The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-28 00:00:00

FRENCH POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS.

In a recent circular of Messrs. Bowles Brothers
and Co. it was remarked that "the rapid fall of the
gold premium will further stimulate the increasing
disposition of our people to travel abroad, and it is
probable that the opening season will see the Con-
tinent flooded with American tourists." This is
confirmed by our own T.dvices also by the actual ex-
perience of the steam lines, which are not only get-
ting all the berths engaged, but have been filling up
with passengers even during the late inclement
weather ; and the agencies announce, that a con-
siderable increase of travel both ways is expected
during the ensuing summer, for which more exten-
sive arrangements have been made than heretofore.
The Frencb Government appears to be so sure
of reaping a harvest from American tourists
that no steps are taken to meet American re-
quirements, and a curious instance of this is
supplied in the circular to which we have alluded.
The Paris banking firm therein announces the
opening of a branch in the geographical centre of
London, and well-chosen offices they certainly ap-
pear to be, opposite the Charing-cross station and
hotel, between the post and telegraph offices, and
within close reach of the Government offices,
banks, clubs, and hotels. On.s of the reasons for
establishing this is the difficulty in postal commu-
nication between the United States and the con-
tinent of Europe, which has been found to be so
entrenched between official circumlocution that the
Messrs. Bowles propose to circumvent if they
cannot remove the:impediment. The design is in-
genious, being neither more nor less than the run-
ning of an opposition against the French Post-office.
The principle upon which the French Ministers
work is to extract as much money as possible from
the pleasure-seeking American. Paris is a delight-
ful city, delights must be paid for, at least Paris
delights; and one means of making a letter-re-
ceiving and newspaper-reading American pay is
by taxing the carriage as heavily as possible. That
tax,however, might be borne; but the service is ineffi-
ciently performed. It is costy when it is done well,
and France desires to make money at both ends by
cheap work at a dear rate. This is very natural
on the part of the grand nation, but it is also na-
tural that Americans should rebel, though they
bear the insolence and shortcomings of Govern-
ment officials much more patiently than their
British cousins. That rebellion finds expression in
the action of the banking-house and in its circular
informing the American community of its course
on the subject :
" A practical examination of the question has proved
that our London office will enable us to do this, by receiving
all mail, telegraph, or other despatch matter, under the
terms of the reduced tariffs between the United States and
England. and forwarding the same to France, or other parts
of the Continent, under theordinary Anglo-French tariffs.
thus securing a saving of costs, without loss of time, since
the re-expedition could be made in time to leave with the
through mails from America. To illustrate: a letter of
one half ounce, or 15 grammes, sent direct from America
to France, pays by the present tariff 4 cents (20 centimes)
in America, and, on delivery in France,.the double rate of
80 centimes (16 cents) for each 71 grammes (quarter ounce),
making thus 1 franc 80 centimes (or 36 cents) in all.
The same letter sent to our care in London, would pay
the simple half ounce rate of 3d. (6 cents) ; plus, from
London to Paris, 40 centimes (8 cents) per quarter
ounce (71 grammes), or 1 franc 10 centimes (22 cents) ;
total postage to Paris, via London, a saving of 14
cents for each half-ounce letter, and vice versa for letters
from France to the United States. A further gain of 2
cents (10 centimes) will be made as soon as the 3d. rate
now in negotiation between France and England shall be
adopted. In the same way, newspapers which have
hitherto been sent to us in Paris as agents of the American
press, for distribution on the Continent, will hereafter be
distributed by us from London at a cost of ld. from the
United States, and id. in remailing at London, or a sav-
ing of from one-half to two-thirds of present cost. Multi-
plying this difference by the thousands of letters and
papers which arrive and depart at least three times per
week, we can judge of the economy resulting therefrom,
to say nothing of the more frequent delivery. Lt is from
these impositions, doubtless, small in themselves, but by
their frequency rendered more vexatious, that our London
office will serve as a shield, thus at the same time applying
the principle that it is necessary to consider only the direct
interest of the public."

What the French postal authorities will say to this
challenge, we know not ; but it looks very like an
open declaration made in the face of the Imperial
Government that a private firm has established
the machinery for running an opposition against an
Imperial monopoly. The French system will either
be modified to meet the requirements of the Ame-
rican residents, or the opposition will be suppressed,
though we cannot see bow, or all letters and papers
from America for France will go through the
banking-house of Messrs. Bowles Brothers and Co.
Whatever may be the immediate result,such action
always tends to ultimate good, and it certainly is
the case that in view of the vast expenditure of
Americans in France their wants and wishes should
be more consulted by his Majesty's Government.
It is not, however, on such grounds that a new
Postal Treaty with the United States is urged ;
but on those of liberality, of progress, and of
mutual concession and good-will, all of which in
the end pay, though short-sighted people who only
grasp the immediate.present, may not perceive it.

Mr. Cardwell has taken every care so to select
members to serve on the Royal Commission on extra-
regulation prices, as to ensure for their proceedings the
respect and confidence of military men as well as that of
the public. The Right Hon. Sir George Grey has con-
sented to serve as chairman.

The death is announced of the Rev. Charles Nourse
Wodehouse, late canon of Norwich Cathedral, and rector
of Lynn. The deceased gentleman, who was in his 80th
year, was the second son of the Rev. Philip Wodehouse,
prebendary oflkrwich brother of the first Baron
Stit