_This article of contract_, made the fifteenth day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, between the United States (acting in this behalf by their Postmaster General) and Albert C. Ramsey and Edward H. Carmick, William H. Aspinwall and Edwin Bartlett, of the city of New York; Silas C. Herring, Elihu Townsend, Simeon Draper, and R. B. Coleman, of the same place, _witnesseth_: That whereas, by an act of Congress, passed March 3, 1845, entitled “An act to provide for the transportation of the mail between the United States and foreign countries, and for other purposes,” the Postmaster General is authorized to contract for the transportation of the United States mail between any of the ports of the United States and a port or ports of any foreign power whenever, in his opinion, the public interests will thereby be promoted; and whereas, by another act of Congress, passed March 3, 1851, entitled “An act to establish certain post-roads in the United States and the Territories thereof,” the Postmaster General is authorized to enter into contracts, for a period not longer than four years, for transporting through any foreign country the mails of the United States, and that in making such contracts, the Postmaster General shall be bound to select the speediest, safest, and most economical route; and whereas notice has been given by advertising, in accordance with the directions of said act, for inviting proposals for mail contracts, under and by virtue of the acts aforesaid; and whereas Albert C. Ramsey and Edward H. Carmick have been accepted, according to law, as contractors for transporting the mail on route No. 9, from Vera Cruz, via Acapulco, to San Francisco and back, twice a month, according to the schedule hereinafter mentioned, in thirteen days each way, being an extension of two of the trips on the New Orleans and Vera Cruz line through Mexico, for the purpose of conveying the mail, and thus making one through-line in sixteen days between New Orleans and San Francisco, at and for the sum of four hundred and twenty-four thousand dollars per year, for and during the term commencing from the time Congress shall ratify this contract, and ending four years from that date, with the right reserved to the Postmaster General to continue it one year longer, at the same terms: Now, therefore, the said Albert C. Ramsey and Edward H. Carmick, contractors, and Silas C. Herring, Elihu Townsend, Simeon Draper, Robert B. Coleman, William H. Aspinwall, and Edwin Bartlett, their sureties, do jointly and severally undertake, covenant, and agree with the United States, and do bind themselves: 1st. To carry said mail within the times fixed in the annexed schedule of departures and arrivals, and so carry until said schedule is altered by the authority of the Postmaster General of the United States, as hereinafter provided, and then to carry according to said altered schedule.