§ LORD CLAUD HAMILTONasked the Secretary to the Treasury, with reference to his reply given on the 25th of February, Whether each and all of the different schemes of tenders for the West Indian Mail Service were submitted to the West Indian Colonies, or whether such reference was limited solely to the offer made by one Company?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYSir, the only tenders forwarded to the West Indian Governments for the West Indian Mails were Nos. 1 and 2 of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company—these being the only tenders which, in the opinion of the Post Office, Treasury, and Colonial Office meet the requirements of the service. They are sent to the West Indies, mainly in connection with the additional contributions asked from those Colonies, and to ascertain whether such will be forthcoming before any tender is accepted hero at home.
§ In further answer to Lord CLAUD HAMILTON,
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYsaid, that several other tenders were sent in; but 608 they proposed to take the mails viâ Now York, which was not a convenient course. The acceptance of the tenders took place here, not in the Colonies.