The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-06 00:00:00

REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.

APPLICATION TO THE LORD MAYOR.
The London Mercantile Committee having ap-
poioted a deputation to wait upon the Lord Mayor to
solicit the use of the Egyptian Hall, for the purpose of
holding a public meeting of the Merchants, Bankers,
and Traders of London, to petition Parliament in favour
of an Universal Penny Postage, the Deputation was
on Saturday received by his Lordship in his private
parlour.

Mr. ASHURST banded to his Lordship the names of
the Deputation, as follows :—William Crawford, Esq.,
-- Prescott, Esq., Lestock P. Wilson, Esq.,
John Travers, Esq., Wm. Miller Christy, Esq., R. L.
Jones, Esq., John Dillon, Esq., George Moffatt, Esq.
Mr. MOFFATT stated to his Lordship the reasons
which prevented Mr. Bates and Mr. Pattison, M.P.
who had been appointed to wait upon his Lordship'
from arriving in time.
Mr. TRAVERS stated that the Deputation waited upon
his Lordship, that the commercial interests of the City
might have an opportunity of expressing at a general
meeting upon the subject of the uniform system of
Penny Postage, recommended to Government by Mr.
Rowland Hill ; that the opinion in its favour through-
out the City was, as far as he had been able to form a
judgment, almost universal, and that the Committee
watching the question had been pressed to obtain the
use of the Hall, that the extent and strength of their
opinion might be the better understood. He trusted
that his Lordship would feel no difficulty in granting
the application. It was a question, undoubtedly, of
importance to this community, and it was one deeply
affecting the trade and commerce of the City. To
meet under the Lo"d Mayor's sanction and roof would
give a tone and character to their proceedings apart from
all political feeling, admitting of no misinterpretation of
their objects. Indeed, men who differed widely other-
wise, seemed to have united upon this subject, as might
be observed in the character of the Deputation now
waiting upon his Lordship ; and all that they wanted
was his approbation of their views as their Chief Ma-
gistrate, with the accommodation fitting, as they thought
fit to express the opinions of the Merchants and
Traders of London in a grave and respectful manner.
The LORD MAYOR said he was very peculiarly cir-
cumstanced with respect to the Egyptian Hall, in con-
sequence of injury which had been done to the Hall by
public meetings, and the Corporation having recently
expended a considerable sum upon it, he was anxious to
keep it in a state of preservation. He had not
granted it to the Bishop of London upon a recent ap-
plication, and he had declined to grant it to other per-
sons of influence who had applied for its use. At the
same time, said his Lordship, I feel that this subject is
one of great importance, and of universal interest, yet I
cannot but see, that not having granted the Hall to the
Bishop of London, I may be thought wanting in re-
spect to that Learned Prelate if I now granted it to
you. He had declined to grant the Hall to those who
were desirous to petition against opening the Post-office
on Sunday, though he had earnestly aided them in their
object. Perhaps the Deputation would feel that the
use of the Guildhall would answer their purpose.
Mr. CRAWFORD-There is no gentleman present. my
Lord, who will not feel that having declined to grant the
Hall to the Bishop of London, your Lordship is placed
in a peculiar position, as all must feel the
respect which
is due to the Reverend Prelate's rank and station. At
the same time, I am sure it will be felt by your Lord-
ship, that the merchants and traders of London have
always been considered to have, in a certain degree, a
claim upon the Presidency of their Chief Magistrate for
objects of sufficient public moment to justify an intrusion
upon his time and kindness ; and I venture to submit
that it would not be felt by the Rev. Prelate himself,
that if your Lordship has been constrained, from pe-
culiar circumstances, to decline the use of the Hall on a
particular occasion, that a good purpose subsequently
arising should not for that reason be realized. If there
is, however, no mode which occurs to your Lordship,
or to any of the Gentlemen who accompany me, by
which our object may be gained without implying a want
of respectful deference to his Lordship, we cannot, of
course press upon your Lordship any course which
should involve such a consequence.
- -

--- • -- -
The Loan MAYOR—I cannot do anything that would
imply a want of respect to his Lordship ; at the same
time, I do not feel myself entirely at liberty to put an
absolute veto against the use of the Hall to so influen-
tial a body of commercial men ; and if the Corporation
of London thought fit to grant it—that would be an-
other matter. I should be most happy to grant the
Guildhall.

Mr. DILLON, several other members concurring,
said that their reason fur wishing for the Egyptian-hall
was, that the present was not a party or political mat-
ter, but one in which all parties were seeking what all
felt would be an universal good. It seriously affected
the commerce of the country, and therefore they were
there ; but it involved also still more important con-
siderations. The religion, morals, and social habits of
the people were involved in it, and the scientific and
educational objects which the benevolent and the good
were now so active in diffusing, would be assisted to an
extent which could hardly be too highly estimated.
Several of the members thanked his Lordship for the
active part he took in oppposing the Sunday delivery.
Mr. PRESCOTT said that the Guildhall was used for
political meetings, for Parliamentary and corporate
elections, and it would be a great object to meet upon
a subject like the preseßt on neutral ground. The
Egyptian-hall created the feeling connected with an
official residence, vet tempered the subject under con-
siderationh by the recollection, at the same time, that
e parties were assembled in a gentleman's private re-
sidence.
Mr. R. L. JONES felt the difficulty the Lord Mayor
was in, and suggested the propriety of applyingby
pe-
tition to the Court of Common Council, who would
probably consent on a question so generally important,
and so
hisespecially important in a commercial point of
v
Lordship would not discountenance the ap-
plication.

_
The LORD MAYOR—On the contrary, I am an
ardent friend to the object you seek, and the most
anxious to see it realized to the country.
Mr. CRAWFORD said that, under the circumstances,
they did not apprehend that a commercial and popu-
lar body like the Common Council would refuse their
application, and they trusted that his Lordship would
preside over the meeting.
The LORD MAYOR—If the Court grant the Hall, I
shall of course have great pleasure in complying with the
wish of the Deputation.