The Earl of Lichfieldwished to answer some questions which we put by the noble Marquess (Westmeath) yesterday, respecting the Post-Office packets at Holy-head. The noble Marquess said, that no precautions were taken to prevent danger from fire on board the packets. It was true that, for some time, in consequence of nothing of the kind having happened, the precautions against fire had in some degree been neglected; but no sooner had the subject been brought under his notice, than he gave directions that every necessary means should be provided to guard against any accident of fire happening on board the packets. With regard to the other matter of complaint alluded to by the noble Marquess—; namely, that relating to malversation and peculation carried on in the Post-Office establishment at Holyhead, he believed their Lordships would think that this was not the most suitable occasion for going into that question.
The Earl of Wicklowwished to inquire of the noble Earl when it was that the Reports of the Commissioners would come under the consideration of their Lordships?
§ The Duke of Richmondwished to give the most complete contradiction to a statement contained in the 6th Report of the Post-Office Commissioners, that the representations of the captains of the vessels on the Holyhead station did not meet with proper attention from the Postmaster-Ge- 495 neral. During the three years he held that office, he gave every attention to the representations made by those persons; and he had no doubt that his noble Friend up to the present time had done the same.
The Earl of Wicklowsaid, that it was matter of very important consideration to the noble Earl, that although no Post-Office packet had ever been actually destroyed by fire, yet it was reported that every packet on the Holyhead station had been on fire; and one of them no less than three times. This was a state of things which ought not to be tolerated: and he hoped the noble Earl would follow up the recommendation of the Commissioners, by establishing a different packet system altogether.
The Earl of Lichfieldobserved, that it was rather a curious circumstance that the only vessel that ever was burnt to the water's edge was the Venus, and she was the only vessel that ever had a fire-engine on board.
§ Subject dropped.