The Sun.
London, England, 1836-01-25 00:00:00

LETTER FROM MR. HUME ON THE
STAMP DUTIES.

" Bryanstone-square, Jan. 16.
Sru,•,---I have just received your' letter requesting my
attendance at a public meeting to be held on Monday evening
in Southwark, to petition Parliament for the repeal of the
tax upon newspapeis. I entirely concur in the object of the
meeting, as I consider the tax on newspapers, and the pro-
secutions of the Press by the present Ministers, under the
six Acts of Castlereagh notoriety, as disgraceful to all
those who sanction such oppressive proceedings. I must,
however, express an anxious hope that Lord Melbourne-
will Submit to Parliament, early in the session, a bill to re-
lieve the Press from the difficulties that oppose the exten-
sion of its utility, and that he will thereby give
satisfaction to Reformers, by giving perfect free-
door to the diffusion of knowledge. I consider
the tax on the Press bad in principle, and that it is
the means of preventing • information from being ex-
tended to the poor ; and I regret to think that such con-
duct by a Reforming Ministry must have the effect of dis-
gusting all sincere Reformers, who recollect their abuse of
Castlereagh's government for passing these laws. Parlia-
ment, in the two past sessions, has voted money on the re-
commendation of the Ministers for the education of the
poor, and it was matter of astonishment that with these pro-
fessed opinions, they persisted in refusing to take' off the tax
on Newspapers, under the pretence that the state of the
Revenue would not admit of the loss of the paltry sum which
the Newspaper tax produced. I only ask you to consider
the force of that objection, when these same Ministers did
not hesitate to call upon Parliament to vote a sum, equal
to that of the newspaper tax,•for• the Church in Ireland,
thus preferring to keep the people in ignorance, rather
than withhold aid from a hostile sinecure Church. In
my place in Parliament, I stated that the reason then
offered was a mere pretence, unworthy the character
of a Liberal Government, and that a much greater sacri-
fice, if there really were any appeal, ought to be made
willingly to the people who had supported them so effec-
tually, than the paltry sum of money that would be risked
by the exchange from a Newspaper tax to a Newspaper
postage duty. I hope that Reformers throughout the
country will not give a vole, at any ensuing election, to any
candidate who will not give a pledge to vote for freeing
newspapers and all printers from the injurious legislation
which now oppresses both. I have stated thus freely what
I should have addressed to the meeting, if I had been able
to be present ; but you will express my regret that previous
engagements will prevent my attending the meeting. I
will, however, be most happy to support your petition in the
House.—l remain your obedient servant,

JOSEPH HUME.
Mr. J. Sharpe. Secretary to the Meeting.

OFFICIAL FRANKING.

It has been already stated that measures have been taken
to prevent for the future the transmission, under official
covers, of any letters not strictly on his Majesty's service.
These measures of precaution have been resorted to in
consequence of the following communication addressed by
Mr. Stanley, the Secretary of the Treasury, to the heads
of the different Government offices :
" Treasury Chambers, January 6, 1836.
" MY Lotto' —I am commanded by the Lords Commis-
sioners of his Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you that the
Postmaster-General has represented to this Board that there
is ground for believing that the franking privilege granted to
certain Government offices exclusively for the public service,
and under a penalty, is much abuSed, both in this country and
in Ireland, by the transmission 'of private letters in the
official covers, greatly to the injury of the revenue; that
the Acts of Parliament which authorise the appointment of
officers to frank letters and packets on his Majesty's service
impose severe penalties on any clerk, or other person autho-
rised to frank, for any illegal exercise of those powers • and
the Postmaster-General suggests to my Lords the expediency
of calling the attention of the heads of those departments in
which there are franking clerks to the subject, with an inti-
mation that the penalties established by law will be enforced
on the detection of any abuse of the powers which are autho-
rised for public official purposes only ; and my Lords entirely
concur in the suggestion of the Postmaster-General, and beg
to draw dour special attention to the subject, with a view to
the establishment of such strict regulations as may prevent the
illegal exercise of this duty, which is intended by Parliament
to be strictly confined to the official correspondence of the
office. My Lords understand that -- and -- arc autho-
rised to frank the official letters in your department ; and my
Lords request that the attention of these gentlemen may be
called to the Act of 2d and 3d Wm. 4, cap. 15, sec. 25, and
to the responsibility thereby imposed on them.
" I am, my Lord, your obedient servant,
" E. J. STANLEY."