The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-13 00:00:00

MORNING EDITION.

THE SUN, LONDON. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1830.

of those who have already ruined themselves by specu
lating in all the foreign swindles ; in fact, if matters go
on as they do now, it will, in the course of time, be diffi-
cult to number the families who have becomedestitute
by dealings in foreign securities.

CHRONICLE.—There was more business doing
in Consols to-day, but the prices of yesterday were
not maintained, and money was in greater demand.
The tea trade is still maintained at advanced prices ;
and from the avidity displayed by dealers to hold stock,
it is evident that they do not anticipate any speedy re-
sumption of our commercial intercourse with China,
and the greatest anxiety is evinced by those -engaged
in the China and East India trade to ascertain the in-
tentions of the Government. The opinions entertained
on that subject are necessarily contradictory and vague,
as Lord Palmerston has, with perfect propriety, refused
to communicate any information to those who have ap-
plied to him. Rumours have, however, been current
for a few days past, that Admiral Maitland, with a
squadron of several ships, has received instructions to
proceed to Canton, in order to ask for an explanation
from the Chinese Government. These reports are con-
fined principally to those interested in our affairs with
China, with whom, perhaps, the wish is father to the
thought. We have not, at least, been able to trace them
to any certain source.

PENNY POSTAGE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

EDINBURGH, Nov. 29, 1839.
Sta,—Having bestowed some labour in drawing up
a communic.tion to the Lords of the Treasury as to
the new postage arrangements, with the view of obtain-
ing one or other of the prizes offered by their Lordships
for the two best plans submitted, and which humbly
appears to me to meet and obviate the principal difficul-
ties stated by tne recent writers on the subject—it has
occurred that you at ly possibly not refuu to do me the
favour of giving publicity to the same. In taking this
step, I do not consider that 1 am guilty of the impro-
priety of attempting to influence their Lordships' judg-
ment, as a month has elapsed since their Lord Ships
commenced to take the whole proposals into considera-
tion ; and as I observe several of the competitors have
given publicity to theirs, as submitted to their Lord-
ships, in the London newspapers. Their Lordships'
determination as to the merits of the various proposals
may be expected soon to be announced.
In the adoption of a plan for the operation of the
reduced and uniform rate of postage contemplated (us
stated to their Lordships), I humbly conceive it ought
to be had principally in view—the better to prevent
apprehended defalcation in the public revenue :-
1. Public convenience (including free and unrestricted
choice of paper for correspondence.)
2. The safe transmission and safe and expeditious
delivery of the correspondence of the country, parti-
cularly in cities, large towns, and populous districts.
3. The least possible expenditure in the conduct or
management of the Post Office, &c.
The stamp being obviously desirable, inasmuch as
the present mode of collecting the postage, or payment
in advance, as at present, the only other plans which
could be adopted, would less injure these particulars
(vide notes 1 and 2), it falls to be considered in what
way it may best be brought into use.
Stamped envelopes I humbly conceive to be objet
tionable on the following grounds :
Because the correspondence of the country thus con.
ducted would not bear the Post-office stamp, most de-
sirable in many cases of importance to establish the
authenticity of communications.
Because the bulk of the mail would be greatly in-
greased (probably one-third) by an envelope, or waste
paper covering on every communication, which, when
the correspondence of the country will be enormously
increased, would be a great disadvantage ; and,
Vide also last objection as to stamped paper.
Stamped Paper may be objected to : Because, in the
case of double sheet, &c. communications, they would
necessarily fall to be enveloped.
Because every form of paper would require to be
stamped, and a proper assortment kept on sale at every
stationer's and post-office in the kingdom ; and great
inconvenience might often occur from a dcficientsupply.
Because the sale of paper would be diminished from
what it otherwise would be ; for it may readily be sup
posed, that the public generally, in purchasing paper for
correspondence at a penny per sheet, in addition to the
common price, would avoid as much as possible any
waste of the same.
Becaus.., if it were not open to every paper manufac-
turer to have his paper stamped for correspondence,
which would scarcely be practicable, a great injury
would bo done to the trade.
liueause, if such could be permitted, a great induce-
ment to forgery would thus be presented, as a ready
market would be found in every part of the country for
the sale of such stamped paper to a great extent ; and
Because the expense of stamping would be very con
siderable. Applicable also to Envelopes.
Since my attention has been directed to the subject,
and without being aware that the idea had previously
occurred to any one, I was led to conceive that " public
convenience" would be best consulted, that " the least
,
possible expenditure in the conduct of the Post-office"
would be effected (as the expense of the production and
circulation of the stamp would be greatly hse than by
the adoption of the other methods) by the stamp being
prepared on small .slips of paper (say two by one and a
half inches), to be applied as giterwards to be proposed,
thus leaving the public unfettered, as at present, as to
their choice of paper, and avoiding all the objections
which may be urged against stamped envelopes and
stamped paper, which in general. it is apprehended,
would impede the full and proper working of the system.
These might be kept on sale at every branch of the
Post-office in the kingdom, as also by_ a suitable number
of stationers or shopkeepers in the cities and towns,
who might he licensed to retail the same.

