UNITED STATES AND MEXICAN

MAIL STEAM SHIP LINE.

§1. FROM a long residence in the Republic of Mexico, and an intimate acquaintance with its commercial and other resources, the undersigned has for many years been deeply impressed with the importance of opening direct and regular communication by steam, between the United States and the several Mexican 'ports embraced within the circuit of the Gulf of Mexico.

To this end, he early conceived the idea of the establishment of a regular weekly line of Steam Ships from New Orleans or Mobile to the several Mexican ports of the Gulf, making the entire circuit thereof, for the purpose of mail service.

Impelled solely by his convictions of the great public need of this service, as forming the basis of most important developments in the commerce between the two. countries, the undersigned first brought the subject to

the coralderation of the two Governments as an enterpriae which should be carried out by Government action alone; but finding such a course would not be consistent with the policy of the two countries, he was then induced, from his sense of the importance of the proposed Line of communication, to undertake its establishment as a private enterprise, relying upon a cordial support from the two Governments in the way of reasonable compensation for the transportation of mails.

2. The vast influence which the establishment of full and regular steam communication would have in diverting the trade of Mexico to the United States, and in largely stimulating commercial intercourse between the two countries, at once secured for the proposed enterprise the favorable consideration of General Gadsden, then Minister of the United States near the Government of Mexico, and under his warm approbation, the undersigned entered upon his preliminary arrangements for the establishment of the line, and submitted to the Mexican Government the conditions of a contract for the mail service, subject to the terms of a postal convention which General Gadsden succeeded in adjusting for signature.

The Mexican Government, fully appreciating the advantages which would also accrue to Mexico from the proposed increase of facilities for intercourse with the United States, and aware of the difficulties and drawbacks which those who undertook the establishment of such service would have to encounter in the first years of the enterprise, before the spirit of trade could be fully aroused in Mexico, and before commerce could become fully developed along the proposed line of communica

tion, where as yet so little activity existed, came forward with a liberality deserving of most honorable mention, and received the propositions of the undersigned in a spirit evincing not only a cordial appreciation of the enterprise, and a willingness to unite in sustaining it, but also a sincere desire to foster and encourage, by every means in its power, more intimate commercial relations with the United States.

Owing, however, to the death of the Minister of Foreign Relations, Don Louis de la Rosa, which occurred at this time, and to whose department the business appertained, these proposals lay over, and were for the time being withdrawn.

3. Subsequently, another contract, with conditions similar to the former, was presented by the undersigned, and was accepted by the Mexican Government, subject to the ratification of a postal convention, which Mr. Forsyth, with equal zeal for the interests of his country, had again succeeded in negotiating.

This postal arrangement, however, not having been acted upon by the United States, the desire of the Mexican Government to secure the establishment of the proposed international enterprise was, for the time being, frustrated.

4. In nowise discouraged by these unforeseen results, the undersigned again renewed his propositions to the Mexican Government, and finally arranged, on the 6th December, 1857, a new and untrammeled contract for the exclusive carriage of the mails around the circuit of the Gulf of Mexico, and to and from the United States ports of New Orleans or Mobile.