The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-10 00:00:00

EVENING SUN

POST-OFFICE IMPROVEMENTS.
(From the Spectator.)
The Penny Postage is one of the few benefits which
the People sometimes derive from a weak Government.
It was a concess'on to Public Opinion, made with the
greatest reluctance, and only because at that particular
moment it was cxpediant to court popular favour ; the
gradual loss of which had endangered the existence of
the late Ministry. But, however ungracefully the
boon may have been granted, its universal importance,
sod the value which the nation attaches to it, prevent
the possibility of its ever being resumed. Penny Postage
(unless, indeed, it eventually lead to a halfpenny rate)
is as immutable as the Bill of Rights, or any funda-
mental institution of the empire.
It was always our opinion that the monopoly of con-
veying the correspondence of the country is not a legiti-
mate or proper source of revenue. It was not so in-
tended in its origin ; and, looking at its nature and
amount, it was perhaps the most odious, impolitic, and
tyrannical tax ever imposed upon a people calling
themselves free, and believing themselves ietelligent.
Yet custom reconciled us to the imposition ; and as the
members of the Government, high and low, as well as
those of both Houses of Parliament, contrived to exempt
themselves, their families and friends, from its operation,
the system was said to thrive well; for while it-swelled
the resources of the Budget, it was a cause of hourly
distinction to the rich and privileged classes, who re-
joiced in Government covers and Parliamentary franks.
Time, however, which innovates on all things, at last
brought Post-office Reform. But though the tax is
greatly mitigated, the principle of making the Post-office
a source of revenue still continues. Future improve-
ments, therefore, must in some degree depend upon
fixing the amount, per cent. which it may be expected
to yield as a tax ; and upon expending all above that
amount on the rapid, frequent, and safe conveyance and
delivery of letters and small parcels. Instead of con-
fining the expenses of the department to the minimum
of colt with the view of producing the maximum of
taxation, the principal object ought to be to perfect the
system. Every improvement would eventually increase
the general receipts, and consequently augment the
returns to the Treasury. Hence, to oppose improve-
ment, is to injiire the revenue ; a fact of which the ene-
mies of Post-office Reform seem totally ignorant.
At this moment, before the stage of transition is
passed, and while the plan is not yet fully carried out,
the Post-office yields the enormous profit of some 40 per
cent. to the State, without the employment of any
capital, or incurring the slightest risk. But this is by
no :neans its only advaetage to the Government. It is
of all departments (except perhaps the Customs) the
most fruitful source of patronage ; and a Parliamentary
return of the number of appointments annually given by
the Postmaster-General would expose the real motives
of many opponents of Post-office Reform. Such a re-
turn would be still more useful : it would suggest inquiry
whether all the present cumbrous and expensive ma-
chinery is actually necessary ; and it might therefore
lead to changes alike economical and efficient. If a
large saving can he made in the ministerial part of the
system, part of the loss to the revenue, of which so
many pathetic complaints are made, will be shown to
arise from jobbery or mismanagement ; and thus, that
long-enduring piiblic, whom all profess to regard, yet
whom every man, individually, is delighted to drain,
will be found to have been doubly ill-used—first by
having been plundered and aggrieved for the sake of the
revenue, and secondly for the purpose of patronage.
Post-office Improvement cannot, however, now be
prevented, though it may be retarded ; and Govern-
ment will only show its wisdom by cheerfully taking the
lead, instead of being sulkily driven to consult the
meets and wishes of the country on this subject. An
,rulication of the feeling of the Administration was
shown in Lord Lowther's recent answer to the depu-
tation from the London Mercantile Committee on
Postage ; but his Lordship did himself injustice in say-
ing he was " as willing as his predecessor" to carry out
Mr. Hill's plan—we believe him to be bath more
witting and more able than Lord Lichfield to carry it
out. It is perhaps to be wished that the same disposi-
'ion and similar ability existed is the inferior function-
aries of his department.
Admitting that many of the great alterations adva-
cated by Mr. hill must be attended with a certain
increase of expense with an uncertain increase of reve-
nue, and that time may be required for their due -con-
sideration, there are, nevertheless, other important
changes to which neither objection applies. Oar pre-
sent remarks will therefore be confined to pointing out
some defects which arise from mistake, negligence, Mid
the want of a systematic arrangement.
I. THE DISTRICT POST. Before the estublishment
of a uniform Penny Post, small parcels under the
