The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-29
Ocean Penny Postage.

We notice in several Of our contemporaries
letter addressed by ELIHU BURRITT to his
American friends in behalf of the agitation com
menced in England for the establishment OF an
Atlantic penny postage. The success of the
cheap postage experiment, both in this country
and in Britain, affords very strong argument
for its extension in the manner proposed, and
almost justifes the belief that the scheme may
be adoped without any heavy pecuniary sacrifice.
Financial considerations are the only ones that
can weigh against scheme dictated by hu-
manity, and certain to promote international
good will; and it may well be doubted whe-
Their the objections on the score of cost are war
ranted by the circumstances of the case. We
are informed that Mr.. BARNABAs BATES, of
New York-the Rowland Hill of America
purposes during the present season to visit
many of the States with the view of eliciting
expressions of public feeling upon this question.
Writing from London, Mr.. BURRlTT says:
"During the last six months this movement has
assumed the character of what may be called an
agitation The attention Of the public mind has
been called TO the subject by more efficient and
energetic modes of appeal than at any previous
time. We have disseminated tracts by the thou
sands, and operated through the public press in
favor of the measure. IL may refer to my own
personal exertions, have addressed more than
sixty public meetings on the subject, since Deccm
Der last in all the considerable towns OF Great
Britain--inland well maritime, agricultural
well commercial; and in every case we have
found at least half the audience deeply and directly
interested in the question, by having friends
| abroa will wh how lopn for that "A
frequent communion which cheap postage can
alone secure. For in nearly all these meetings an
interesting test has been applied All who have
relatives or immediate friends in countries
beyond the sea, requested TO signify that
fact lin the usual way and it 10 animating
TO see large portion of the audience raise
their hands with a vivacity which manifests
their personal interest in the matter. II would
astonish an American, | am sure, to witness
the resul Of this experiment in different towns.
More than half tho persons present at the last
fifty meetings ! have addressed have raised
their hands on the application Of this test. At a
large and important meeting in Edinburgh, the
Lord Provost, who presided, estimated that full
two thirds raised their hand; in Dundee in nm au
diencc Of twelve hundred three fourths; in Glas.
gov, nine tenthsl But these are commercial towns
it may be said. True; but about the same result
has been obtained in dull, agricultural, inland
towns. Last Friday evening presented the sub
ject in Old Windsor, close under the windows OF
the grand old palace. castle Of English royalty.
The Town Hall crowded full with most at
tentive and sympathetic audience, including many
of the notabities Of the place-military knights,
or old officers of the army who have retired hither
Among others, the lager of Prince Albert was
present On taking a show of hands, more
than two-thirds of the meeting indicated in this
way that they had friends in foreign countries,
and that TO both parties Ocean Penny Postage
would be great boon and blessing. The public
mind is ripe and ready for the measure. All
the circumstances Of the times, its tendencies,
predictions, and progress, run in the direc-
ton OF this reform The pressure of population
from the Old World outward TO the remote regions
Of the EARTH and the ties OF ycarnng affection which
connect them with millions OF human hearts they
have left beating behind with tho secret pssations
Of parental and bomek kin love and solictude-these
cry, with their myriad voices toDgued with earnest
opportunities, for the realization of this measure
The British provinces in America are stirring in
tho matter with zeal and activity. Two of the
most important petitions that ever we're sent out
from Nova Scotia any subject, have recently
been rcceivcd-one signed by the President Of the
Council, Speaker of the Assembly, Attorney G. ono
'ait t,ohONOt othtihit tnt lcaulnR OF
the Legislature in session in Halifax; the other
by the Lord Bishop, and many Of the fret men in
the province. letter from Montreal states that
the memorial from that city will have at least four
thousand signatures attached to it, comprising the
clergy, the bench, the bar, the corporation, the
committee Of trade and the whole commercial
community Another letter also states that they
are moving vigorously in Quebec, and that the pc
tition from that city had already received one
thousand five hundred signatures.
can these streams and rivulets about TO
be concentrated upon Parliament in one powerful
volume Of public sentiment. The Right Hon. r.
Miner Gibson will probably bring forward his
motion in the House Of Commons before this reaches
your readers. il s expected that the Conserva-
tises will support the measure, M well as the Lib
erals. They have done so out OF Parliament, and
we trust they will do the same within it's walls. We
hope thaton oftheir number OF great influence, will
second the motion in the House; and we are to SEQ
him for that purpose tomorrow morning. On