Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-25
OFFER TO ESTABLISH OCEAN PENNY POSTAGE

To the Editors Of the National InteAigencer:
GENTLEMEN: Not only have facts and arguments been
brought forward which have convinced large portion Of
the community in this country and Great Britain that an
penny postage will pay but offer has been repeat
ey made by private enterprise actually to convey letters
across the Atlantic for cents apiece Aye more this
has been done for several years Indeed there is po
stive enactment in the post Office laws Of the United
States which fixes the transit service on letters at
too cents when performed by sailing vessels. But now
there is almost feet of powerful screw steamers plying
between the United States and Great Britain making the
transit in about fifteen days average. These are
ready doubtless convey all the letters that the
Atlantic for per half ounce Here is the Sc
cond letter from the agent of of these companies in
which he reierates the offer perform this transit
vice for this low consideration:
aGLAsGow AND NEW YoRK STEAMSHIP Co.,
"NEw YoRK, JANUARY 4, 1851.
To the Editors Of The Epcning Posi-:
GeSTLEMEx; The graphic article from the zen OF Ehhu
Burtt nyour paper OF last eycninS the Cap
tain Of the steamer Golden Age conveying bhcls e M
tes free ochcrgs by his ship from England to Australia,
suggests to me possibility Of helping forward the uni
versa boon of the penny postage by making pub
lie the fact that for two years. the Glasgow and
New York Steamship Company (for which am agent
here have been carrying bushels of letters across the At
lanc free Of charge" by their steamship Glasgow.
These letters, however obliged instantly on ar
rival and at our own trouble and expense deliver to
the post Offices here and Glasgow the captain receiving
cent or two each letter. Ibeleve, the "oeeaa postage
charged to the receivers.
81 may repeat to you what stated to Mr. Burrtt some
months ago. that the Glasgow" iron steamer
of 1000 tons measurement and 400.horse power, has
made passages regularly winter and summer in from
twelve to fourteen days; that the Neo York, another
vessel 500 tons larger 100horse power more and
pected to be least thirty hours faster than the Gas
gow building to be the berth by April next
that other ships will be added to the line the trade be-
tween the two ports may require and that we shall only
be happy carry at all times eargoes of mail bags at
the rate Of penny per letter. without asking the first
cent of any further grant from either Government
81 am, sir, yours, very truly,
Here, Messrs Editors is fair OFFER the part OF one
of these steamship companies to convey any number OF
ter in which he first made this offer was read in the Br
tish Parliament last winter by the R Hon. T. NJ GIssoN
Mp. 1t has been widely published in the journals in
Great Britain and in the United States Other steamship
companies doubtless prepared to enter into the
arrangement. Thus the inestimabe boon OF an ocean
penny postage is offered and again, by private
enterprise To millions in this country and in foreign
lands it would bring dew of gadness to the most pre-
cous gems of home affection. 1t would bring joy to
their humble homes that could not be "meted out in
words or weighed in language" Why, then, withhold
it from them? Why longer tax the of their
affections with the cruel crushing tariff that weighs
upon its current like barrier Of ice? Why longer
tain this almost restriction upon their heartcom
munings across the sea ELIHU BURRITT
WASHINGTON, MARCH 8, 1854. .... ....... i. :,