weight of four ounces were conveyed to any part of the
Metropolis for 2d. and to the suburbs for 3d. The
same-sized parcels aro now charged one price as if they
were sent to the Land's End or to John o'Groat's
House and this is said to be because there is a uni-
form rate. That, however, is a fallacy; and it has
proved equally inconvenient to the inhabitants and in-
iurious to the PosteolEee. The new system was in-
tended to increase not to lessen say existing advan-
tage. In every other case, the Post office conveys a
letter or smell parcel at a cheaper rate than it could
possibly be sent by any other paid conveyance ; but a
parcel weighing from two to four ounces can be sent
from houses leithin a short distance of each other
at less than half the price now demanded by the Post-
office. The Post-office loses, therefore, the benefit of
conveying most of such parcels (which are either sent
by hand or by one of the private conveyance-compa-
nies), and which could be delivered by the present
corps of District postmen without any additional cost
to the department. The London public and the Post-
office revenue are alike injured—the latter perhaps the
most—without. any single counter-balancing benefit,
and without any apparent reason.
11. STAMPS ON LETTERS. Every letter that passes
through the Post-office, whether Gen sal or District,
ought to bear a stamp containing the date (and hour,
if District) and the name of the place where it is
posted : the utility of which for tracing a letter is obvi-
wis. But let airy one compare, as we have done, five
or six letters of each class, General and District, and he
will find that no uniform principle is observed. Some
General Post letters are altogether without a stamp :
others contain the date without the name of the place;
sonic, the place without the date ; while in form the
stamps are unlike each to each. With respect toeas-
triet letters it is " confusion worse confounded ;" and
though the hieroglyphics that occur on them may per-
haps be deciphered by official skill, to the uninitiated
the marks are utterly unintelligible and useless. From
the want of systematic arrangement and central control,
so visible in this branch of the service, men are led to
infer extreme carelessness or incompetency in other
branches which are more concealed in their workings,
though felt in their evil results.
111. THE DELIVERY Or LETTERS. If the name
of the street be accidentally omitted on any letter, the
delivery of that letter is matter of chance ; and to the
Post-office, Court Guide, Blue Books, Directories,
and the numerous other works of reference, are things
unknown. Let the party, from his name, rank, or sta-
tion, be ever so easily identified, or stand ever so con-
spicuous in the Court Guide or Blue Book or Direc-
tory, he will not receive his letter until it has been
" Try"-ed by a jury of postmen, each taking it in turn,
who may think he knows some one of that name, or
something like It," in his boat. After many failures,
the individual may, at the distance of a week or ten
days, be lucky enough to receive his letter, covered
with evidences of neglect in the form of Tries ; whereas,
a single glance at one of the commonest books of refe-
rence might have immediately discovered his address.
This is a serious evil ; and, considering that it is an im-
portant part of the contract on which the monopoly
exists that letters shall be duly and quickly delivered,
a special department in the General and District offices
ought long since to have been established for the pur-
pose of ascertaining doubtful or mistaken addresses
a little experience, and that tact which experience
gives, would soon enable the °Seers to do all that is
practicable. But " Not known," " Try," and " the
Dead Letter Office," save trouble to all but peripatetic
postmen.
IV. THE POSTAGE OF NEWSPAPEIS IN THE
LONDON DISTRICT. Though any newspaper will pass
and repass from one end of the kingdom to another
without charge, yet if it be sent from one street of
London to the very next street it is charged a penny.
While a distinction existed between the District and
the General Post-office with respect to postage, the fact
admitted of explanation ; but when the rates were
assimilated, the retention of the postage of newspapers
became anomalous and unjust. It shows how un-
willingly the reform was adopted, and how determined
the authorities were to clutch every farthing of receipt
for the revenue. The stamp is affixed to a newspaper
professedly to cover its postage ; and if it carries a paper
free any number of hundreds of miles, upon what prin-
ciple is a charge amounting to one-fifth of the value of
the paper imposed for conveying it perhaps two miles,
perhaps only fitly yards ? A clearer proof of the want
of a general system, or of the niggardly spirit of the
Post-office, could not be adduced. In fact, no anomaly
seems too great to be preserved if a few hundred pounds
ere to be gained by it.
Enough of suggestion for one week. Lord Lowther
may be assured that his administration is watched with
caufilence by many, and interest by all.

