2156. Then is there any grievance at all as regards your being deprived of the mail from Suez to Calcutta?--Certainly, a very great grievance. 2157. Be as good as to explain what that grievance is?--The grievance is, that the “India” and the “Precursor” were not allowed to participate in the advantage. 2158. Then, whether the sum paid for the service was £60,000 or £170,000, your grievance is, that the “India” and the “Precursor” did not come in for a share of it?--That is one point; but, on public grounds, I maintain that the sum given was a great deal too large, and that that sum was not given to merchants and shipowners in India, but to a London company. 2159. To whomever it was given, £60,000 would have been the sum for which shipowners would have been ready to do the service?--Yes. 2160. You had a knowledge of the fact, at the time the tender was open to you, that it could be done for £60,000?--I had not money enough to do it. 2161. Were you not in communication with all the principal shipowners who signed the petition?--Yes. 2162. Did you get up the petition which was presented on the 8th of August?--I did. 2163. Are those parties whose names were signed to it parties who had capital to compete for a good contract, if it was to be had?--Certainly. 2164. Did they, or any of them, send in a tender to the Board of Admiralty to do this service for £60,000?--No; they stated their belief that it was of no use to send in a tender, as it would not be attended to; that the contract would be sure to be given to the Peninsular and Oriental Company, whatever they chose to ask. 2165. Did you tell Mr. Green, and all the other parties who signed the petition, that Mr. Sidney Herbert had told you that it was open to you to send in a tender?--My impression is that it was known to them, but Mr. Green said, “No, let them alone; they are too strong for us.” 2166. Then it was known to Mr. Green, and all the other parties who petitioned, that they had an opportunity to make a tender?--The expression they used was, that it was taken out of their hands, and that it was of no use their doing it; but I do not know that I saw Mr. Green after that time. 2167. Do you mean to represent that the principal shipowners having information that the Secretary of the Admiralty had stated that the contract was open, were nevertheless of opinion, that if they offered to do the service for £60,000, the Board of Admiralty would still give the contract to a party who required a much larger sum?--I hardly know how to answer that question. I cannot say that I saw Mr. Green after the petition, but his impression was that it was of no use to compete with that powerful Company.