Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-10

TO the interests OF the three countriesn which mr.
engagements might have rendered the treaty more
equal in its operation; aud the original terms OF
the convention still remain unchanged.
Reference Is next made 10 the more important
parts OF the correspondence between the two gov
ernments on the subject, and the rates of charge
are stated on closed mails from France for the
United States. The present treaty, il is thought,
gives an undue advantage 10 Great Britain.
No satisfactory progress has been made, since
my last report toward effecting postal conven-
ton with France, nor has the contemplated ar.
rangemem with Belgium been yet consummaied.
Some steps have been taken with reference TO
postal convention with Mexico. mutual ex.
change of dead letters has already been agreed
upon and carried into effect; and now await
project, which Mexico is TO propose, for more
perfect arrangement, by which il is expected the
rates of postage between the two countries will
be materially reduced.
Under our postal convention with Great Britain
| the Philadelphia post Office, with the concurrence
OF that Government has been constituted an of.
flee OF exchange for United States and British
mails. The articles of agreement on this subject
| are hereto annexed. l regret TO state that my
| proposition for the reduction of pamphlet and
magazine postage between the two countries 10
one cent an once on either side has been positive
| y declined by the British Post Department. The
combined rate is al present altogether too high,
being eight cents an once for all works of this
| kind above the weight Of two ounces
| In the month of March last an arrangement
was made with the proprietors Of the Australia
Pioneer Line Of monthly packets TO convey mails
i regularly between New York and Port Pbihp
Australia, at two cents letter, one-haf cent per
newspaper, and one-qnarter cent an ounce for
/ pamphlets and magazines; and, with the view OF
aiording 10 our citizens the cheapest practicable
| means of communication with that country
have fixed the rates all outgoing matter by that
line at five cents letter. two cents each for news
| papers, and one cent an ounce or fraction of an
ounce for pamphlets and magazines, prepayment
required. These rates embrace both the United
States inland and sea postage. AS the United
States postage cannot be prepaid on incoming let
tiers by this line, they treated as ordinary ship
letters Similar arrangements have been made
during the year with the proprietors of the steam
ers Black Warrior and Cahawba TO convey mails
| semi monthly between New York and Havana
| and New Orleans and Havana at two cents a let.
ter, and also with the proprietor of the steamship
| Jewess 10 convey mails once in every twenty
days between New York and Nassau, New
Providence, returning by way Of Havana al the
same rate of compensation.
by these agreements important point has
been gained in sustaining the Department in the
efforts which should be made in all future ar
| engagements TO keep the cost of the ocean service
| If possible, within its receipts.
10 the appendix marked Az invite your par.
tlcular attention and that of Congress-
1t exhibits full statistical information on the
subject ofthe foreign mails; embracing the amount
OF hostages, inland, sea, and foreign, on mailabe
matter received and sent by the different mail
steamship lines during the year; the amount OF
| letter hostages on British, Prussian Bremen and
Havre mails; the portion thereof collected by the
United States, Great Britain, Prussia, and Bremen
| respectively; and the amounts of unpaid and paid
matter received and sent by each Of the lines OF
mail steamers. The gross and nett revenues re-
celved by the Department from each Of the trans.
Atlantic mail lines are shown and also the reve.
nue. derived from the correspondence with Great
| Britain, Prussia, and Bremen respectively under
The existing postal arrangements with those coun-
tries, both including and excluding the United
States inland postage. II also shows the number
of letters and newspapers exchanged during the
year between the United States and Great Britain
| IN British mails, between the United States and
bremen in Bremen mails, and between the United
States and the kingdom Of Prussia in closed
mails: the number OF letters I'm 0Mncss) received
and sent in closed mails under each of our closed
| mail arrangements, and the number Of letters and
| newspapers conveyed by the several home lines
| OF ocean steamers. Other valuable statistics con-
nected with the foreign mail service are also fully
| stated.
The usual report OF fines and deductions will be
daily furnished for the information of Congre IS.
| These fines and deductions for the year ending
the 3Oth June, 1854, amount to $11O4S6 So The
amount for the previous year was s37 800 81. The
| increased amount has been mainly caused by
more rigorous exaction than heretofore of forfeit
ures incurred for defective service. The asgre-
/ gate amount Of fines and deductions for the last
| year has thus been greatly increased.
am pleased TO say that the introduction into
the post Offices OF better system OF responsibility
for mail bags has resulted in checking the waste
OF this species Of property. The consequence
has been decrease Of twenty per cent. in the
number OF letter mail bags procured during the
year ending Both June last, as compared with the
preceding year; though the ordinary Increase in
the transportation Of letters has required the use
OF a greater number Of bags than were actually
/ used before.
| My assistants and chief and other clerks have
faithfully attended TO all their duties during the
| past year.
JAMES CAMPBELL.
| To THE PREsIprNr