MR. COWPERsaid, that as some persons had, from an answer given by the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer a few nights ago, derived the impression that the Government were prepared to enter into a Contract for Mail Service without any reference to the House of Commons, he wished to ask the right hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether be intends to commit the Government to the expense of a third Mail Service to North America, in addition to the two Mail Services, for which a sum of £176,340 is inserted in the Packet Estimate, before a Vote for this purpose can be submitted in Committee of Supply.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER—Sir, it is my duty to answer the question of the right hon. Gentleman. The Contract to which he alludes is not completed, but is at present before the Admiralty, for their consideration. That contract relates to a Service which would not commence this year, and therefore there will be no necessity to take a Vote on account of it.