other 4,5007.; and therefore, upon the question of economy, Mr. Cunard had a superiority over every other offer. But Mr. Cunard had from the commencement of his contract executed it with a fidelity and regularity which, considering all the difficulties of his position, were indeed most extraordinary: during the whole period, the winter months as well as the summer, he had fulfilled his contract with a regularity not to be exceeded by any mode of conveyance unattended with difficulty in any part of the world. Mr. Cunard having thus proved to all what no other company had ever yet proved that it was possible to maintain this communication regularly during the winter; and having, therefore, a claim upon the public, that if the letters were to be conveyed twice as often, he should have the carrying of them, there did not appear to him (Mr. Goulburn), looking to the best mode of conducting the public service, to be room for hesitation in giving to Mr. Cunard the additional contract, offering as he did lower terms than any previously offered; and under that gentleman's able management and administration, he had little doubt that the increased amount of postage which would flow to the public from these additional communications, would more than compensate for the additional payment which was to be made. But the hon. Member complained that the Great Western Company was not included in the arrangement, and that the Government did not maintain two separate lines across the Atlantic for carrying the North American mails. Why, what must necessarily have been the effect of that? Was it not obvious that the employment of two companies for accomplishing the same object would have been more expensive to the public, and probably less effective, even supposing them both able to face the difficulties of the undertaking? But the Great Western Company had never attempted to cross the Atlantic during the winter months. The latest period when they ever sailed from any port was November the 6th, and the earliest date at which they commenced their voyages was in April; from November to April that company had made no attempt to face the difficulties of navigation through the ice. These difficulties were never faced by any one but Mr. Cunard; and therefore, having overcome them, he was fairly entitled to a preference, and had, under the terms of his agreement, a claim to the first offer of an additional contract of this description. Nor regu let the House be deluded by supposing that the Great Western Company were thereby deprived of the opportunity of making the profits in this traffic upon which they had calculated. There was an American company on foot for establishing, from New York to certain ports in Europe, a communication by large steam vessels calculated to run with the British vessels employed upon that and other North American stations; the profits of the Great Western Company would necessarily have been affected by that, and the whole communication with America might have been materially injured if there had been a divided contract. The terms awarded to Mr. Cunard, however, were, in comparison with those of the new company, favourable to the public. But he (Mr. Goulburn) did not believe that this competition would prove injurious to the companies embarked in it. The effect of increased facility of communication was not that the number of passengers remained stationary. The additional larity, the power of going any fortnight during the winter across the Atlantic with a moral certainty of safety, must be to increase the number of those who travelled; and the Great Western Company would find that the introduction of another competitor into the line carrying the mails, would not diminish their profits more than temporarily, but would rather give an additional incitement to a constant traffic with America, and enable them in the months during which alone they crossed the Atlantic to obtain a share of the additional traffic which must take place in the summer months. One other point must be mentioned. By the terms of the contract with Mr. Cunard, and by the power under it of diverting the course of the vessels to the ports of the North American Colonies, provision was made for the efficiency of the system during war as well as in peace; and though certainly there was no apprehension of any hostilities taking place to interfere with the peaceable transmission of letters, yet this was an advantage not to be overlooked in entering into a public contract. Such were the facts of this case. Mr. Cunard was not backed by any powerful influence in that House. He was a native of one of our North American Colonies; and it would have been much to be regretted, if, in deference to interests in this country, any unfairness or injury had been done to him, after executing this service with a regularity which had excited the ad LORD CLEMENTS hoped it would be an instruction to the Committee to consider whether it would not be preferable to have the packets to Halifax start from the western coast of Ireland-the nearest point to America. miration of every one, and showing in all | crossed the Atlantic during the winter communications had with him, a spirit of months; but the reason of that was that fairness and liberality highly honourable to he was well paid for so doing, and the him. others could not do the same, because they were not paid. Paying one set of packets a large sum for carrying the mails destroyed competition; and the fair way would be to offer others a share in carrying the mails. This might be done without additional expense, as the different companies might carry the mail alternately. There was not the least accusation against Mr. Cunard for the manner in which he carried out his contract; for he had performed it with great punctuality; but that was no reason why the country should be deprived of the benefit of competition. The whole of this contract had been entered into otherwise than by public tender; and he thought that all Government contracts