MR. LINDSEYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he received a memorial from certain inhabitants of British Guiana, complaining of great irregularities in the conveyance of the mails between this country and our West-Indian possessions, and praying for an inquiry into the same; if this memorial has been received, and what steps, if any, have been taken to insure for the future the regular performance of the contract entered into by the West India Royal Mail Steampacket Company; and if the Secretary of the Colonies would lay the memorial, with any correspondence bearing upon it, on the table of the House?
§ MR. LABOUCHEREsaid, that a memorial had been received at the Colonial Office from British Guiana, and could be laid on the table of the House, if his hon. Friend moved for it. It was true that irregularities in the conveyance of the mails had taken place, but it was only just to the company who had charge of the postal communication with the West Indies to state, that these irregularities had been mainly caused by the Government having been obliged to take the larger vessels of the company for employment in the transport service. The result was, that the smaller vessels had been overburdened, accidents had occurred, and irregularities had taken place. Since September last, however, the postal communications had been carried on with great regularity.