HC Deb 03 July 1857 vol 146 cc880-1
MR. CORRY

said, he would beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether the Government has accepted the conditions of a contract for an improved Postal and Passenger Communication between London and Dublin?

MR. WILSON

said, he hoped that an arrangement had at last been effected on the subject. Only one point still remained to be settled, and he could not believe that there would be any difficulty in concluding a satisfactory arrangement between the North-Western Railway Company and the Post Office. He would, in a few days, be able to lay the formal conditions of the contract upon the table; but the outlines of the arrangement were, that four vessels of 300 feet in length, of 1,700 tons burden, and of 600 nominal horse power, capable of working up to 3,000 horse power, should be provided for the service, so that the passage should be performed within three hours and three quarters. The whole journey between London and Kingstown was to be performed in eleven hours, and between London and Dublin in eleven hours and a half each way. The periods of arrival and departure would be stated in a Minute, which he hoped to be in a condition to lay upon the table in the course of a few days.

MR. VANCE

said, he should be glad to know when the new arrangement would come into operation?

MR. WILSON'S

reply was inaudible.