HINTS FROM THE TAVERN WAITER'S
READY RECKONER.--" Waiter !" " Yes, sir." " Wha t
have I to pay ?'" Pay, sir ; what have you had, sir ?"
" Chops." " Yes, sir—chops one shilling, sir ; anything
else, sir ? " " Potatoes."— " 'raters two-pence, sir
that's fourteen-pence, sir—and fourteen pence is one and
four, sir ; any bread, sir ? " " Yes." " Bread a penny,
sir ; and one and four is sixteen-pence, and one is seven-
teen, and seventeen-pence is one and seven-pence, sir ;
how many goes of brandy, sir ?" " Two." "Two,' sir,
that's fourteen-pence. One and four, sir, and one and
seven—one and one is two—four and seven is eleven,
that's two, and one is three, and one is three and a
penny ; anything .else, sir ? " " No ; there are four
shillings." "Four shillings, sir. Thank you, sir. Coming
directly, sir." Waiter retires.— Punch's Almanack, 1842.

THE ROMANCE OF EMIGRATION.
• (From the Befit() (United States) Advertiser.)
About three weeks since a pretty and interesting
young woman, with two fine children of the ages of one
and three years, called at the office of our city clerk,
inquiring for the Mayor. That officer was absent,
but her sorrowful demeanour spoke so affectingly
in her behalf, and although evidently in humble life,
she seemed so intelligent and unassuming in her
distress, that Mr. Lacy, the clerk, was led to ask the
cause of her trouble, when she told him her brief
story. She said her husband, whose name was
Evans, left their native place, Brecknock, in Wales, a
year ago, to seek a new home for them in Ame-
rica, leaving them to follow when he should have found
the desired spot, and earned the means to enable
them to make the journey. He finally settled at Oak-
hill, Jackson County, in the southern part of the
state of Ohio, wheac be worked industriously at his
trade, that of a tailor, until he bad laid by 80 dollars
for the passage-money of his family. This amount
ho enclosed to his wife, with directions as to the
best route to reach her destination, which would
be via Liverpool and New York. She accordingly bade
adieu to her birth place, and started on her lone and
distant voyage, cheered by the prospect of soon join-
ing her husband in their new western home. Oa ar-
riving at the nearest seaport on the coast she was per-
suaded by the mercenary Captain of a trading vessel that
it would be much cheaper to go by way of Quebec, whither
he was bound, and she, therefore, took passage with him.
It was two bong months before the tardy craft reached
port, and during this tine, her stock having been ex-
hausted, she was compelled to purchase from the Cap
tain, at his own rotes, a supply for the wants of
herself and her chil,lren. The extortion to which
her inexperience made her an easy prey, and
the increased expenses of the inconvenient route
she had ignorantly taken, left her without a shilling
on her arrive' at Buffalo. She was still 600 miles
from her journey's end, without a friend or acquaintance,
truly a helpless stranger in a strange land, with her
little children looking up to her for food ! The energies
of a woman's nature, SJ strikingly developed by neces-
sity, did not cave her to despair. She obtained
shelter for herself and her children in a cellar-room
in the Towbridge block, for which she had to pay
ss. a week, and succeeded in procuring a little sewing
from a clothing-shop, which barely realised as much
money as paid for their gloomy lodging and coarse
and scanty fare. She wrote a letter to her hus-
band, informing bum of their arrival and destitute
situation ; but weeks wore away in cruel suspense,
while she wrote ag ,in and again ; and on the
ramie of each post learned with a heavy heart
that it had brougit no letter for her. At length
her employer had no more work for her, and
she was obliged to pledge articles of clothing to pro-
cure necessary fowl. This wretched resource now
failed, several weeks' rent wet e due, and in her ex-
tremity she thougl,t of applying to the Mayor for ad-
vice and relief. Tee wor woman's simple statement
touched the manly heart of Mr. Lacy. He commenced
a subscription, and Mr. Williams, a countryman, a
worthy mechanic reading here, wi'h prompt philan-
thropy took Mrs.E%aes and her little ones into his house,
when a discovery that his guest was born within
half a mile of the old home he lett twenty years before,
and the family histories she related, amply repaid the
kind Welchtnan for his hospitality. Another honest
Welchman soon cheeied her with his greeting. Fifteen
dollars, the sum necessary to send her to Oak.hill, were
soon rased, and Mrs. Evans's passage was taken on board
the packet. But while hastening to redeem a shawl which,
during the preparatioa for thest art she recollected still lay
on the pawnbroker's shelves, the boat cast off. Lamenting
her disappointaient she turned round and her husband
stood before her. Ile hail been in the city ten days in
search of her;. had boarded at the United States
Hotel, just over the low and squalid apartment in
which his little family were staying—he comfortably
lodged, and living up as the luxuries of a well-served
table, while they were famislsirg only a fee, feet distant.
It was a joyful meeting ; the dollars were returned to
the good subscribers, and the reueited and happy
family took boat the next day for their western home.

BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, JAN. 5, 1842.
—Our Sug:ir Market re-opened to-day, but the sales
ell'eeted have I.x!'2:_ on a very limited scale ; the mer-
chants require the same rates that they• (lid before the
holiday:;, but the trade seemed very indisposed to com-
ply with their demand ; and we cannot at present give
correct quotations._

We Understand that the Marquis of Exetei will
be appointed Lord-Lieutenant of the County of North-
tunptonviu th,2 pl:, of the Jut rl of Westmorland.
CUANMOS TESTIMONIAL—DREAD OF RE-
VELATIONS.-0 wing to unavoidable and nu tiweseen cir-
cumstances, it. ha; been found necessary to postpone the
dinner intended to have been given to his Grace the
Duke of Buckingh.tin Chandoi, on tln 11tH of Feb-
ruary, on the occa, Ht of the pr,26entation of the testi-
.
monial itom the A;:::ricuiturai interest, and it is supposed
:hat the presonta'.ion will be mad.; in Whitsun week,
when a Cinn,r on an extensive scale will take place.—
Bucks Ilirf://.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)—The Glycia-
rium is daily crowdtd with distinguished yisiiors ;
among others have Ewen the Dukes or Brunswick and
St. Alban's, Earl and Countess of Lovelace and party,
Lords Adolphus and Augustus Fitzclarence, Sir Nicholas
Tyndall, and nr. Baron Alderson, Sir John Sebright,
Bart., Ladies Walpole, Fuller, Hayes, and parties ; Miss
Pardoc and party, the 13ishop of Ll:tad:4 and party ;
Sirs Benjamin Brodie, James Falconer, and Augustus
Foster ; Major-Gc..terals Sandwith, Tremanheere, and
parties ; &c.

STRANGE II? TnuEr—A Belgian paper, the
Gazette d'Ath, status that a poor old couple, who resided
at Aleslin Levegue, have just died under extraordinary
circumstances. Shortly before Christmas the wife said
to her husband---" We have been married 40 years."
To which the husband replied, " Yes ; and we have en-
dured great misery. If God would call us both away, it
would not be a misfortune." A few days afterwards
they were both taken ill, and on Christmas-day, whilst
the priest of the village was with them, they both died so
nearly together, that the priest could not say which had
died first.

