WEST-INDIA MAILS. (Hansard, 27 April 1841)

§ The Earl of Falmouth
rose, according to notice, to present petitions from the boroughs and populous places of Cornwall, on the subject of the removal of the West-India packet stations from Falmouth to Dartmouth. In so doings their Lordships would forgive him if he briefly referred to the history of this business. The importance of having the best station for the delivery and reception of the West-India mails, had attracted the attention of the Lords of the Admiralty to the subject, and they had appointed a Committee to consider the comparative advantages of the different ports for the objects which they had in view. This committee made a report, in which it was recommended to the Lords of the Admiralty that Fal- 1148 mouth should no longer be continued the station for the West-India mails, and that Dartmouth should be used in its stead. In consequence of this report of the committee a meeting was held in the county of Cornwall, and a more populous or more respectable meeting was never assembled. The gentlemen then present, though landsmen, for the most part, were, from the frequent discussions on the subject, well acquainted with the question. They well knew, from practical experience, that Falmouth was by far the most convenient port for the West-India packets. In 1810 they had been for a time removed to Plymouth, but they shortly afterwards were brought back again, in consequence of the superiority of Falmouth 5 and in 1822, when a similar excitement prevailed, he had communicated with the noble Viscount (Melville) then at the head of the Admiralty, and he distinctly told him that there was no intention to remove the packets from Falmouth, and for this reason, that all nautical men knew the superior elegibility of that port. The introduction of railways did not alter the question, because there was no railway to Dartmouth more than there was to Falmouth. If it had been intended to remove the packets to Southampton, neither he, nor as he had reason to believe, the present petitioners would have objected to the experiment being tried, but no advantage of that kind could be claimed for Dartmouth. With regard to the report by which this change had been recommended, the committee from which it proceeded was composed of three gentlemen, as to whose competency he had nothing to object, although he might think, perhaps, that more than one naval man, whatever might be his knowledge and experience, ought to have been called in; but their report must stand on its own merits, and, if not good in itself, the names who recommended it availed nothing. The qualifications, or requirements as they were called, which this report stated to be necessary for a station for the packets, were known by all nautical men to be possessed by Falmouth in an extraordinary degree. It was not a naval port—a point deemed of much importance by the committee—and in every respect it had those requisites which they thought desirable. Well, having stated what qualifications were necessary, the committee without having added, that Falmouth possessed them not, came to this logical conclusion, "For these reasons we recommend Dartmouth." They had been 1149 appointed to consider the comparative advantages of the different ports, and yet they distinctly stated, that they would express no opinion as to the comparative advantages of the various ports. Thus, in fact, declining to do that which was one of the chief objects of their employment. But they had pointed out the superiority of Dartmouth to Falmouth on the ground of saving two hours in the time at which letters would reach London; and would their Lordships believe it! in order to make out this saving they had actually overstated, to the amount of sixteen miles, the distance from Falmouth to Exeter, which, according to the ordinary mail time, would take one hour and a half in travelling. Thus, according to their own showing, there would be but little gain even on this individual point, and that, too, in a long and varying passage both by sea and land. Was it, then, to be wondered at, that the whole county had with one voice cried out against such a report? This had been the case without distinction of sect or party, and they had forced its re-consideration upon the Government. But how was it re-considered? Why, by being sent back to the gentlemen from whom it had emanated, and they had only repeated their declaration that Dartmouth was the best port. They had then shifted their ground altogether, and had said that they had other reasons besides the alleged saving of time. It might be so. But what were they? That was all he—that was all the petitioners—wished to know. Why was a port which had been the packet station for a century and a half to be changed without any reasons being assigned? Why was a county which threw up a million and a half annually in mineral wealth, with a population of 300,000, to be so treated? For his own share in the business, he was influenced by no undue motives. He had not an acre of ground within many miles of Falmouth. The county had been aggrieved, but he urged this question on the consideration of Government and their Lordships not as a county matter. It was a matter deeply affecting the commercial interests of the country at large. The noble Earl then presented petitions from Truro, Falmouth, Bodmin, Penryn, St. Ives, and other places in the county of Cornwall, praying that some sufficient grounds should.be assigned previously to the removal of the West-India packet station from Falmouth to Dartmouth.

