ the '•Illustrated London News.") 64 R.M.S.P. "ORINOCO" LEAVING SOUTHAMPTON WITH THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS FOR THE CRIMEA (Reproduced by permission of the "Illustrated London Ne7t's.") way, the steamship 'Tonning,' Franklin commander, that ship having broken down. Both ships encountered a heavy gale in the Doro Passage, during which the hawsers parted. The ' Trent ' stood by, and, fresh cables having been made fast, the two vessels proceeded on their way. The ' Trent ' then returned to Malta with the 'Tonning ' in tow, and on her arrival there she was fitted as a horse transport, by order of Admiral Stewart. Having taken on board 700 men of the 53rd, and staff horses to the number of 120, she again proceeded to Constantinople. From Constantinople the 'Trent' sailed for Varna with 328 horses and 200 men. She returned, immediately on landing them, to Constantinople, where she again shipped 315 horses and 200 men. With these she proceeded safely to Varna. On her return from this service the 'Trent' was ordered by Admiral Boxer to take Captain Nolan and Captain Thompson to Beyrout, where horses were purchased for the remount of artillery. Returning again to 65 Constantinople the 'Trent' took up to Varna 299 horses and 50 men for the Commissariat, and having safely landed these she proceeded to Barcelona. There, notwithstanding the state of confusion in which the town was placed by the outbreak of the revolution, 325 mules, with their drivers, were shipped, and Captain Ponsonby had the satisfaction of taking out in safety Generals Roches and Gonzales, the Captains-General of Catalonia, and the Attorney- General of Spain, whose lives were in jeopardy from the attacks of the mob. "The mules having been landed without loss, the 'Trent' took part in the first expedition to the Crimea, taking on board and landing in safety the whole of the nth Hussars and part of the 17th Lancers. Proceeding from Old Fort to Varna, she took on board the Inniskillings and a number of staff horses for Lord Raglan, Lord Cardigan, and General Scarlett, and though she encountered a heavy gale, during which the ' Rip Van Winkle ' parted from her, she reached Balaclava without a single loss in men or horses. From Balaclava the 'Trent' proceeded to Burgas, and took up in safety to Kherson Bay 304 men and horses of the French Chasseurs d'Afrique. Returning to Varna she brought back to Balaclava 60 draught horses for the artillery, and 240 French gunners and horses. During her stay at Varna she had ridden out one of the severest galea of the season, making her way out, under steam, through the midst of a mass of sailing transports. Damaged as she was on this occasion, her paddle-box boats being unserviceable, her other boats swept away, and her bowsprit carried off, she still performed valuable service. Though further damaged in the gale of the 14th at Balaclava, she took from thence 320 sick and wounded to Constantinople without the loss of a man. From Constantinople she brought a large number of invalids to Malta, where she is now refitting. During the whole of her trip the 'Trent' towed seventy sailing ships. Such is a catalogue of the services rendered by one of our transport steam fleet in a period of eight months. Doubtless many other steamers — the ' Medway,' Captain Baynton, and the ' Orinoco ' — have done excellent service also, but none at all events have done it better, or more effectually, than the 'Trent.'" 66 An Incident of the American Civil War, 1 86 1 Though Great Britain had declared herself neutral during this War, she showed sympathy for the Confederate States of the South, who were seeking to break off from the Federal States of the North of the United States, with a view to establishing their own Independency. This leaning of Great Britain towards the Confederate States did not enhance her friendship with the Federal States, as will be seen from the following incident extracted from the Dictionary of English History, by Sidney J, Low, B.A., and F. S. Pulling, M.A., and Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1901 : — The Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.'s steamer "Trent" left Havana on November 7th, 1861, for St. Thomas, with the mails for England, under charge of a Commander in the Navy, with numerous passengers on board, including Messrs. Slidell and Mason, Commissioners for the Confederate States. She was, however, stopped on November 8th at the entrance to the Bahama Channel, about nine miles from the Island of Cuba, by the Federal steamship of war, " San Jacinto," under the command of Captain Wilkes. The Confederate Commissioners and their Secretaries were, in face of the protests made by Captain Moir, taken from the R.M.S.P. "Trent," which then proceeded on her voyage, and were carried to Boston, where they were imprisoned in Fort Warren. This incident aroused indignation in England, and Earl Russell, then Foreign Secretary, in a despatch on November 30th, 1861, instructed Lord Lyons, the British Minister in Washington, to demand their release. The policy adopted by the British 67 Foreign Office was supported by diplomatic commu- nications from France, Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Italy to the Federal Government, sustaining the views of the British Government. Mr. Seward, the American Secretary of State, justified the seizure on the grounds that the Commissioners were contraband of war, and that Captain Wilkes was entitled to seize them as enemies or rebels. He denied the immunity of the "Trent," as a packet boat, from the right of being searched, and declared that Captain Wilkes had exercised this right in a strictly legal manner. He conceded, however, that Captain Wilkes was guilty of an irregularity in not sending the vessel to an American port to be tried by a prize court. Mr. Seward finally gave in- structions for the release of these prisoners, and based his acquiescence to the British demand as K.M.S.P. "Trent." THE CONFEDERATE COMMISSIONERS TAKEN FROM THE R.M.S.P. "TRENT" BY THE " SAN JACINTO." 