should be made by public tender. The Government had advertised for tenders for carrying the mails to Boston and Halifax; and two tenders were sent in, neither of which came within the terms of the advertisement. The terms were then altered; but the Government concluded the contract without offering those terms to the public. He thought that a case was made out for granting a Committee of Inquiry. MR. CHRISTIE felt a strong impression of the excellence of the arrangement sanctioned by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer; but he had overlooked one strong point in the case. It had been stated, and not denied, that this contract was signed by the late Government two days after they had tendered their resignations, and while only holding office until their successors were appointed; and yet, previous to these resignations, this arrangement, which was known to be in contemplation, had been discussed and disputed in the House, and the Government were asked whether they would undertake that this contract should not be signed until certain Papers then moved for had been laid on the Table. The answer to that question, he believed, was deferred to a subsequent day. It seemed now that the Great Western Company also went to the noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) and asked from him an assurance that the contract should not be signed till the House and the public were in possession of further information, and that the noble Lord gave that assurance. This being unexplained, there ought to be a Committee to inquire into the circumstances under which the contract was signed. MR. GOULBURN said, that he stated distinctly, on the question being put to him, that whether the contract was signed or not, it had been substantially made before he was asked the question, and only required the mere formality of signing to be complete. MR. GISBORNE thought the answer given by the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Goulburn) to the question of the right hon. Member of Weymouth, as to the signing of the contract, was satisfactory; but under all the circumstances of the case, he should feel bound to vote for a Parliamentary inquiry, in order that the public might be satisfied that the Government had done the best for the general interests. MR. M. PHILIPS did not wish to express any decided opinion, because he was not in possession of sufficient information. He saw the difficulty in which the Government had been placed; and when they entered into a contract for the safety and seMR. SPOONER said, that the conse-curity of the transmission of letters across quence of entering into this contract was, the Atlantic by steam communication, they that it was utterly impossible for the Great wisely and properly took care to err on the Western and Great Britain steam ships to right side, and to choose vessels of proper run in competition with the Government power and size. Hence arose the first difpackets; because the sum paid to the Go-ficulty. A modification of the provisional vernment packets was so large, that the others, from the want of similar aid, could not keep on the line, and thus the advantage gained by the manufacturing districts from competition in the lowering of the rate of freights was lost. The right hon. Gentleman said that Mr. Cunard's ships arrangements, he understood, took place; but there appeared only one party able to conform to the rules and suggestions of the Government, and the contract was accordingly placed in the hands of that individual. He believed that Mr. Cunard had performed his duty to the letter, and the commer cial interests were greatly indebted to him | department making that contract to facilifor the accurate and safe manner in which tate inquiry, Feeling, therefore, that the that duty had been discharged. It was interests of Mr. Cunard would be protected, obvious, however, that any other individual he claimed inquiry on the part of the Treawas deprived of the power of performing sury. He hoped, therefore, that there would the same duty unless similar advantages be no opposition to the appointment of the were granted him. This, then, did give Committee, and at any rate, he would give to the transaction a certain aspect of mono- his vote most cordially in favour of its poly, though he was aware that the con- appointment. tract must be given to one individual; for he differed from the hon. Member for Birmingham, who thought that the contract ought to be divided. He was anxious that this Committee should be granted, in order that the commercial interests should feel assured that they had been properly attended to; but he did not mean to let fall one word against the perfect good faith with which Mr. Cunard had carried out the contract. The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER was understood to say that he had no hesitation in speaking to the propriety of the contract in question. The hon. Members for Bristol and Birmingham had said that all contracts should be made by public tender. On the whole that was the right principle; but it could not be adopted universally, and it sometimes happened that the Government was obliged to return to the system of private arrangement. When SIR R. PEEL sincerely hoped that no the first attempt was made to establish objection would be made to the appoint- steam communication with our North Amement of this Committee. He should de- rican Colonies, independent of the United cidedly vote for inquiry. The Treasury States, the Government called for tenders gave this contract to Mr. Cunard, not only for carrying the mails to Halifax. At that because they felt that he, a person without time the only steamboat likely to run acros any interest whatever, had strong claims on the Atlantic was the Great Western, and the Treasury for rendering important pub- that ran to New York, and then the words lic service, but also because they thought "New York" were put in the advertisethat at the period at which the original ment tenders, for