The Sun.
London, England, 1835-03-20 00:00:00

PLACES OF WORSHIP IN SCOTLAND.

.Mr. WALLACE moved for a return of the number of
places of public worship in Scotland distinguishing those of
the Established Church from those belonging to Dissenters.

POST-OFFICE CHARGES.

Mr. HUME complained that, notwithstanding a Bill that
had been introduced in the last Parliament to facilitate the
transmission of newspapers to and from our colonial settle-
ments free of postage, there were charges still made at the
Post-office for newspapers arriving by vessels from the Cape
of Good Hope and other colonies, although from Canada and
other settlements they were delivered free. Now he thought
that all our colonies should be on the same footing in this re-
spect. He also complained that Members of that House were
charged postage for all the letters delivered to them on Mon-
day over the number of fifteen, although amongst those were
the letters that arrived on Sunday, there being no delivery on
the Sabbath. Now he considered it very hard that, in conse-
quence of a Post-office regulation, not to have any delivery of
letters on a Sunday, Members should be put to the expense
of postage for all letters arriving to them in London on that
day, but not delivered until Monday. There was a strange
anomaly, too, as regarded this matter, because, although a
Member could not receive his Sunday letters in London until
Monday, and without paying for them, if he chanced to be at
Bath, or any other country town, he might not only receive
his letters there on the Sunday, but receive them free of post-
age. The Act of Parliament distinctly stated that Members
shall receive their letters daily, and he could not, therefore,
see;iwhy they should be charged for the letters of Sunday any
more than those of any other day, although they might be de-
livered on the Monday.
Sir T. FREMANTLE said that he should be happy to
give his best assistance to remedy the cause of complaint set
forth by the Hon. Member as respected the transmission of
newspapers to and from the colonies. The Hon. Member
would admit that the Post Office was not to blame, for the Act
of Parliament was imperative, and must be strictly adhered to;
and whatever might have been intended by the Legislature
the Act still sanctioned the charge made. If a Bill should
be introduced to remedy the evil, he should give it his best
attention. With regard to the non-delivery of letters on
Sunday, he did not see that the Hon. Member had much rea-
son to complain of the anomaly to which he had alluded, be-
cause although he might receive hiS letters on Sunday, and
free of postage, at a country town, he would be charged there
for his Tuesday's letters if they exceeded fifteen, for the rea-
son that no letters were despatched on Sunday. So that
it came to the same thing, there being no country delivery on
the Monday. All these matters, however, would, no doubt,
come under the consideration of the Commissioners appointed
to inquire into the Post Office Department, and the Honour-
able Member had better state his complaint to those commis-
sioners.

Mr. HUME said that he had no opportunity of laying his
complaint before the Commissioners.
Sir T. FREMANTLE said that if the Hon. Alember would
call at the Treasury; an opportunity should be afforded him of
doing so.

An lion. MEMBER suggested the propriety of transfer-
ring the Post Office packet establishment from Falmouth to
Portsmouth.