68 being a recognition of the American doctrine, which denied the " right of search " hitherto exercised by Great Britain, and on that ground replied that the prisoners would be " cheerfully given up." Lord Russell replied in a despatch of January nth, 1862, that he denied that the Commissioners could in any sense be described as contraband of war. The incident then terminated. On this occasion the Government again employed steamers of The Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. to do the transporting work, namely, R.M.S.P. "MAGDALENA" R.M.S.P. "PARANA" These vessels conveyed troops from Southampton to Halifax, thus strengthening the military forces in Canada. ASHANTEE WAR, 1874. The British Government on this occasion chartered The Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.'s Steamer "Humber" as a transport to convey the 2nd West Indian Regiment from Jamaica to the West Coast of Africa, where this regiment helped in successfully subduing the Ashantees. The British Forces engaged in this expedition were under the command of Sir Garnet Wolseley (afterwards Lord Wolseley). 69 SOUTH AFRICAN WAR, 1 899-1 902. The successful conveyance of troops and munitions of war to different parts of the world by the steamers of The Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. in former years, led the British Government to again charter some of their vessels for the transport of troops and stores from South- ampton to South Africa, namely, R.M.S.P. "EBRO" R.M.S.P. "MINHO" R.M.S.P. "NILE" R.M.S.P. "ORTONA" R.M.S.P. "SEVERN" R.M.S.P. "TAGUS" In addition to conveying troops and munitions of war from Great Britain to South Africa, some of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.'s transports were specially utilised by the Admiralty for the reconveyance of some of the troops, raised in Australia and New Zealand for special service in South Africa, on the cessation of hostilities in the Transvaal. The return of these forces, who were specially commended for their excellent services, was the signal for a general rejoicing in the Colonies. 70 LIST OF British Colonies and Possessions with which the R.M.S.P. Company has afforded Mail and Passenger Services ANTIGUA BARBADOS BERMUDA BRITISH GUIANA BRITISH HONDURAS CEYLON DOMINICA EGYPT GIBRALTAR GRAND CAICOS GRENADA HONG KONG INDIA JAMAICA MALTA MONTSERRAT NASSAU NEVIS NEW SOUTH WALES NEW ZEALAND QUEENSLAND ST. KITTS ST. LUCIA ST. VINCENT SOUTH AUSTRALIA STRAITS SETTLEMENTS TASMANIA TOBAGO TRINIDAD TURKS ISLAND VICTORIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA 71 The R.M.S.P. Co.'s Present Mail and Passenger Services SOUTH AMERICAN SERVICE. THE Mail Steamers leave Southampton and Cherbourg on Fridays. The ports of call are Coruna, Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, St. Vincent (Cape de Verde), Pernambuco, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires. The Steamers are fitted with the Marconi apparatus for wireless telegraphy. Through booicing to Chili via Buenos Aires and the Andes between October and April, also for the voyage round South America, returning via Colon or vice versa. WEST INDIAN AND NEW YORK SERVICE. Steamers leave Southampton fortnightly with H.M. Mails, and the service falls into three divisions : — (a) The Main Line : — Southampton and Cherbourg to Barbados, Trinidad, La Guaira, Puerto Colombia (Savanilla), Cartagena, Colon, Jamaica and New York. The majority of these steamers are fitted with the De Forrest wireless system. (I?) The Island Branch, connecting with the Main Line Steamers, both outward and homeward, at Barbados, and thence affording a regular Mail and Passenger service to Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Montserrat, Antigua, Nevis and St. Kitts, returning to Barbados via Antigua, Montserrat, Dominica, and St. Lucia. (c) The British Guiana Branch, connecting at Barbados with the Main Line Steamers, both outward and homeward, and thence afFording a regular Mail and 72 Passenger service to Georgetown, Demerara, as well as with the Island Branch, returning to Barbados via St. Vincent and Grenada en route. MOROCCO, CANARY ISLANDS, AND MADEIRA SERVICE. The Steamers leave London (Morocco Wharf, Wapping) fortnightly throughout the year. The ports visited are Gibraltar, Tangier, Casablanca, Mazagan and Mogador (and often Rabat, Larache, and Saffi in addition), thence to TenerifFe, Las Palmas, and Madeira, giving nearly a day at each port, and returning to London in about 24 days. The inclusive charge, from 20 Guineas, makes this at once an inexpensive and thoroughly enjoyable circular cruise. STRAITS, CHINA, AND JAPAN SERVICE. The " Shire " Steamers proceed from the Royal Albert Dock at frequent intervals, and convey cargo and a few passengers. The ports of call are Port Said, Suez, Colombo, Penang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nagasaki, Kobe, and Yokohama. MEDITERRANEAN, CEYLON, AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, AND NEW ZEALAND SERVICE. Frequent Steamers leave London (Tilbury) at regular intervals in connection with this Service. NORWEGIAN FJORDS, NORTH CAPE AND THE NORTHERN CAPITALS OF EUROPE. A luxuriously appointed yachting steamer of 10,000 to 12,000 tons, proceeds to the Norwegian Fjords, North Cape and the Northern Capitals of Europe during the cruising season, July to September. 