the purpose of not excludcontract was entered into, engagements ing the Great Western. But the answers were formed which entitled Mr. Cunard to to the advertisement were not such as the this indulgence. It was said that the con- Government felt justified in accepting. tract was signed after the resignation of Very soon afterwards Mr. Cunard, who was the late Ministers had been tendered; but perfectly well known as engaged for a conit must be borne in mind that they had all siderable time in public affairs connected the power to conduct the public business, with Nova Scotia, came to Mr. Baring, and and, the contract being made, there was to him, he being then Secretary to the an obligation in honour to sign it. He Admiralty, stated his desire, for the sake was perfectly confident that the Govern- of the Colony in which he was interested, ment succeeding the late Government to undertake the communication; and he would, had the contract been left un- thought it not only important to connect signed, have signed it, under the im- the Colony with this country by steam compression that the public faith was pledged munication, conducted by the most active thereto. It was a mere formality whe- person in the Colony, but he also thought ther the late or the present Lords of the that the offer of Mr. Cunard was a very Treasury executed the deed; but it would advantageeus offer for the public, infinitely have been a shabby act in the late Go- more advantageous than the other tenders vernment to shrink from the responsibi- received. The most advantageous prevility of signing the contract, leaving that ously received was for 45,000l. a year for duty to the hon. Gentlemen opposite, who a monthly communication; but Mr. Cumight be unaware of all the circumstan-nard tendered for 55,000l. for a fortces which had previously taken place. Even supposing that there had been an error, he was sure that that House would respect public faith, and take care that Mr. Cunard should not be a sufferer; and of this he was perfectly certain, that if in any case any sort of question should arise out of a public contract, it was the duty of the nightly communication; and subsequently a further sum of 5,000l. was given for the addition of a communication up the St. Lawrence to Quebec, making the whole amount of the contract 60,000l., including the communication with Quebec. That was better than any other tender, and was the most beneficial bargain that could then tions; but he would be the last person to object to the fullest inquiry being made, and he believed that any Committee of that House could not but come to one conclusion-that the public had throughout obtained the benefit of the best arrangement that could have been made. He was quite ready to go into Committee on the ques tion, and perhaps the hon. Gentleman would allow this to be done at once. MR. P. MILES said, he would now withdraw his Motion, on the understanding, as stated by the right hon. Gentleman, that the Committee would be granted. Motion by leave, withdrawn. MILBANK PRISON. be made for the public. It was to some that the contract had been signed, and extent experimental; because the only agreed to the request of the deputation. steam vessels that had then crossed the If the gentlemen, however, had waited Atlantic were the Syrius and the Great upon him, he could have told them that, Western. There was however, great diffi- at the time they asked for delay and inculty in keeping up the communication inquiry, the contract had been already signed. the winter months, on account of the wea-He was satisfied with the whole transacther and the ice; and a relaxation of the contract was allowed on that account, and instead of the vessels being obliged to go once a fortnight all the year round, in the winter it was permitted that they should go only once a month, that was to say, they went once a month for four months in the year, and twice a month for the other eight months. Mr. Cunard had performed the service he had undertaken most creditably to himself, and also with the greatest advantage and profit to the public. It was, he believed, the only line of communication with distant countries where the postage on letters more than defrayed the expense. He certainly thought Mr. Cunard had a fair claim to the contract, which was an exceedingly beneficial one to the country, the rate of carrying being 460l. per voyage lower than the lowest tender that MR. T. S. DUNCOMBE rose to direct could be got when first put up. He had not the attention of the House to the petition the remotest wish to throw any reflection which, on a former occasion, he had preupon the Great Western Company. That sented from Edward Baker, preferring company, he thought, deserved well of the serious complaints against the governor of public for sending at their own cost large Milbank Prison, and representing great vessels across the Atlantic; and whatever abuses in that establishment, both in the might be the result of the present question, management of its affairs, and as regarded he should be sorry that any injury should cruelty and oppression towards the prisonbe done to that company. Nevertheless, ers. Three years ago, this prison was this was not to prevent Government making under the charge of a Committee, but was the best bargain for the public. It was then placed under the superintendence of not the duty of Government to consider the Secretary of State for the Home Dewhether one company or another was en-partment, a governor, and three inspectors. titled to obtain the contract, but what was the best arrangement for the public service; and he believed that the arrangement made was decidedly the best. As to the time at which the contract was signed, it was in reality all arranged before the resignation of the late Government was settled; and whether it was signed two days before or two days after that resignation, was really a matter of no moment. Most undoubtedly, if he had found the contract arranged by the late Government, and