§ MR. EVELYN HUBBARD (Lambeth, Brixton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that large parcels of circulars, inviting subscriptions to lotteries, are sent over from Hamburg and other Continental ports by steamer; and that these circulars are then sent out through some post office in this country bearing the official stamp "Paid," in lieu of postage stamp; and whether, inasmuch as this practice would be illegal if the lottery referred to were held in England, the Postmaster General will consider the advisability of discontinuing this advertisement of foreign lotteries?
§ MR. HANBURYThe Postmaster General is not aware to what extent circulars relating to lotteries are sent over from Hamburg and other Continental ports to this country by private agency for posting here, but his attention has been on previous occasions called to the fact that such circulars have been among the packets for which in London and 1521 certain large towns payment in money may be accepted instead of in stumps, and which are thereupon impressed with the "Paid" stamp. As the circulars in question are in sealed covers and have all the appearance of ordinary letters, he cannot have cognisance of their nature and refuse them transmission as he could do if they were in open packets.