The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-25
Our Paris Correspondence.

PARIS, Jan. 5, 1853.
Postal Arrangement betreen France and the United
States.
The commercial intercourse between France and
the United States has been much injured, for many
years past for the want Of regular postal arrange
ments between the two countries. Major Hobbie,
who visited Europe few years ago, entrusted with
the mission Of entering into some treaties with the
Continent to regulate and diminish if possible the
rate of postage between the New and the Old World,
returned home without having succeeded in many Of
his attempts, and the matter was, for some years
subject to variety Of changes, either in America or
on the European continent 1t is well known to
all those who corresponding between Europe and
the United States, that we cannot only not send
letter not prepaid both sides of the ocean, but
also that the charge of post Offices is dreadully high
For instance single letter, weighing seven grammes
and half, twenty-five grammes for the French
ounce) costs at the post office one franc and half,
$50 cents and if there is paid added to it, it is
taxed double. How many American merchants,
writing to Paris, on thick American paper are not
aware that their letter will be charged, sometimes,
three and four and half francs. The tax of the
French post office every letter sent to the United
States is ten cents, then the English tax is eight
cents land postage, and the other remaining
twelve cents are for the Cunard steamers. If
the letter weighs than seven and half grammes,
the tax being double the French post Office receives
franc, the English post Office sixteen cents and
the steamers twenyour cents and forth for triple
and quadruple hostages. No doubt, for those who
are connected with the regulations Of their post
Offices, this mode of taxing the letters appears
reasonable, and no change alteration is thought
to be required for the future. But those who are
not, think that many alterations could be made
in the present regulations and / have been par
ticularly directed by many merchants, whose cor
respondence with the United States amounts
every week to large sum of money, to write
special article the subject and call the attention
Of the United States government to this important
matter, particularly now that postal treaty is on
tie eve of being concluded between France and Amer
lea. Would it not be possible to have decided, that
a single letter which would weigh from seven gram
TO half an ounce, should be charged only twenty
five cents and that above that weight the tax should
only be Ia cents for every half ounce added there
TOT This would be just arrangement; and spe-
ciay call the attention of the Washington govern
ment to have the French and English postage re-
duced to Just rate
have called at the General Post Office of Paris,
and seen NJ. NORM, with whom was acquainted in
New York, when he was agent Of the Post office
board Of the French steamers Of Messrs. Heroult e
De Handel, and begged him to let me know the
particulars of the treaty now pending between
France and America. But he declined in the most POI
lite manner TO communicate the secret Of these ne
gotiations, sending me 10 Mr. Riyes, who, said he,
could if he chose to do so, let me know the con-
tents of the documents Our Minister, no more than
M. NORM, who is the chief Of the foreign depart
ment at the General Post Office at Paris, allowed
inform Of the details Of the treaty. but he told
me that lie was that his government would take
such steps would secure the interests Of his coun
uymen
During the time Of Louis Philippe, and also during
the republic of 1913 the tax on foreign newspapers
was only two cents postage, and it was considered
very high. Now, since the new decree Of Louis Ma
poeon, the French and foreign press every foreign
newspaper is taxed two cents II i is Of the size
Of the single sheet Of the DAILY HERALD, and one
additional cent ii IL is double, like the WEEKLY
HERALD; and there is besides, tax OF another cent
for the French stamp, which has to be printed upon
i with red ink. Thus WEEKLY HERALD, which is
sold in New York at six cents and two cents postage
TO be sent to Europe, Is charged here with four
cents, and costs in all twelve and a half cents
Should that same newspaper be sent by subscriber
70 ono Of liz friends in any part Of Europe, he IS