HC Deb 18 February 1841 vol 56 cc728-9
Mr. Wallace

moved for returns of the number of letters passing through the Post-office of the United Kingdom in the years ending November 1839, 1840, and 1841: and also the number of money orders issued in the three months ending February, 1839, 1840, and 1841.

Mr. Hume

took that opportunity of complaining that of late a very convenient practice relating to parcels coming from abroad had been broken through. When pamphlets and papers came from abroad, they were, on landing, seized by the Post- office authorities and put into the post, the foreign rate of postage being charged upon them. Formerly there was a power in the secretary of the Post-office to remit or moderate that heavy charge, but now that officer declined to continue the custom. He had lately received from America several public documents and Parliamentary papers, open at the ends, for which he had been charged a postage after the foreign rate of 1l. 1s. or 1l. 10s. He had offered to pay the reduced English rate, which would have amounted to ten or fifteen shillings; but he had received no reply to his letters, and the public lost the reduced charge, for the papers were burnt. The individuals who brought the papers over would have brought them to town and delivered them free of charge but the inquisitors of the Post-office seized upon every thing in the shape of a letter, sent the parcels through the post, and then charged the accumulative rate. He thought that this was a good ground of complaint; and he hoped that the noble Lord, who had already performed such a useful part with respect to the Post-office, would inquire into the matter, and have the grievance redressed

Lord Seymour

promised inquiry, but he apprehended that, in consequence of the large increase in the number of letters, the mails could not afford to give as much accommodation for these parcels as formerly.

Mr. Shaw

remarked, that he understood the receipts of the Post-office in Ireland had been reduced by the late alteration from 600.000l. a-year to 6,000l.

Mr. Hume

said, his complaint was, that the parcels were taken by force from those who would deliver them free, and that they were then charged with the foreign postage; so that a pamphlet worth 1s. 6d., might be charged 14s. or 15s. If the English rate of 2d. an ounce were charged, he would make no objection.

Returns ordered.