The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-12 00:00:00

THE PENNY POSTAGE STAMP

TO THE EDI7'OR OF THE SUN.
SlR—The letter of " An Old Subscriber," in your
paper of the 31st ult., suggesting that the penny stamp
beimprinted on a sheet of post paper, induces me to
trouble you with a line or two on the same subject.
In deciding on the best means of affixing the penny
stamp, it will be necessary to take into the account the
individual and general interests which it might assist or
oppose, and which it appears to me it ought not to
interfere with.
We must consider, then, the best means of protecting
the Post-office from fraud with regard to the stamp, and
also the convenience and interest of the public.
I beg to suggest, that the mechanical arrangement of
affixing the stamp be similar to the stamping of news-
papers, or bills of exchange, or receipts, and that parties
be enabled to get their own paper stamped, on payment
of the penny for each stamp, providing the paper do not
exceed the weight which Government may determine
shall circulate for a penny, but that the size and shape
be left to the option of the public. And provided. it be
incumbent, on sending a letter, to show the stamp m the
folding of it, I cannot apprehend any forgery of the
stamp. This system would also prevent, or at least
would not countenance, any monopoly in the paper
trade, by not interfering with it in any manner.
Until the Post-office arrangements could undertake
to supply the public with the stamps, they could be
purchased of appointed parties ; and in order eventually
to guard the Post Stamp-office from the trouble of is-
suing small numbers of stamps, it could limit its mini-
mum of issue ; and as stationers would, of course, under
the plan I have suggested, deal in stamped paper, they
would find it to their interest to be accommodating to

every class of purchaser.
I have the honor to remain, Sir,
Your most humble servant,
London, August 6, 1839. T,

CURE FOR A DYING MAN.—Some years since
the worthy Crier of the Court at Knutsford felt one morn-
ing in Court rather worse fur the previous night's debauch,
and sent the following recipe to be compounded at a neigh-
bouring hotel :—" Dear Miss H---end me a quart of
and a duck, for I am almost dead I
coffee, two muffins,
Yours, just alive, and that's,,,all, M. T."
BLINKERS.—Amongst a variety of unnecessary
suffering and punishment endured by that useful animal the
horse (especially our unfortunate hacks), blinkers are de-
cidedly not the least ; for, having made long and close ob-
servation on the subject, I find that they are not only a
great annoyance and pain to the animal, from their prox-
imity to the eye, but that from this cause (when it is th,
case) the sight becomes gradually dull and thick, till he is
left entirely without it. Two or three of the veterinary
surgeons with whom I have conversed are of the same
opinion, giving close blinkers as a reason for the number of
blind horses seen in and about London. With many of
these poor wretched animals they are not required at all,
but are used, like many unnecessary straps and trappings
about the harness, more from habit than necessity. Where
they are required they should be placed sufficiently apart
from the eye, so as not to give pain and cause irritation.
I hope all persons who keep horses will give them relief in
this respect, as many have very properly and kindly done
in removing the painful and unnecessary bearing-rein.--
Correspondent of the Morning Post.