Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1856-08-23
Gbe polpuesian.
DEPARTMENT OF FoRrres RrL.r,os,.,
City of Honolulu, 4th August, 1856.

were then made 10 improve postal arrange
ments with the United States and with Europe.
The improvements suggested being for the ad-
vantage OF foreign merchants, generally, friendly
concert was sought with the Diplomatic Agents
representing the United States, Great Britain and
France, who received the suggestions favorably
and communicated them to their respective Govern
ments.
The Commissioner of Great Britain on the
9th OF May last made known the following on the
part of the British Post Master General, viz;
| "The practice now pursued by this Depart
ment with respect to sters addressed to the Sand
wlch Islands, is to forward them as rule by the
West India Mail Packets to Chagres, when not
directed to be sent via the United States. Accord
ing TO The statements, however, made in the papers
Aoeinre mentioned,) 1t appears that the route of
the United States is much the most exueditious
and the Post Master General has therefore, given
directions, for reversing the present practice and
for sending all letters by that route, when not
directed To be forwarded by West IEdia Packets
81 Under the Postal Convention of December
Io4S, this Departmenthas full power to send closed
mails to the Sandwich Islands, and to receive closed
mails from those Islands, through the United States
subject TO the payment By this country of the Uni
ted States transit rate of Postage chargeabe upon
the letters and newspapers contained in these
mails.
:" So far relates TO the letters despatched
hence to the Sandwich Islands, there would be no
difficulty in establishing closed mails, as the whole
postage British and United States is req iredt to be
paid IN advance but, letters from the Sandwich
Islands could be sent to the United Kingdom in
closed mails, only, on condition that the present
system OF paying the postage in advance in those
Islands, be withdrawn aud that upon all the letters
forwarded to the United Kingdom, the Hawaiian
ostage and the Sea Postage 10 San Francisco be
levied in advance, and the United States Transit
rate and the British rate be left to be collected il
this country, as the Post Master General does not
think 1t would be advisable TO open postage ac-
countsbetween this Department and the Post Office
OF Honolulu; and II is obvious that, if the Sand
wch Island correspondence is sent in closed mails
which are moi opened in the Post Office of San
Francisco, the accounts relating to the correspnn-
dence could not be kept at that office, suggested
in the papers above referred to.
I "B BY the adoption Of the proposed arrangement
the risk OF letters and papers getngout of course
While on their way to this country, would doubtless
be considerably lessened, and there would be no
Liability of second charge being imposed upon
letters and newspapers already prepaid.
" With regard to letters &C., between the Sand
wlch Islands and France, they should be enclosed
IN the English Chased mails, in order that this Office
may be able to ascertain the weight of the letters
and the number of the newspapers and to account
to the United States Post Office, for the Transit
postage due to it, for the conveyance over the Uni
ted Ststes Territory.
This account could not be rendered if sealed
mails for France, were made up in the Sandwich
/ Islands"
The With Article of the Convention between
Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland
and the United States of America, for the improve
ment of the communication. by post, between their
respective territories, signed at London the 18th
December, l64s and Of which the rauicationS
were exchanged IN the same capital on the 26th |
January, lS49, read as follows:
1.-The United States further engage to grant to !
InOdOm m
through the United States, or throug any country
where the post-communication may be under the /
control management of the United States, of
letters and newspapers forwarded from the United 1
Kingdom, its colonies or possessions, to any other |
British coloHy or possession, or TO any foreign |
country, and from any foreign country or British |
colony or possession, to the United Kingdom, its
colonies or possessions"
The With Article Of the same Convention was
as follows:
Her Britannia Majesty engages, on Her part, |
to grant TO the United States the transit in closed
mails through the United Kingdom or through any
country where the post-communlcatlon may be
under the control or management of the United I
Kingdom, of letters and newspapers forwarded
from the United States, their colonies or posses |
sio0s to any other colony of the United States, or
to any foreign country, and from any foreign coun-
try or from any colony possession of the United
States, to the United States, their colonies pos
sessions" --..-. .-
! You will thus understand the clear foundation
on which rests the assurance of the British Post
Master General that the above Postal Convention /
already provides for the improvement of closed /
mai-bags to and from Europe una the United States,
which we are desirous of obtaining.
| Ii appears 10 me that, in view of all that have |
said above, you would be justified in requiring pre-
payment here only of the Hawaiian and seal post
age on all letters, newspapers and other maable |
natter for Europe ria the United States, soon |
as you have prepared the proper mail-bags, TO be
conveyed closed, ria the United States to London, !
and so soon as you notify the Post Master General
of London that, adopting his suggestion, you are
prepared to receive closed maibags, via the Unit
ed States, containing the European mails for this
kingdom. .r
AS foreign country permitted to take advantage
of the stIpulatons of the above mentioned Con- !
vention, it will become us to conform strictly to
the Forms required under that Convention. There
fore. enclose for your consideration, marked A,
Form of Leter-5iR for cluSed mails, corresponding
to the Form prescribed IN the Convention refer
red to. The column for " net loeigh Of printed
pamphlets in ounces, is added because the AFlllth
Article of said Convention provides for the trans
mission of such matter; and every year, we have
many printed official documents to transmit to the
Kings Diplomatic and Consular Agents residing
abroad.
The last paragraph of the XIIth Article of the
Convention aforesaid is as follows:
"Thsre shall be excepted from the above stiPu-
ations, letters and newspapers passing through the
United Kingdom TO and from France, as to which
certain rates are fixed by the Postal Convention
between that country and the United Kingdom.
But the two contracting parties invite France to
enter into communication with them, without loss
of time, in order to effect such arrangements for
the conveyance of letters aud newspapers and
lclosed mails, through the territories of the United
Kingdom, Of the United States aud OF France, re-
lspectiyey, as may be 70 .st conducive TO the inter