Mr. WALLACE said that the post-office regulations were
on a most niggardly system. It never was any wish of his
that letters should be delivered on the Sunday ; but he had
personal reason to charge Sir F. Freeling with the most
gross partiality in the charge of postage for letters, and he
could call on the Hon. and Learned Member for the Univer-
sity of Dublin (Mr. Shaw) to confirm what he said. He
happened to see that Hon. and Learned Gentleman one Mon-
day in the library of the House, having before him a huge heap
of letters, thirty-two in number, and on his (Mr. Wallace)
observing that he must have a pretty sum of money to be paid
that day for extra letters, the Hon. and Learned Gentleman
told him that he had all the posage remitted to him by Sir
Francis Feeling, while on that very day he (Mr. W.) was
obliged to pay for every letter he received over fifteen. The
Hon. and Learned Member also observed at the same time
that the law entitled Members to receive all their regular num-
ber of Sunday as well as Monday letters free. Now this he
(Mr. Wallace) looked upon as a gross partiality. It was also
a matter of complaint and great inconvenience that on Sunday
there was only one place, namely, the general post office, open
to receive letters ; so that servants and others were obliged to
be sent with letters to the post-office instead of going to
church. It had been said by the Duke of Richmon, when
at the head of the post-office, the clerks of the department
were too religiously disposed to do any business on Sunday ;
but it appeared by the report that there were a number of
persons employed all Sunday at the post-office in sorting let-
ters and other business. It was also a most absurd regulation
that no letter could be put into the post-offica after seven
o'clock in the evening.
Mr. SHAW said that he did not deny the accuracy of what
had been stated by the Hon. Member as to what passed in the
library respecting the receipt of all his letters postage free on
the Monday, but he did mean to deny that there was any
favouritism whatever towards him on the part of Sir F. Free-
ling. He had certainly said then, and he said the same now,
that the Sunday letters ought not to be charged, and the com-
munication he had with Sir F. Freeling on the subject was
strictly formal. Personally he did not know Sir F. F:Teling,
never, he believed, having seen him in his life. His commu-
nication was to the effect that as the Sunday letters were put
into the post-office on the Friday, as appeared by the post-
mark, they ought not to be charged to Members any more
than the letters of any other day, and upon this representation
the postage was remitted. He must, however, entirely acquit
Sir F. Freeling of the slightest favouritism in doing so.
Mr. WALLACE. in explanation, said that he ton had
called the attention of the post-office to the Friday post-mark
on the letters for which he was charged, but the postage was
not remitted. He must again charge _ Sir F. Freeling with
gross partiality, favouritism, and injustice towards him.
Dr. B 0 WRING asked a question as to the circulation of
newspapers in the colonies.
Sir T. FREMANTLE said he would inquire into it.
Mr. BARING gavexotice that on Tuesday next he should
move certain resolutions on which to found a Bill for regulat-
ing the trade in corn between this country and the Isle of,Man,
and the other channel islands.

Mr. HUME inquired if the Right Hon. Gentleman intended
to lay on the table any information on which to found his re-
solutions or his Bill.

Mr. BARING said that as the Hon. Member seemed' to
think this necessary, he should lay on the table the report of
the Committee appointed to inquire into the state of the corn
trade. He should also on Tuesday move some resolutions
respecting the timber trade, with a view to obviate the round-
about voyage from the Baltic.
An HON. MEMBER having put some questions on the scbject
of the timber trade,

Mr. BARING said that on Tuesday he should state his
views fully upon the subject.
Mr. GLADSTONE brought in his 13i11 on the subject of
Emigration.
In answer to a question from Mr. HUME,
Mr. BARING said, that if he had had any report in any
shape on the subject of this Bill it should have been laid upon
'the table.

Mr. HUME said that he thought the report from the Con-
sul at New York was important.

Mr. PRAED brought up copies of letters and reports con-
nected with affairs of India.

M.. HUME said that he should expect a regular India
Budget now every year, so as to have an account of the finan-
cial state of that country. Perhaps the Hon. Gentleman op-
posite ( Mr. Praed)could tell what the Board of Controul in-
tended to do in this respect. If he got no satisfactory answer
he should bring the subject under the consideration of the House
Mr. PR AED said that he thought the Hon. Member could
scarcely have expected an answer from him to such a question.
Adjourned at a Quarter to Eleven o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS, M4Rcir 19.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at
a few minutes past five o'clock.
GAOLS.

The Duke of RICHMOND gave notice of his intention to
move for certain papers relating to the state of the gaols
throughout this country, with a view to appoint a Select Com-
mittee to inquire into their present arrangements.
BOROUGH OF STOKE-POGES.
The Duke of WELLINGTON moved for copies of the
correspondence between the Commissioners of the Poor Laws,
and the borough of Stoke-Poges.