The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-12 00:00:00

PENNY POSTAGE.

Mr.AsnußsT-1 propose petitions to both Houses
of Parliament for the adoption of Rowland Hill's plan
of Post-office Reform. That plan has been so much
discussed that its merits are well known to all. The
plan is that all letters passing from one post town to
another in the United Kingdom be charged one penny for
each half ounce, to be paid in advance, and it has been
proposed to collect the postage through the medium of
small adhesive stamps, or stamped paper, or covers, and
the effect will be that every man will, be enabled to
frank his own communication. The present rate of
postage prohibits communication between every class
of the community, and it practically operates to sever
nearly every child who goes from its parent's roof from
the advantage of parental correspondence and instruction.
, The evidence given before the Parliamentary Commit-
tee is peculiarly full and striking. Mr. Ashurst said
that he did not intend, after the full exposition of the
subject at the meeting at the Mansion-house
yesterday,
and knowing the Court were with him—(Hear, hear)
—to go into the commercial part of the subject. He
had occasion, in getting up that evidence, to go to those
connected with science, with literature, with the arts,
with the public health, and every class of society, for
the purpose of putting in evidence the effects that
would flow from bringing the whole of the communica-
tions which now passed through illegal channels into
the Post-office. Scientific men found that experience
was with the operatives in their several departments ;
and the evidence showed that we were dependent upon
the labouring classes for much of the knowledge, as we
were admitted to be, for all the wealth we possessed, and
if postage were reduced, a plan would be acted upon
for the purpose of eliciting the practical knowledge
they possessed, by which those who had the science
and education necessary, would obtain an immense mass
of facts, and the results flowing would be brought into
action for the discovery and diffusion of truth. The
Society of Civil Engineers prepared a number of ques-
tions with open spaces, to transmit to those who could
afford to pay the postage, and they being answered and
sent back, furnished an aggregation of facts, the only
groundwork for philosophizing. They find that men
have distinct perception of what relates to the
particular branch in which they are engaged,
and that if they send a post-paid letter they
can get those facts, for though the men cannot
write treatises they can an,wer questions and give
many sound reasons. Even those able to pay postage
declined to receive their questions through the post, and
valuable results are lost. So with reference to com-
merce, and the origination of commercial operations.
Lord Ashburton stated, and every person acquainted
with business knew, that there is a great deal of specu-
lative correspondence, as there is of speculative conver-
sation, and that for an operation in business, which ends
in a practical result, many projects are conceived, and
inquiries made, ere the determination to effect one
operation is matured, and at last one opera-
tion out of many is brought to bear. But few
of these operations at first are thought of with that
determination of purpose
whichinduces a man to ex-
pend large sums in making inquiries upon a matter on
which he himself is wavering ; but if he can make them
easily and cheaply, hewill
address an inquiry to those
who are likely to give him information ; and the dis-
position of all men in trade to promote operations with
merchants. of credit, induces them to give even fuller
information than that at first. sought, and the contem-
plated speculation ripensaction, merely because
the correspondence being opened, that which would
is brought into being. A
merchant in America, i
ofrrwise have diedawayf he can communicate cheaply
and freely with the manufacturers of Germany and of
France, and finds the same mode of communication
with the manufacturers of England is very ex-
pensive, will not get into correspondence with Eng--
I land, but will write to Germany or to France.
So with reference to strike among workmen ; the Court
would hardly suppose the injurious effects of the heavy
postage rates. It was stated by one who had been a
delegate himself from the journeymen to communicate
with the masters, that such was the extent of suppres-
sion of communication, that they could not get letters
from men who they knew could give them true informa-
tion on the subject of wages. The masters would say
to the men, " here are letters showing that the wages
are so much at such a place ; we cannot give you more
than those." The
men said, " We do not believe
them," struck, and went on the tramp, and at last
found the statement of the masters confirmed.
In one case where a
delegate had himself received let-
-1 ters, and told the men that the masters were right,
Ithe men, because of their want of information, from their