§ SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONEasked the Postmaster General, If he is aware that Letters addressed to Naval Officers in ships of war on the Pacific station are charged at a uniform rate of 1s. 6d. for postage, while the general public have the privilege of sending Letters to the same locality, via Liverpool, for the payment of a shilling; what is the cause that letters for the Pacific station are so charged, since the rates to Australia, China, South America, Mexico, New Zealand, Japan, and even the Falkland Islands, are all lower; and, if he would consider of the best means to facilitate the despatch of Letters to Naval Officers engaged in the service of their Country upon these very distant stations?
§ MR. MONSELLLetters, Sir, addressed to naval officers serving on board ships of war on the Pacific station are, as a rule, sent by the route of Panama in a bag addressed to the senior naval officer. The postage charged upon them is the same as that charged on the letters for the general public sent by the same route—that is to say, 1s. 6d. per 972 half ounce. A letter for a naval officer can be sent to the Pacific by the direct route, viâ Liverpool and the Straits of Magellan, if so addressed. It is then charged just as the letters of the general public are charged when sent by that route—1s. per half ounce. Further, a letter for a naval officer posted prepaid only 1s. would be sent by the direct route, even if not specially addressed. The reason for the rate of 1s. 6d. the half ounce for letters to the Pacific viâ Panama is that two fines of mail packets have to be subsidized for the conveyance of such letters, one on this side and one on the other side of the Isthmus. There is no reason to believe that any facilities for the disposal of letters to naval officers on distant stations are wanting.