Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-26


- hotbor tbc .wo countries, no mat
a - H-lantic conveyance is by British o
BY United States steamers
PosT orr.
W.s,. -.vE DEPARTMENT
= ,,Ionn --niYoToS DECEMBER 10, 1852
noAD ~ the convention of the 18th of Decembe,
1915, tle rates agreed for pamphle. and periodic;
postage between the United States and the United King
dom are for every work not exceeding two o,,nces
Weieht one penny; for every work above two ounces
/ weight two pence fraction Of an ounce Bn
tsn charge; and il IS stipulated that the to
ievled by the Post Office of the United States sima
Works, addressed TO coming from the United States
Kingdom"
Until our postage law Of 1851 went into eft list
July of that year, the United States cbarge ON ,,c
works. to or from the United Kingdom. was only on,
n an ounce OF traction OF an ounce but under tina
Jaw, nis ONCE mas required the payment of postage OF
sucn WORKS at rates the charged in the United
ningaom Thus, on pamphlet say Of the weight of
ae'ioh 's ounces the whole postage amounts "a
thirty-two cents, and SO
This high postage tax cause of much plant and
especially on the part Of literary and institutions
DESTROYS of subscribing directly British periodicals
stead of having to rely reprints of works of this kind
On my part shall be pleased to reduce the say
:" oance fraction Of ounce where four
Genus are now charged if the British office will consent
10 IKE reduction, thus bringing the whole combined
rate down TO two cents ounce from up sixteen
ounces with this exception that change shall be made
IN respect to works sent three thousand miles in the
I United States.
As there now under consideration two or three pro
positions Tor slight notifications Of the existing
ment beg leave to bring this matter also to your notice
at the same time in the confident hope and belief that
you will unite with me in the desired improvement
Ihere can be no doubt that the receipts offices
would thus be increased AMI the would be re-
garded with much satisfaction by the public
have the honor to be, with high respect, your ODE
dlent servant, S. ID. HUBBARD,
Postmaster General
Tie Right Hon the Earl Of HARswIcKE, Sc, London
GENERAL PosT OFFICE
LONDON, JANUARY %, 1853
SIR: have laid before the Postmaster General your
letter of the 10th utmo offering to reduce the United
states rate Of postage printed pamphlets and period
cal works, of daily publication transmitted BY the
post between the United Kingdom and the United States
to one cent an ounce fraction Of ounce provided
the British Office will consent like reduction such
rate Of postage however, to be applicable only pam
phlets &C. up the weight of sixteen ounces and not
to extend to these which over three thousand
miles in the United States.
In considering this proposal two objections occur to
the Postmaster General, which present, IN his opinion
serious obstacles to the adoption of the measure.
First, the proposed scale contains such number Ct
gradaons would be productive Of loss time and Of
error in aflxing the charge and
Secondly, the amount of postage chargeahe on pub
locations Of light weight wculd be low lead to
their fraudulent use substitutes for letters
The Postmaster General directs me to state that he
cannot but consider that the arrangements respecting
books which proposed by his predecessor the Mar
qus Of Canricarde in Colonel Maberys letter Of the
10th Of October 1851 offered much greater advantages
both to the United States and this country than the
scheme under consideration while they were free
from the objections which have just been mentioned
Those arrangements
lst That every packet containing printed book ma
gazine, review pamphlet should be charged accord
ing to the following scales when not exceeding half
pound in weight Cd when exceeding half a pound and
not exceeding pound Is when exceeding one pound
and not exceeding two pounds, IS and on, ncreas-
ing enc shilling for every additional pound fraction Of
a pound.
2d That every packet should be sent without cover
or in open at the ends sides
3D. That il should contain single volume only, the
several sheets parts thereof where there
than one, being sewed or bound together
4th. That it should not exceed two feet in length
BREADTH width, or depth.
9TH That it should have writing marks upon the
cover its contents, except the and address Of
the person to whom it may be sent.
9Th That the postage should be prepaid in full and
that respects packets posted in the United Kingdom
this prepayment should be effected by axng outside the
packet or its cover the proper number Of stamps.
It'll That if any of the above conditions be violated
the packet should be charged a letter.
Sth That in order to prevent obstacles to the
guar transmission Of letters any officer Of the post Office
should be authorized to delay the transmission Of any
such packet for time not exceeding wentyfour hours
from the time at which the would otherwise have
been forwarded by him.
9th That Of the total amount Of postage paid upon
each packet onehird should be considered represent
the inland British rate onethird the rate and the
remaining third the United States inland rate and that
the rate should belong that country which effected
the marine conveyance
As was explained in the subsequent correspondence,
Oregon and California might be excluded from the
and there is little doubt that her Majestys
Government would readily consent TO increased inland
rate being charged upon all books conveyed from
any other place within the United States az such there
be- greater distance than three thousand miles pro-
yded that the collection Of the additional amount
in all undertaken by the United States
Bearing in mind that each packet would be limited to
single volume, IL to the Postmaster General hard
y necessary to impose any restriction weight but
on this point if you entertain contrary view, some
modification Of the regulations las in the Of India
stated below might doubt be agreed upon without
difficulty
In conclusion the Postmaster General desires me to
inform you that book post at rates precisely similar
those proposed to the United States Post Office has Cow
been set up between the United Kingdom and Of the
British colonies and that the necessary steps for extend
ing the to the whole Of the British possessions
IN the East Indies have just been concluded In this
latter case, however the weight Of the packet has on
account Of the difficulty Of inland conveyance in India
oeen limited TO three pounds avoirdupois
have the honor to be, sir, your obedient humble
ysnt, J. TILIEY ,
Assistant Secretary
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, .
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY "a, 1853.