The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-07-09
FOREIGN LETTERs.

COE@ EA~AN AA4A \ @AA~O"
Mr.. EDITOR IL have received the follow
ing official notification from the Post Office
Department, and publish it, with other
items of information, for the benefit of per-
sons having foreign correspondence: d.
1.-THE single rate of postage (haIf ounce
or under) on prepaid letters by the Prus-
sian Closed Mail, between this country and
Prussia, Austria, Bavaria, Saxony, Wur-
tembnrg, Mecklenburg- Strelitz, Oldenburg,
Luxembourg, Brunswick, Lubbock, Hamburg
and Bremen respectively. has been reduced
to ta0enty eight cents. This reduced rate is
confined to prepaid letters addressed to the
several countries and States above enumer-
ated; and therefore all unpaid letters, to
whatever part of Germany they may be
addressed and all prepaid letters addressed
to any other German States than those
above mentioned, are still charged the old
rate of thirty cents."%
In regard to heavy foreign letters l give
the following extracts from the Post Office
Regulations:
"All letters to and from foreign countries,
1.-THE German States, &C., when sent via Bre-
UGu VI 4huOuEkI fdUCCg duQ Tie -DIltISu
North American Provinces excepted, are
to be charged with single rate of postage, if
not exceeding the weight of half an ounce
double rate if exceeding half, but not ex-
ceeding an ounce; quadruple rate if ex-
ceeding an ounce but not exceeding two
ounces aud so on, charging two rates for
every ounce or fractional part of an ounce
over the first ounce"
This rule applies to letters by both the
British and Prussian closed mail. The eff
feet of it is, that when letter weighs over
an ounce, fractional parts of an ounce are
not taken into account. For instance, let
ter weighing l I, 4 or Il ounces, costs. 1.-THE
same as if it weighed ounces, and so on.
Thus, a letter by the Prussian closed
mail, weighing a half ounce, when pre-
paid, would cost Is cents from J to l
ounce, So cents; / to 2 ounces, $ll2; 2
to ounces, $l.6S, and so on. English let
tiers, J ounce "a cents; to l ounce. As
cents; l to ounces, 96 cents; to ounces
$I.44, and so on. In other words, there is
is no triple rate, as there is in The home,
Canadian, French, Bremen and Hamburg
mails.
Persons sending letters to foreign coun-
tries should make inquiry as TO the best
routes, and the prices of postage, and be
careful to mark on their letters the route
they wish them TO go by and also, when
they prepay, to pay in full If letters for
foreign countries are not fully prepaid, the
full postage is charged on delivery. This is
the reason why foreign letters arriving,
having stamps on for part of the postage,
are charged up in full, as though nothing
were paid. English letters, weighing very
little over half ounce, sometimes have a
shilling stamp on, but torty-eight cents
charged up which must be collected, be-
cause the full rate is not paid. This seems
hard, but it is the rule, according to the
postal treaties.
By recent arrangement, prepayment to
Nova Scotia is required, whereas it used to
be optional. 1t is optional to Canada.
1t is not the fault of our Government
that British postage is so high. The U. S.
P. o. Department is ready, and has been for
months, TO reduce the rates on letters one
half, but the British Office holds back.
In writing letters for the French mail it
must be borne in mind that one-quarter
ounce is the standard instead of half
ounce, as in other mails. 1t is therefore
necessary to write on thin, light paper, to
bring letter within the single rate. Fif-
teen cents is the single rate to France, and
in proportion for heavier letters.
Valuable letters TO Germany (via the
Prussian Closed and Bremen mails), Great
Britain, or Canada can be registered by pre-
payment of postage and a registry fee of
five cents.
Prepayment is optional by the British,
Prussian Closed, Bremen, Hamburg, and
French Mails, to the countries legitimately
supplied by those mails respectively
prussia and Austria are connected in a
common Postal nion.) 1t is a mistake to
suppose that letters go more surely when
unpaid. 1t is best to prepay them.
Foreign postage rates are complex, and
correspondents should inform themselves in
regard to them. Any information or ex-
PLANTATION will be gladly given by the I'M
dersigned to those who desire it.
R1- Writers are particularly desired to
put their own stamps on letters. They can
then be sure that their letters are prepaid.
Stamps of the following denominations are
issued: 1e, &c, sc, 1Oc, lie, 24c, 3Oc and
90c.
JAS. H. MCNEELY, P. NJ.
SPY a letter from the Postmaster General to the
Postmaster of New York City, ALL tie Ge man