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they did not carry. Steerage passengers.
But between 1855 and 1863, the number increased largely,
and Line endeavoured to obtain, Every letter from this Government or from a Foreign or Colonial Government, & Mail Contract so as to be entitled to claim exemption from the Passengers Act. It was in consequence decided to take away the exemption altogether, and this was done by the Passengers Act Amendment Act 1863.
The Steam Companies at that date made the same reclamations as the Peninsular & Oriental and Messageries Maritimes now make, on account of the apprehended inconvenience and possible delay that would be occasioned by compelling them to come under the Act. Nevertheless, in the seven years since the exemption was taken away, although there are now five or six Lines of steamers a week under contract to sail from Liverpool with Mails, and though (I believe) all carry large numbers of Steerage Passengers, we do not recollect a single instance in which there has been complaint of obstruction or delay by reason of their having to observe the provisions of the Passengers Act. This has arisen not only from the willingness of the Emigration Officers at Liverpool to afford all reasonable facilities, but from the readiness of the Shipowners to comply in all respects.
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