The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-05-07 00:00:00

FOREIGN POSTAGE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SIR,—If you think the following letter worth a place in
your journal, you will oblige me by inserting it.

TO THE MERCHANTS OF LIVERPOOL.

At the present period, when st;inaZlclllll:sl;eeii said respect-
ing, and so many petitions sent up to parliament in favour of
penny postage on inland letters, I think those persons in-
terested in the foreign trade, (in which the greater part of
merchants are engaged,) ought also to petition parliament to
reduce the postage on foreign letters, which, at the present
time, is far greater than on inland letters. It is true, the
government packets are nominally kept up for the purpose of
carrying the mails, but it is well known, that the postage on
the letters, and other items, does not directly pay the ex-
penses ; still the revenue is indirectly benefitted to a very
great extent, by every facility it affords by a quick, and cheap
correspondence. If we had a low rate of postage, many
more letters would be sent openly by the packets, as mer-
chants do notlike double and treble postages, when it amounts
to Bs. or 10s., and in consequence, many times the 2nds of
exchange are omitted to be sent, when they might frequently
arrive before the Ist, and it sometimes happens, that the first
miscarry, and the bills are not received for months after,
this, besides delay, might cause even much more serious
events. The postage on British America letters has lately
been reduced about half, and I see no reason why this part
of her Majesty's Colonies should be more favoured than the
West Indies, &c.
It is a well known fact, (and I speak from experience,)
that in some of the islands, when a person is going home by
a packet, he often carries more letters than the mail bag con-
veys, they are put into the Post-office at Falmouth, or con-
veyed to their destination, as the case may be. I shall say
no more on the subject, but call on my brother merchants to
join hand in hand in petitioning government for a reduction
of postage on foreign letters, as well as inland.—l am, &c.
A WEST INDIA MERCHAN.
Liverpool, 4th May, 1839.

CHARTISTS' MEETINGS.

(From Friday's Gazette.)
BY THE QUEEN.-A ,PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, we have been given to understand, that, in some
parts of our United Kingdom, persons have, of late, unlaw-
fully assembled together, for the purpose of training or drill-
ing persons to the use of arms, or of being trained or drilled,
or for the purpose of practising military exercise, movements,
or evolutions •, and whereas such assemblings and proceed-
ings are prohibited by law, as being dangerous to the peace
and security of our liege subjects, and of our authority. And
all persons guilty of such offences are punishable by trans-
portation or imprisonment :
We, therefore, being duly sensible of the mischievous con-
sequences likely to arise from such unlawful practices, if suf-
fered to continue unpunished, and being firmly resolved to
cause the laws to be put in execution for the punishment of
such offenders, have thought fit, by the advice of our Privy
Council, to issue this proclamation, hereby strictly command-
ing all justices of the peace, sheriffs, under-sheriffs, and all
other civil officers whatsoever, that they do use their utmost
endeavours to discover, apprehend, and bring to justice the
persons concerned in the unlawful proceedings above men-
tioned.
And whereas, in some parts of our United Kingdom, large
numbers of persons have lately assembled and met together,
many of them being armed with bludgeons and other offen-
sive weapons, and have, by their exciting to breaches of the
peace, and by their riotous proceedings, caused great alarm
to our subjects.
And whereas such meetings are contrary to law, and dan-
gerous to the peace of our realm, and to the property and the
lives of our subjects.
We, therefore, hereby strictly command all justises of the
pe.ne, sheriffs, under-sheriffs, and all other civil officers
whatsoever, that they use their utmost endeavours to enforce
the law, and prevent, put down, and suppress such unlawful
meetings, and bring offenders to justice. And we strictly
enjoin all our liege subjects to give prompt and effectual
assistance to our justices of the peace, sheriffs, under-sheriffs,
and all civil officers, in their endeavours to preserve the pub-
lic peace.
Given at our Court, at Buckingham-palace, this third day
of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and thirty-nine, and in the second year of her reign.
God save the Queen !

HER MAJESTY'S NEW STEAM SHIP MERLIN.—This fine
vessel commenced her duties as mail packet, between Liver-
pool and Kingstown, on Wednesday last, Ist May, after hav-
ing been fitted with every accommodation and comfort for
passengers. She is 890 tons burthen and 320 horses power,
and commanded by Lieut. Townley, R.N. The Merlin reach-
ed Kingstown in 10 hours, and on her return, she ran the
distance in 11.
ST. GEORGE'S BATHS.—These noble baths have recently
undergone very considerable improvements, under the able
superintendence of Mr. Penn, and are now ready for the re-
ception of visitors. The dressing rooms and other apartments
have been refitted and embellished in a very superior style.
Every regard has been paid to comfort and convenience in all
the arrangements. We have no doubt from our knowledge of
Mr. Penn's polite attention, that these delightful baths Will
be extensively patronised.