The Sun. — 1839-07-31 (London, England)

POSTAGE.  SUMMARY of the 2,007 PePostage,titions for the Uniform Penny to the House of Commons (exclusive of the sarne number most probably presented The number to the House of Lords) this Session, up to the 20th July. ciations, 83 ; Mechanics Institutes, &c., 58 ; Councils, 148 ; Commissioners of Supply in Scotland, 10 ;Inhabitants of places, 1,173 ; Professional A3SCP. of petitions presented was—from Town Unions, 20 ; Vestries, 3 ; Schools, 12 ; Females, 8 ; Farmers attending markets, 9 ; Printers, 5 ; London Poor-law Printers, 86 ; Newspapers, 10 ; Chambers of Commerce, 42 ; Trades and manu;actures, 168 ; Mercantile firms, (London) 128 ; London Druggists, 16 ; Indi% iduals, 28. Total (with 262,809 signatures), 2,007. The total number of all petitions on about 300 different subjects presented this Session to July 20, is 13,288 —so that nearly a sixth part of the whole number has been devoted to praying for Uniform Penny postage. Though at least 200 petitions which, as presented by corporate bodies, &c., bear simply a seal and no signature at all or only a single one, still the average number of signatures to each petition exceeds 160. If the petitions from Town Councils are received, each as representing the inhabitants of its respective town—and so they fairly may, for there has been a most remarkable concordance of all political parties on this subject--it will be found that upon no subject whatever during the present Session, or, perhaps in any past one, has the public voice been so unanimous and universal as on the expediency of a Penny Postage. And it must be remembered that only two years have passed since the plan was made public. In the first year, .5 petitions were presented to the House of Commons : in the second, 320 ; and in the present year, 2,007.  THE LATE MURDER AT WOOL  MICH  THE POLICE AND THE All- 141 Y. The Police Commissioners have, within the last day or two, forwarded the following circular to the Superiatendauts, by whom the same has been read to the whole of the men in each division : ". The Commissioners have much pleasure in communicating to the police force the contents of a letter, received from Lord Bloomfield, Commandant at Woolwich, in reply to the Commissioners letter, acquaintinc, that officer of a subscription of 661. 7s. 4d., made by theilietropolitan Police, for the widow of the late Sergeant-major Shephard of the Artillery.  " Commandant's Office, July 26, 1839. " Gentlemen—l have the honour of acknowledging your letter, of the 25th inst., received this morning, and to express my deep sense of the benevolent feeling which has actuated the Metropolitan Police on the afflicting occasion of the death of Sergeant- Major Shepherd. " This testimony of the commisseration of your respectable corps for the unhappy widow, as well as to its detestation of the crime by which the Sergeant-Major fell, refleets the highest honour on that body, and calls forth this expression of gratitude from me, as commanding in the garrison, and which feeling is shared by every officer, noncommissioned officer, and soldier of the regiment. "'these sentiments I would request you to convey to the individuals who have spontaneously contributed to alleviate the distress of the afflicted widow.  (Signed) "BLOOMFIELD, Lieutenant-General Commandant. To the Cornatisioners of Metropolitan Police."