§ Viscount Melbourne
Though this sub- 1150 ject only comes before the House on the presentation of some petitions, I will take the opportunity of briefly stating the grounds on which we have determined to act according to the recommendations of the report furnished to us on the comparative advantages of the different, ports. I fully believe, that the subject has excited the deepest, interest, in the county of Cornwall, and I also fully believe, though the noble Earl who has brought it forward has shared in that interest, that he has been influenced by feelings of no personal nature, and that he has looked upon the question as nothing more than merely a county question, I can assure the noble Earl that, we have no desire to injure the county of Cornwall, and I cannot think that the contemplated change could produce a serious injury to that county. That change does not involve the removal of the packets from Falmouth as the port of departure. With that we have nothing to do. The company who have contracted to carry our letters have expressed their determination to depart from Southampton. That is no concern of ours. All that we have decided is the port at which the mails should be put on board. Now, if we consent to the prayer of the petitioners and to the wish of the noble Earl, and go again into the question of the comparative eligibility of each port, it does not necessarily follow that our decision would then be in favour of Falmouth. There are other places to compete with it. There is Southampton, possessing, as it certainly does, many advantages, and the noble Earl says, that he himself, would not be inclined to oppose the selection of that port. The Lords of the Admiralty, when this question came before them, appointed three gentlemen, perfectly competent from nautical skill and practical experience to form an opinion, to fix upon that port which appeared to them to possess in most respects the various requisites for the object in view. Well, how does the matter now stand? These gentlemen deeply and deliberately consider the subject, and after such consideration they give their decision. The noble Earl finds fault with their report because they have not gone through the various ports, and stated the comparative advantages and disadvantages of each, but they declare distinctly that in every respect Dartmouth is the best. What more could fairly be expected of them? Having taken the 1151 opinion of those gentlemen, universally admitted to be well qualified to arrive at a sound and correct conclusion, would it be right if we determine not to follow the advice which they have given us? The noble Earl and the petitioners, whose case he has so zealously advocated, only ask for inquiry, but the company which has undertaken the contract is desirous of making its arrangements as speedily as possible, and ought not now to be exposed to interruption and disturbance by fresh inquiry and renewed investigation. I believe, myself, that Dartmouth is the best port for the purpose, but, if it be not, the small benefit gained by another decision in this point of view would be, in my opinion, more than compensated for by the evil and inconvenience to which any further change must necessarily give rise.

The Earl of Minto
, not having a local knowledge of the various ports, and consequently not being fully acquainted with the comparative advantages and disadvantages of each of them, could not express any direct opinion on the subject under debate, but he was at the same time desirous that the question should be rightly understood, and should stand on its fair footing. The question, then, was, not as to the port from which the packets should depart, but at which the mails should be put on board of such packets. This had nothing to do with the question of retaining Falmouth as a Government packet station. No matter where the company might fix their place of departure, the Government packets would continue to sail from Falmouth, or whatever other port the Admiralty might think best suited for that purpose.

§ Lord Ashburton
said, that the course of the Government in having, after submitting this question to gentlemen competent to decide it, determined to adhere to their decision, was perfectly fair. Still he would venture to say, that there was not a person connected with that line of communication who was not surprised at the decision which had been pronounced, although by competent persons doubtless. However, he could not concur with his noble Friend in thinking that Falmouth was a very desirable port, or that it was very accessible for communication; nor did he think Dartmouth was more desirable. It was to be observed, that the company still persisted in taking Southampton as the port of departure; and certainly there were 1152 recommendations about that port, such as its nearness—being accessible in three hours from London—which in time of war could not be compensated by any advantage that could accrue from going to the far end of Cornwall. Though he thought their Lordships could not interfere with the steps taken by Government in this case, and though their adoption of the decision of their commissioners was, in his opinion, perfectly fair, yet he could not but concur with his noble Friend, that the decision itself was rather singular.

Viscount Melville
said, he was as much surprised as his noble Friend to hear that Dartmouth had been selected, though the Government were perfectly right in following the decision of the gentlemen who had been referred to.

§ The Earl of Falmouth
said, in reply, that if Dartmouth was merely to be a place of call, Falmouth would answer much better even for that purpose; and he had reason to believe, that it would be preferred by the contractors. He believed that in fact the company had objected to allow these vessels to call at Dartmouth. The noble Earl concluded by moving for a copy of the report of the commission appointed to inquire as to the port best fitted to be a port of departure for the West-India mail-packets; and also for copies of the correspondence which had taken place on the subject between the said commission and the parties interested.