§ MR. DICKINSONasked the Postmaster General, What is the cost and what the charge to the public, exclusive of the stamp, of the stamped envelopes, book-post wrappers, and postal cards supplied to the public by the Post Office; and, whether the cost of the two former is not thrown on the public and that of the postal card on the Revenue, and on what authority this distinction is made?
§ MR. MONSELLreplied that the cost of production of the envelopes, exclusive of stamps, was 5s. 7½d. per 1,000, and the charge to the public 7s. The cost of production of wrappers of the largest size, exclusive of stamps, was 4d. per 1,000, and of those of smaller size 3½d., 3d., and 2½d., which were also the charges made to the public. The cost of production of the postal card, exclusive of stamps, was 3s. 3d. per 1,000, and, under the authority of the Treasury, no charge was made to the public for the cards themselves.