The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-18 00:00:00

£2,083,333
868,966

Deduct the cost of distribution as above

There would remain a, nett revenue of
Which, compared with the nett revenue for the
year ended the sth instant

Shows an apparent loss to the revenue by a
reduction to ld. of

£333,633

Mr. Hill considers that the deficiency would be
made good by the increased produce which the
expansion of correspondence would produce on the
other branches of the revenue. On that point
there will scarcely be two opinions in the
country, and it appears to us that he has been too
generous besides in his allowances for increase in
the expense of management ; for not satibfiad with set-
ting apart the proportionate amount of 89,4171. on
that account, and 104,165/. which the Chairman of the
Stamps and Taxes mentioned as the probable increased
outlay that would occur in his department, he makes a
present of another 100,0001. for unforeseen expenses.
Therefore, 200,0001. would be a liberal allowance for
the amount of the deficiency which might be expe-
rienced by the adoption of an uniform rate of one penny
paid in advance, supposing that it only produced a five-
fold increase of chargeable letters. But this deficiency
makes no consideration of any saving that might be
effected by more economical management in the cost of
the existing establishment. That cost is stated as
" dead weight," and 293,000/. added to the bargain.
This is being liberal over much, because some sinecure
offices would surely be abolished, and there are forty-
one persons employed in the " evening work," the
heaviest class of officers in point of expense, and thirty-
eight other officers engaged at the " morning work,"
nearly seventy-nine persons, now forming a portion of
the numerous staff in St. Martin's-le-Grand, not includ-
ing a considerably part of the suite in the Accountant-
General's department in London, Dublin, and Edin-
burgh, whose services could be nearly all dispensed
with. There is plenty of scope for the pruning knife ;
and we are thus satisfied, from an examination of results,
that, under proper economy and management, the uni-
form penny rate tfpostage might be adopted without
even a temporary loss of any great moment to the Ex-
chequer.
The Committee report that a two-penny rate ap-
plied to all general post letters for distances exceed-
ing fifteep miles, and a rate of one penny to all dis-
tances not exceeding fifteen miles, would give a
gross revenue exceeding the present by about
80,0001. " assuming that the packet and ship
letters would not materially increase by the
mere reduction of the inland postage they are liable
to, and also that those letters which now pay a penny
postage would remain invariable ;" but supposing
" att increase to four-fold in all inland general post
letters, and to three=fold in the letters of the London
local post.
But we are much more inclined to expect a siltfolii or
even a tenfold increase of inland general post letters
by the adoption of an uniform penny rate, than a four-
fold increase with it postage of twopence. The Com-
mittee are also much more in favour of the penny than
of the twopenny rate. Indeed, they express their opi-
nion unequivocally to that effect in the 58th page of
their Report, and state that they would have at once
recommended the adoption of Mr. plen, had they
not found themselves restricted by the _terms of their
appointment.
It is gratifying to observe that the country is be-
ginning to rouse itself Actually in this matter, and
that petitions from all parts of the kingdbm, signed in-
discriminately by " Whigs, Tories, Radisals, and
Chartists," avoiding all party feeling, are in coufse elf
presentation to Parliament. The people seem in
earnest, and we trust they will not abate in the expres-
sion of their opinions, and never stop until they wrest this
great measure of justice from the hands of the Executive,
which in the words of the Report of the Select Com-
mittee, is certain to afford at once (not to speak of its
important moral and social effects) the most incalcu-
lable advantages to every branch of trade, manufacture,
and business at home, and consequently to improve very
considerably the other branches of the general revenue
of the country.
The Select Committee have discharged the impor-
tant duties committed to them with fidelity. Their
labours are published in three voluminous Parlia-
mentary folios, whereof the Report containing their
recommendations forms the third part. It is an able
Warburton,NVidlae
e
tsheaerireliin,
daaniddtirgeaffbeiceticnghaimrmuaclni, carne(di it
ono
document, evincing great accuracy, application, and re-
search,
to whom we have understood the task was intrusted of
specially preparing it for the press.—Morniitg Pap • • t?.

ON D IT.—The Tory underlings are so impa-
tient to speak and act, that Sir Robert has the greatest
difficulty in keeping them in order. Were all to speechify
who have expi%ss2d a wish to do so, the debate would last
a month.