§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYasked the Postmaster General, If he would explain to the House why letters and book packets between the limits of eighteen and twenty-four inches in length, and nine and twelve inches in depth, are permitted to pass through all parts of the kingdom if intended for delivery in the Colonies or abroad, and yet are absolutely prohibited from inland circulation; whether the Postmaster General is aware that a packet of that size posted in France is delivered by the Post Office in this Country notwithstanding these regulations; and, whether the Post Office could not adopt with advantage the standard rule that prevails in most Foreign Countries and in the Colonies of a maximum of twenty-four inches in length?
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSSir, bulky packets are so inconvenient to deal with, 277 especially when the mail bags containing them are exchanged by apparatus, that it was found necessary some years ago to reduce the dimensions. Larger packets are permitted to be sent to foreign countries, and are sometimes received from foreign parts, but they are so few in number that, practically, no inconvenience is experienced from their transmission; but I am informed that it would be highly inexpedient to alter the rule of the inland post in this respect.