The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-03 00:00:00

POST-OFFICE.
We have, long before the late change was made in the
Post office charges, been of opinion that, as the Govern-
ment should never possess a monopoly of trade, the
Post-office charges should be regulated, not with a view
to revenue, but to the purposes of covering all the ex-
penses required to convey letters and intelligence with
security and with rapidity.
The tax imposed upon the public by the late Post-
office reform is so very moderate, that while it still yields
a considerable revenue, which we believe confidently will
increase, no one can desire any alteration in the rate of
postage.
Many of the recent arrangements of the Government
for conveying the mails have been so extremely bene-
ficial, that great credit is due to the late and present
Administration. There are, however, many places to
which we would recommend morning mails to be
dispatched. This would be beneficial, and would
add no expense to the Post-office. The line of steam-
packets established by the Govenment contract with
Mr. Cunard, for carrying the mail* twice a month
across the Atlantic, between Liverpool, Halifax, and
Boston, has not only already more than repaid the outlay
made by the Government, but leaves every prospect of
an increasing surplus of revenue. The fiscal considera-
tion would be effectually secured,!if such powerful steam-
boats as those of the Liverpool, Halifax, and Boston
line were to be dispatched from Liverpool once a week
during the eight spring, summer, and autumnal months,
and once a fortnight during the months of November.
December, January, and February.
The Post .office would not only gain in revenue from
this arrangement, but this frequent intercourse would
form a great and rapid line of communication be-
tween the whole of Europe and all North America,
including all the countries from the Gulf of Mexico
to Lake Superior, It would, in practical effect,
be connecting Europe and America in -com-
mon intere ts, by convenient rapid communication
forming, in truth, a great broad way of intelligence
and civilization, and, with freedom of trade, the
best means of increasing the commerce and prosperity
reciprocally of, and maintaining peace and good
faith between, the countries most interested. Under
the old packet system between Falmouth and Halifax,
by the gun-brigs, exclusive of the deplorable loss by
foundering of nearly all those dangerous vessels, with
all their crews and passengers, and expense to Govern-
ment, was about 40.000/. annually more than the re-
ceipts of postage. By the recent line of steam-ships, a
large balance will, we believe, at the end of one year
after the first packet steam-ship sailed from Liverpool,
appear to the credit side of the Atlantic mails.
Marty other arrangements for carrying the mails by
steam have been made by the Treasury and Admiralty.
Traversing the world, from England to the Gulf of
Mexico, and then overland, to meet other steam-ships,
on the west of the Isthmus of Panama, to com-
municate over the Pacific to New Zealand and
New Holland, meeting other lines communicating -
with India, the Red Sea ; and by crossing ever the
Isthmus of Suez, meeting the British mail steam-packets
for England at Alexandria, we believe to be far from
an impracticable delusion. The practicable and not
unprofitable establishment of all this is not far
distant ; especially when we all know how very
lately the practicability of running steam-ships
across the Atlantic was questioned, doubted, and de-
nied. The recent contracts for multiplying the steam
communication with India, and by a branch line from
Ceylon to China, will be found of immense advantage.
The steam communication recently extended to the
Levant is also important.
There is another great consideration, one of economy,
too, in the end, in regard to large, strongly built,
and powerful steam-ships—that is, the readiness
with which mail steam -ships of great strength
and power may be turned into steam-ships of
war ; and that they may be de fa( k. considered as such
on the North American, West Indian, and Mediter-
ranean lines. Now, it that mail steam navigation were
to belong to foreign countries, British capital no doubt
would, we believe, be that chiefly invested in them ;
yet in the event of war, they would not only not be
available to England, but they would in all the likelihood
of probabilities, be turned against us. This, in the change
which steam power must create in naval tactics, is a
most serious consideration for the British Government
and for the British public.
We would therefore recommend that any surplus re-
venue frem the Post-office should be applied to iecrea.s-
Mg the number of mail steam- ships.