Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-16
Rates general inland postage, single letters on any dis

and one penny additional 100 miles, part of 100
miles 500 miles.
There existed also what called the London local
posts The charge upon single letters for distance or
circl. of three Mills from the London Office I'd,
equal tn four cents; beyond that and within IL miles Sd,
equal to cents.
Penny posts were established for the accommodu-
ton of any town at the discretion Of the Post
General
Letters from soldiers Sailors if prepaid, mic be
sent TO any place in the Kingdom for penny.
Newspapers, if stamped, were sent through the mail
free of postage. The stamp duty each newspap per
was ld equal TO 2 cents, ard this duty retained
in the act of 1896, in lieu of postage newspapers.
The amount derived from this duty on newspapers
circulated through the mails, estimated to be
$3.50 997 annually. Nothing is allowed 10 be written
the paper, not even the name of the person send
ing the paper, without subectng il TO triple postage
The ranking privilege Of members of Parliament
was limited 10 ounce, and not than 10 to be
sen, and 10 to be received each day Official franks
restricted.
Besides the postage to be derived from inland letters
postage, varying according to and in
degree depending upon the country from and t, which
SENT waslmpose on foreign tiers tie average rate of
which was iG4 cents on each letter.
Deputy Postmasiers paid generally by fixed sa-
larry from the public treasury.
Snch, sutst ntlay, was the systam of the British
Post Office and ITS sources Of revenue IN 1888
In the U States, the Pos, Office Department, unlike
that OF England, msde to depend upon lis reve
nue. to deiray IFS expenditures 1t does not contribute
to the general treasury.
| To continue the present amount of mail service,
which cannot (without injustice TO the pnblic) be
duced in any considerable degree, will require annu-
ally about the sum of 81 500 600.
The annual income cannot exceed that amount, for
years 10 come, under the present system.
The reform in the British system urged and u-
timatey adopted, upon the ground that the charge
for transporting letter of proportion TO The
expense incurred 1t was stated in the report Of the
committee of Parliament that the post ,ge received was
more than three times the amount OF the expense in
| Cured in transporting and delivering litter.
1t was contended by the protector of the reform in
England, that reduction of postage to penny for
all distances in the Kingdom, would increase the
her of letters 10 five fold; and the committee Of
opinion, that the revenue derived to the Crown from
the Pos, Office would not sustain any diminuton.
These opinions, and others similar, were sustained
with great earnestness and ability against the udemen
of th Postmaster General and others associated with
him in the Department.
The committee conclude their report with this re-
mark in recommending The adoption Of the uniform
penny system of postage: 'that they believe, at no
dIslnt period, il will improve the Post Office revenue
itself, and chat it IS The opinion of most Of the wit
nesses except the officers Of The Post Office Depart
ment, the adoption of it recommended by Mr.. r
Hill, would occasion very great increase in the
Der of letters posted, and far greater increase than
would be required TO maintain the revenue al lis present
amount.
Such were the opinions and calculations upon which
the system of uniform penny rates of postage was u
timatey adopted.
The rates Of postage, as established in England I'm
der this system, are follows:
Letters not exceeding onehali or, Id, equal 10 cts.
{" /" /" OF. ,
&" +" 2oz. 4 ." s