§ MR. PEACOCKEsaid, that he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether printed papers sent to a Colony by the Book Post are not merely forwarded to the nearest seaport of such Colony and no further? And whether any steps will be taken by the Government for having such printed papers so sent by such Book-Post forwarded on to their address?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, the hon. Member had put the question under some misapprehension. It was not a fact that printed papers were forwarded to the seaports of the Colonies and no further. On the contrary, the rule was that such papers sent out to the Colonies were forwarded to their address, and either delivered to the person to whom they were addressed or to the nearest post town. There was, however, an exception 1152 in regard to the Cape of Good Hope, where printed papers were not sent beyond certain considerable towns in the colony. This was not owing to any measure of the Imperial Government, but in consequence of the Colonial Government not finding it convenient to forward such packages by the inland mails. But the authorities of the English Post Office had given notice to the public of this fact and had advised persons sending packages to the Cape to take care and consign them to those who would forward them to their proper destination.