ADVICE TO TEETOTALLERS.—." I cannot
tell What ails me," said a sick man ; " I am sure I live
temperately enough, and drink nothing but water."
Then, take my adl ice," replied his friend, " and stick
to the old proverb, which says, Let Well alone.' "
Literary Gazelle.

CURIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE.—Mr. Ray, mate
of the Ruby, just returned from Australia, had determined
to pass his Christmas holidays in London, with his
wife ; hearing, however, of the railroad accident, he
resolved to go by coach, and singular to relate, his wife
is, we understand, now detained on the road from inju-
ries caused by the upsetting of the coach.—Bristol Mirror.
_ _

Her Majesty will hold drawing rooms at St.
James's immediately after the christening of the Prince
of Wales ; and we are informed, open an authority
competent to fi.win an opinion, that they will be more
numerously attended, and more splendid than any that
have occurred for the last twenty-five years. The season
will, consequently, continence at an unusually early
period in London, and the fashionable hotels will be
thronged by foreigners who are expected in this country.
We knew that it is the intention of the Court to spare
no pains to make the reception of the King of Prussia in
this country as brilliant as possible, and that a series of
fetes, of the most magnificent description, will be given
in honour of his Majesty.—Court Journal.

What if you have failed in business ? You
still have life and health. Don't sit down and cry about
mishaps, for that will never get you out of debt, nor buy
your children frock. Go to work at something, eat
sparingly, dress moderately, drink nothing exciting, and,
above all, keep a merry heart, anti you'll be up in the
world.—B. Frytntlin.
The take of sprats at Torquay continues to be
immense. About two thousand tons have been caught
during the last three months. They have afforded a
most welcome supply of food to the starving poor.—
lVestern Times.

THE SASZATARIAN 46 DECLARATION."-
We understand that immense exertions are making
to procure signatures to this document. We have
heard of one case in which a spirit-merchant was
informed, that ii he did not sign it, influence
would be used to deprive him of his license !
Many persons, too, are appending their names under an
impression that the " Declaration" merely expresses dis-
approval of Sunday travelling, and a determination not
to travel on that clay; whereas it binds the parties
not to use the railway at all for any one day of
the week, not cven for goods, unless the Company sub-
mit to theiri dictation ! We therefhre beg the public
to be .on their guard. There are few subjects on
which greater ignorance prevails—the object of the
proposed Sunday trains being, in fact, nothing
more than to do away with ordinary coaches,
to obviate the necessity of private expresses,
and lessen the amount of " Sabbath desecration." We
trust the. shareholders, at their meeting in February,
will estimate at its proper value this scandalous conspi-
racy at once to injure their property, and deprive the
public of a valuable boon.—Scotsman.

MERTHYR.—So strong and rapid does the tide
of emigration to the United States run here, that
sales of household furniture take place daily. The
number of vacant houses is great ; many new and good
houses at the Market-square are unoccupied. The
building speculation in this central part of the town,
has hitherto been profitless to many. The contrary
holds with cottagers. There were but very few workmen's
or any other houses, between this town and Dowlais
about fifteen or
.twenty years ago; but now there are
two rows almost all the way, and the appearance of the
chimneys on the declivity, from the Swansea-road, is
very picturesque.—Mountouthshirc Merlin.
There is now living in the possession of. Mr.
T. Jones, farmer, in the parish of Llanishen, in the
county of Glamorgan, a pet goose, upwards of 45 years
of age, having produced to him a flock over 350 in num-
ber.—Monmouthskire Merlin.
EMIGRA TlON.—Thirty-five persons from Dow..
lais, and fourteen families from Ithymney,. left for the
United States last Saturday. Chairs which cost five
shillings, are now sold for only one ;
.and other house •
hold furniture proportionally low.--Silurian.
DEATH OF MR. COBHAM.—Mr. Cobham,
the well-known performer, died on Monday last. lie was
much respected by his brother actors.