An Abstract of the Proceedings of the Select Committee of the House of Commons, Appointed Session, 1849, to Inquire Into the Contract Packet Service

by Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company; Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee to Inquire into the Contract Packet Se

1990. What is the date of the complaint transmitted?—That does not appear from the précis. The Admiralty agent employed on the voyage from Hong Kong to Ceylon writes this complaint, which reaches Captain Ellice about the 23rd August, 1846.

1991. What would be the ordinary length of communication between Ceylon and Southampton?—That is arranged by the contract; as I have had very little to do with the contracts in the Indian Seas, I am not prepared to say.

1992. Is it not about five months?[6]—Yes.

1993. Taking it at five months preceding this date of the complaint, they say that another vessel will be ready by November of the same year?—Yes.

1994. What was the result of the complaint as to the want of punctuality in the time?—The contractors were acquainted, on the 23rd of August, with this complaint, and what I have read is their explanation.

1995. The explanation which you have read is with reference to the non-repair of the vessel, it is not with reference to the time at all. Is there any letter from the Admiralty, either admitting the excuse to be satisfactory or otherwise?—The Admiralty seem to have admitted the excuse, for they minute the letter, acknowledging the receipt of it.

1996. Did the Admiralty officer on board the ship report anything respecting the improper state of the ship before leaving Hong Kong?—He stated that the “Lady Mary Wood” was much out of repair in her last voyage from Hong Kong to Ceylon.

1997. It was after his arrival in Ceylon that he made that report?—Yes.

1998. But he does not appear to have made any statement of that sort previous to the commencement of the voyage from Hong Kong?—There is nothing in the précis to show that he did.

1999. What is the next complaint?—“On the 28th of September of the same year, Captain Ellice sent a copy of a letter from the Admiralty agent on board the ‘Lady Mary Wood,’ reporting that vessel having grounded on a bank of sand or mud off the town of Penang, and reporting the deficiency of night-signals on board her; and he states that the vessel was got off on the following day, in a fit state to proceed with the mails, and, it was supposed, would proceed with the mails to China.”