not signed, he should have considered it his duty to sign it. It had been stated by the hon. Member for Bristol that a deputation had waited upon the noble Lord at the head of the Government, requesting that if the contract was not signed it should not be so till an inquiry took place. The noble Lord at that time did not know the fact If complaints of the existence of abuses of a serious character were brought forward, therefore, the House ought very jealously to look into the nature of those complaints, and ascertain on what foundation they rested. He would not give all the allegations contained in the petition, but would bring only some of the principal ones before the House. The petitioner was a warder in the prison from September, 1842, till April, 1846; had an unexceptionable character, there being no complaint whatever against him; but, he stated that, in consequence of the oppressive and tyrannical conduct of the governor, Captain Groves, towards prisoners and offcers, he was obliged to resign his situation. The petitioner stated, and he was prepared to prove, that the treatment pursued towards prisoners had led to suicides in the prison to a considerable extent. As to the that was no good reason for denying him cruelty exercised towards unfortunate pri- religious instruction. Then, as to the insoners, the petitioner mentioned the case fliction of corporal punishment, he conof George Chinnery, who had a fit in the tended that it was wrong to do so within airing-yard, when the governor entering the walls of a prison, and that it should be inquired what was the matter? The pe- done away with; the regulations of the titioner replied "a prisoner in a fit;" prisons with respect to flogging was that when the governor said, he was not in a the instrument for flogging should be apfit, and ordered him to be reported if he proved of by the inspector, and that the had recourse 66 to any more of these number of lashes should, in all cases, be tricks. Afterwards, contrary to the opin-stated in the order for punishment. It ion of the person having charge of the pri- was also a rule that the seal of one of the soners, and without the opinion of any inspectors should be on the handle of the medical man being taken, the governor cat; but in this case, as also in that of sentenced the poor prisoner to three days' another prisoner, the governor, the night bread and water allowance. The answer before the punishment was to be inflicted, to this charge he believed was-that the desired one of the officers of the prison to prisoner had, on a former occasion, been get much heavier lashes for the catconfined in Milbank, and was then pun- lashes double the size of those that were ished for feigning fits; whereas, it could put on the handle; and not satisfied with be shown that when the prisoner was for- this double weight, he ordered the end of merly in the prison, he was placed in a each lash to be tied with waxed cord. cell next to the warden's room, because he This, he contended, made the punishment was subject to fits and required to be not less illegal than cruel; and if that man looked after. Now, here was a case of a had died under such a punishment, the man unjustly punished, because he had the governor ought to have been tried for misfortune to be seized with a fit. It was murder. This was a most serious charge. also alleged by the petitioner that prison- When such things were said to be done ers were punished by the governor for within the walls of a prison, where the reading their Bibles during the sermon in public eye could not enter, nor complaints chapel; that they were punished by being be heard, it was the duty of the House to sentenced to a bread and water allowance make the strictest inquiry into such charges. for seven days, though, by the rules of the There was also a gross case of neglect and prison, the governors had the power of cruelty towards a convict of the name of imposing only for three days bread and Nash, who was draughted from the Penwater diet. Now, if it could be proved tonville prison, on the 10th of October, that this man had sentenced any party 1844, and was removed to the infirmary to seven days' bread and water diet, on the 1st of January, 1845, where he he held that an illegal and oppresdied on the 7th of the same month. This sive act had been committed. It ap- individual, during the short time he was in peared also, that in certain cases he or- the prison, was kept on bread and water dered one days' full rations at the end of during twenty-three days; and at the time three days' bread and water, and then he was removed to the infirmary, was under ordered the bread and water to be resumed. a sentence to be flogged. On the 28th of He knew that this would be denied, but he November, a boy, named James Richmond, was prepared to prove it. Another charge 10 years old, was received from Edinburgh, was the following:-On the 10th of Feb- and on the 5th of May was removed to the ruary, 1846, Frederick Bunyon was sen- infirmary, where he died on the 22nd of tenced to receive 100 lashes with the cat. the same month. While in the prison, He was taken down after receiving 70 this boy was, for a certain number of days, lashes, and it was then ordered that he confined in a dungeon on one pound of should receive no instruction, either reli- bread and two pints of water per day, gious or moral, after that date. Now, why having only boards to lie on during the the unfortunate man, after suffering severe night, with one rug and one blanket to punishment, should be sentenced to re- cover him. Such was the punishment ceive neither moral nor religious instruc-imposed upon a boy ten or eleven years tion, he was totally unable to comprehend. of age, who, he believed, died solely It had been said, in defence, that a stone from the cruelty of the treatment which was found about his person, and that he he had received. The names of three indiintended injury to some one; but surely viduals were given who committed suicide |