Although I cannot claim this idea as my own ex-
clusively (stamps to be used separately appearing from
their Lordships' minute to have been already suggested),
I purpose to devise a plan in connection with this pro-
posed mode of bringing the stamp into use, to injure as
far as practicable " the safe transmission and safe and
expeditious delivery of the correspondence of the coun-
try," and which I am not aware has been suggested or
proposed by any one. Great apprehension being enter-
tained, that when numerous letters, particularly paid
letters, do not reach their destination at present
(vide note 3), the letter carrier, in particular,
will, in charge of great additional correspondence,
oecoine more careless about delivery, when the
only proof of delivery (viz. the postage to be col-
lected) may be done away with, by prepayment
being made compulsory—it ought to be, and will be, I
humbly think, considered of great importance, that the
best possible evidence may be obtained, consistent with
,xpeditious delivery, that the correspondence of the
country is sakly and duly delivered.
Proposed, that the stamp slip or label suggested shall
be inserted in the back fold of every letter at either end,
,vith the water or seal, leaving the portion of the slip
on which the stamp is impressed loose ; or in order to
prevent it being ruffled off in sorting the correspondence,
the slip may be introduced loosely into the fold of the
letter, and wafered separately,
Proposed, that it shall be imperative or strongly
urged (directions might be given with the stamp), that
a duplicate or abridgment of the address of every letter
be written on the said stamp slip, over or under the
stamp, with date of transmission and initials of writcr,
if advisable.

Proposed, that the loose part of the stamp slip
(hearing address as suggested), shall be pulled out of
the fold of the letter, and detached or torn
ef (scissors might be used), by the letter carrier, or
party to whom letter addressed on delivery, and
' placed by the letter carrier on a file to be ap-
pended at his breast, for reception of same. This
emuld be the work of a moment. Small wire file (bear-
log stamp slips) to have a protection from wet when
ieecessuy, Also, that eountry postmasters shall be re-
:..,; to collect, and return to the Head Offices of
qui...
..noricts at stated intervals, the stamps..
their respective
on all correspondence transmitted them for delivery.
Proposed. that 40 officer in thg forth); department of
the Post-office in cities and towns, shall nylPber the
letters taken in charge by each letter carrier for deli-
very, and on his return to the office, mother also the
stamps returned in his file, which, adding number of
dead letters, if any, ought to correspond. Also, that
the number of letters, forwarded to each country post-
master of the district for delivery, shall be taken, and on
the stamps being returned, numbered also, and compared
with the number of letters forwarded of the period.

Proposed that the files of stamp slips addresses)
so returned to the Head Post offices of the districts,
shall be classified and arranged as much as possible,
and preserved for a reasonable time (say fourteen days),
to admit of search being made for corresponding stamp
and address, on any individual complaining that his
letter may be lost or mislaid, &e. Thereafter the whole
may be destroyed, as the period to be determined on for
their preservation shall expire. [A suitable number of
files (which would cost but a trifle) being prepared to
file the whole stamps for the period, every day a portion
of the oldest stamp slips would fall to be destroyed—
thus providing empty files for taking up the stamps of
the days on delivery of correspondence. A. single file
would probably be sufficient for each of the great ma-
jority of country postmasters in taking up the stamps of
the correspondence for the period, and the stamps of
each day could be separated by a larger blank
slip of paper being placed on the file. The
files bearing the stamp slips of 100,000 correspond-
ence could be arranged in a very small space.]
Thus, if complaint were mae.e at the head office of the
district where the delivery ought to have been made,
that a letter, even from any part of the kingdom, had
been lost or mislaid, &c., these files of stamp slips,
bearing addresses of all the correspondence entrusted for
delivery in each district of the period, being arranged,
say hung on the walls of any apartment to be in charge
of a confidential officer, it would be at once discovered
on referring to the files of' stamps of the period of trans-
mission (which would tall to be given), whether it had
arrived at, passed through, or simply been for town de
livery in such office, and, would lead to the discovery of