The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-30 00:00:00

POSTAGE BY WEIGHT.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
A very obvious means of avoiding the weighing
of letters, when the new system comes into opera-
tion will be to have the weight of the paper marked
on each sheet. Thus—" This sheet under half an
ounce," " This sheet under the third (2.f an ounce."
Paper makers and stationers should prepare paper
on this plan without loss of time. The sheet
should necessarily weigh under the weight specified
in order to make allowance for the seal.

PENNY POSTAGE.-ABUSE OF

FRANKING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—In the palmy days of Toryism, a person to men-
tion " Reform" incurred the risk of being denounced as
a Jacobin, while in these Liberal times a similar indis-
cretion is visited with the more humble epithet of a
Chartist.

It is in this amiable and patriotic spirit that a Corre-
spondent has appeared in your Paper of the 23d. He
is quite appalled at the delicacy and difficulty of dealing
with the contemplated changes in the Post-office. The
delicacy, no doubt, has reference to the rottenness of
John Bull's present system, which it is unpleasant to dis-
sect, but our political Medicos must be less nervous, if they
expect to be employed, as there are much worse plague-
spots on John's bloated carcase, which require to be
scarified and patched up befiyre he is turned out of
hospital ; not that I shall live to see it, but you Editors
may, and no doubt all due credit will be bestowed upon
you, for having assisted in effecting so wonderful a re-
covery.

The sole difficulty, if there be any in the present
case, will consist probably in having to soothe the feel-
ings of the privileged classes on being compelled to wit-
ness so painful an operation as that of placing them on
a footing with their fellow-citizens.
Your Correspondent asks if petitions and Parliamen-
tary papers are to pay postage ; and further suggests,
that the Government should be enlightened, if possible,
upon so momentous a question as the abolition of frank-
ing. Is it not enough that the wholesale abuse of
franking exists—that it is notorious to every Peer, Mem-
ber of Parliament, and Clerk at the War office, and that
it has been fully brought to the notice of the Govern-
ment ? Has it not, then, become an imperative duty
to knock it on the head at once? And if the gentlemen
in the Councils of the State cannot devise a remedy,
and be prepared at the same time with some efficient
plan to obviate any inconvenience to the public service
therefrom, it is then evident that they are incompetent
to the duties they have undertaken, and unworthy of
the high salaries and princely patronage annexed to their
respective offioes, which were never intended as the
reward of inefficiency.
Peers and Members of Parliament who squander
thousands upon electioneering, and in the manufacture
of votes, are the very persons to fiarc-up at the payment
of postage. It is not the paltry sum of a penny or two-
pence, or fourpence, which haunts their imaginations—
no, it is the principle it involves, and " Equal Taxation"
is the writing on the wall at which they are so horror-
struck ; and, by the blessing of God, I hope they will
have many warnings of the same kind, so long as there
remains,

Mr. Editor,

ONE OF THE PEOPLE.
Stirling, N0v.25, 1839.

THE PENNY POSTAGE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sta,—However gratified all must feel at the prospect
we have of an effectual step being soon made towards
the adoption of the penny postage, I trust that much time
will not elapse before franking stamps are made part of
the plan ; because, if a penny is required to be paid at
the Post-office, as now proposed for the London district,
I fear this pre-payment will seldom be made, as well
from the trouble it occasions, as also from the chance
that the servant or messenger may forget, or intentionally
omit, to pay the penny, and thus a tax will be inflicted
on the receiver, unknown and unintended by the sender.
The money payment appears in every way objection-
able ; it will be thought mean, and even ungentlemanly,
to most letter-writers to pay copper, and as the first be-
ginnings of crime arc often very slight, every new ave-
nue to temptation ought to be guarded against. In
short, the money pre-payment of a penny cannot work,
so the sooner we have franking stamps the better for the
public, and for the successful working of the new system,
which I hope soon to see in full operation.
Regarding the plans discussed in your able Journal,
the adhesive stamps are decidedly the best ; they are most
free from objections, are cheapest, and consequently will
prove most productive to the Post-office revenue.

A LOVER OF PENNY LETTERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

November 28, 1839.
Sir,—l sent you on the 18th November last, a letter
for publication wherein I mentioned the distress that
now exists in the mercantile interest, its cause, and the
evils likely to result, if the.:prelent depressed state of the
country is.allowed tq continue, as it would lead to the
discharge of an immense number of workmen from the
manufactories, and a diminished consumption on excis-
able articles, which would be attended with a heavy pe
cuniary loss to Government ; at the same time, I pointed
out a remedy for that distress. Subsequent refl-ction
has convinced me that my views are correct. The only
motive I had in not again writing you earlier, was to
see whether some of the leading public characters would
take the same into consideration, and as none has to my
knowledge done so, I now invite a reply.
If silver should be made a legal tender to the amount
of 15/. or even 101. and the Bank of England is only
armed with the power I pointed out, and if the great
and rich bankers of this country, together with the great
and leading merchants, will only use their utmost
means, I have little hesitation in saying the distress
would be immediately lessened if not entirely disappear.
I also think that as there• are a great number of rich in-
-I,:rit-‘?..ssoess or o herwise, that
arc in the habit of keeping au, (1.3. tr fe quantity of gold
and silver by them, for which they hb.:tc. c mmediate
use, that they should send it to their bank.a, which.
would be the means of bringing the same into acti.a r-
culation—this is a duty at the present moment the)
owe their country.
I remain, Sir, your's,
A MERCHANT AND SHIP-OWNER.