§ On the Motion by Lord Althorp, that the House should resolve itself into a, Committee on the Lottery Ticket Bill.
§ Sir Richard Vyvyanbegged to take that opportunity to ask the Secretary of the Treasury certain questions relative to the management of the Post-office. It appeared from certain statements which had recently got into circulation, that a tax was levied at the Post-office, by what authority he knew not, on all Newspapers sent from abroad, and on all British papers 223 sent out of the country. The price of a Paris paper to any person residing in London was 10l. a-year. Now it was well known that the price of that paper in Paris was little more than 3l. He wished to know whether the extra 7l. charged to the English subscriber, went into the coffers of the Post-office, or into those of the Post-office Clerks, and if into those of the latter, by what authority, parliamentary or otherwise? There was also a tax imposed in the same quarter, by whose authority he knew not, on British papers imported into our colonies, This was a serious injury to the revenue at home, and also to our colonists abroad. He wished to know by what authority both the tax on foreign papers imported into this country, and the tax on British papers exported to our own colonies, was imposed?
§ Mr. Spring Ricewas not prepared with an answer to these questions at present, but would be to-morrow. He admitted the subject was of much importance, and he would have it investigated.
§ Bill committed; Report to be received to-morrow.