§ MR. KINNAIRDsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Royal Mail Steamers are to continue running to St. Thomas's as the place for delivering and receiving the Mails, or whether it is intended to adopt any English Island for that purpose; and, if so, what Island and Harbour?
§ MR. ADDERLEYsaid, in reply, that the West Indian mails would not continue to call at the island of St. Thomas. One of the English islands would be selected for the new station. In deciding which should be selected several considerations occurred, such as which would be the best point of departure for the mails to other islands, from Bahamas northward to Guiana south, and which was on the best line to Panama, as well as the suitability and capability of the harbours offering themselves in the different islands. The matter was still under the consideration of the various departments concerned, but no final decision had yet been come to.