Washington sentinel., 1854-04-08
Focal anb Yfrsonal.

Ocean Penny Postage.-Eihu Burritt deliv-
cred, on Thursday night, at Carusis Saloon, a
highly interesting and eloquent lecture on the sub
ject OF universal penny Tor two cent? ocean post
age, before large auditory He demonstrated
in manner clear to every understanding, not only
the practcabili,y but the justice of such general
arrangement; and, in this connexion, he alluded to
the fact that our own government has just set the
audabe example 10 the world at large, by estab-
fishing the two-cent ocean rate between the United
States and Australia. And he further remarked
that there are enterprsing ship-owners ready thus
10 convey letters over the great waters but the
only impedments TO this are the present contracts
for carrying the mails in ocean steamers. He an
swered every possible objection which could be
urged against the system of which he is so ardent
patient, and untiring an advocate, and showed the
importance of the measure in worldwide social,
Christian, POLITICAL and patriotic aspect llumina-
ting his facts and figures with occasional outbursts
of unstudied eloquence, OF which the assemblage
estiGed their appreciation by repeated applause.
In the course Of his remarks, he related several
anecdotes, which he said would illustrate one of
the points on which he had dwelt more forcibly
than argument. In town in England there was
lad, homeless and houseless, and who was inca
pable Of manual labor, he being cripple, and suf
fering from an incurable and almost insufierable
spinal disease. A sister was in another country,
far separated from him by the ocean; but the
remembrance of her and the happy hours of their
early childhood strengthened his poor heart, and
afforded to him solace in his sulIerings. Her
image was present to him during the day, and in
~. ba &, ind, th.
hope that, at some day, he would be reunited TO
her in common home, no more the victim of
pinching poverty. Too proud to become an in
mate of the ams-house, the overseers of the poor,
sympathizing with his spirit ard condition, granted
him two shillings week, as outdoor relief and
with this sum, he managed 10 exc out seven
days. existence. The postman, on one occasion,
brought to him letter, with the ocean post-mark.
He knew the familiar superscription The letter
bore double rate of the amount which he had
just received for his weeks support. Here was
momentary struggle between his physical necex-
sites for the week before him, and the fresh,
warm emotions of his heart. The latter prevailed,
and receiving the letter, parting with his very
means of subsistence TO secure it, he hurried away
on his crutch to devour its contents.
ASulu, tneFe was Ill Olu "luOW III tuo same
country A letter was brought to her, but her dim
eyes could not read the superscription, and be-
sides she had not the means to redeem it from the
postman. She afterwards consulted with her
neighbors, who persuaded her not to thiHk Of TAX
ing it from the Office, as she knew of no one across
the ocean sufficiently interested in her welfare to
send her good tdings. So the letter was returned
to the writer in this country, endorsed refused"
So soon as he saw this word, he was forcibly re-
minded, for the first time, perhaps, in the thirty
years of the cruel egect with which he had treat
ed his mother; having, during this period, amassed
riches, but neveF before sending his aged parent
pecuniary assistance. That letter contained
check for hundred dollars. Before another could
reach her, she was dead having breathed her last
in the poor-house.
These things, among others, were mentioned,
TO show the phanthropic character Of the pro-
posed postal reform, which, while it would an
the craving, the necessity of the heart, would
increase rather than diminish the revenues Of the
Post Office Department.