§ Mr. Labouchererose to move that the House resolve itself into 578 a Committee, that he might propose certain Resolutions upon which he intended to found a Bill for the extension of the accommodation by the posts to and from foreign parts. The object of the measure was to facilitate the transmission of letters and newspapers between this kingdom and foreign countries; and he expressed a sanguine hope that if it were passed, it would, be possible to meet the wishes of the French Government upon the subject of that more extended intercourse which was so desirable between this country and France. He added, that the Bill was not for the imposition of any additional postage; on the contrary, it was entirely for the reduction of postage.
The House went into Committee, and a Resolution was proposed, that it was expedient to regulate or reduce certain rates of postage.
Mr. Mark Phillipscalled attention to the circumstance of newspapers in which particular paragraphs were scored, being subject to postage.
§ Mr. Aglionbywished it to be understood that such newspapers, addressed to Members of Parliament, ought not to be subject to any charge.
§ Mr. Laboucheresaid, that the subject was entirely new to him. He should take the opportunity of communicating with, the Post-office upon it. He himself had never paid any charge for newspapers addressed to him in which paragraphs were scored, and he did not think that any charge ought to be made; at the same time he could conceive a system of ingenious scoring which might be used to a very unfair extent.
The resolution was agreed to, the House resumed, and a Bill to carry the Resolutions into effect brought in, and read a first time.