72, F Fast Cargo Services (i) WEST INDIES LINE, in association with Scrutton, Sons & Co. and Prentice, Service & Henderson. " A " Route, fortnightly from London, to Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad and Demerara. " B " Route, four-weekly, from London to St. Lucia, Dominica, Montserrat, Antigua, St. Kitts or Nevis, Jamaica, Limon, Colon, Cartagena, Jamaica, Havre and London. " C" Route, three-weekly, from Glasgow to Barbados, Trinidad and Demerara. (2) CUBA AND MEXICO LINE. Monthly, from Antwerp and London to Havana, Puerto Mexico, Vera Cruz, Tampico, returning via Vera Cruz, Puerto Mexico, &c. (3) BRAZIL LINE. Monthly, from Antwerp, Hull and London to Oporto, Pernambuco, Maceio, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, re- turning via Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Havre and London. Monthly, from Newport and Swansea to Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, returning via Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, London and Antwerp. (4) {a) RIVER PLATE LINE. From Hull and London to Bilbao, Santander, Monte Video, Buenos Aires, La Plata, Campana, Las Palmas, Plymouth, Southampton, London and Hull. {b) BAHIA BLANCA LINE. From United Kingdom and Continental Ports to Bahia Blanca. 74 (5) MOROCCO LINE. From London to Gibraltar, Tangier, Larache, Rabat, Casablanca, Mazagan, Saffi, Mogador, Saffi, Mazagan, Casablanca, Rabat, Larache, Tangier, Gibraltar, Las Palmas, TenerifFe, Madeira and London. (6) SHIRE LINE. Continental Ports and London to the Far East. (7) BREMEN AND HAMBURG LINE. Fortnightly from Southampton. (8) LONDON AND SOUTHAMPTON LINE. Weekly. 75 Isthmus of Panama EVER since America was discovered, men have wished that the Atlantic and the Pacific should be con- nected by cutting a canal through the Isthmus of Panama. The importance of such an undertaking, by shortening the voyage to China and other parts of Asia, as well as to Australia and the "West Coast of North and South America, is obvious to all who cast even a hasty glance at the map. Before, however, steps were taken to cut a canal from Panama to Colon, a railroad was built by the Americans, who formed a company known as the Panama Railroad Company. This railroad took five years to complete (1850 to 1855), and connected the Atlantic port. Colon, with Panama, the Pacific port, a distance of 48 miles. It is interesting to note, in connection with this " gateway " to the Pacific, that The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company in 1850 gave financial support to the extent of $125,000 (;£2 5,000), thus assisting the Railroad Company (who were at that time experiencing difficulty owing to lack of funds) in completing the railroad. No plans appear to have been formulated for the cutting of a canal through the tropical regions of the Isthmus until Ferdinand de LessepSj fired with the enthusiasm attendant on his great success at Suez, took up the question, and in 1879 convened an international congress in Paris to discuss the question. A commission, comprised of expert engineers, was formed and proceeded to Panama in 1880, and, after making investigations on the spot, estimated that a canal could be constructed for 843,000,000 francs (^33,720,000). 76 THE well-known Author, Mr. W. H. Koebel, in one of his recent works, entitled " Madeira Old and New," writes : — " Personally, I have always entertained a great weakness for The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, who run a fortnightly service to the Island. Their vessels — of ten to thirteen thousand tons — are truly magnificent. Indeed, I have always disem- barked from these perfectly appointed and ably staffed leviathans with a certain sense of regret that even scenery such as that of Madeira takes some while to dispel What between globe trotters, British land-owners and merchants, and a plentiful crop of South American millionaires, there are too few vacant berths on the R.M.S.P. "In connection with the Forwood Line, the vessels touch at Madeira fortnightly en route from Morocco to London, and since my return to England The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company have acquired this service. Consequently, the vessels, which were specially built for the route during the last twelve months, are now being run under the R.M.S.P. flag, and on the lines for which the Royal Mail have established so well-deserved a reputation for comfort and luxury while travelling on the high seas." Messrs. R. & G. Hanicotte in their work on Brazil, " La Verite sue le Bresil," published in Paris, refer in glowing terms to the R.M.S.P. Service : — " La Compagnie The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company dessert cette partie du monde depuis 1851. Un service hebdomadaire est assure entre Southampton et TAmerique du Sud des navires dont le luxe et le 85