The average weight of a single charge able letter was about 3-10ths of an ounce; the average weight of a parliamentary frank about 48-100ths of an ounce ; that of an official frank 1-9376 oz., or nearly two ounces ; and that of a copy of a pub lie statute 3.1129 oz. Had they been liable to the then existing rates, they would have contributed 1,002,222/. to the revenue.
Newspapers with a few exceptions pass free of postage. Newspapers printed in foreign countries are charged a small rate of postage, which depends upon the granting of equivalent terms to English newspapers sent by post to such foreign countries. All franking is now altogether abolished.
Revenue.—The statistics of the Post office revenue are far from complete. In the early period of the Post-office estab lishment, and before 1716, only a few scattered accounts can be collected. In 1653 the annual revenue was farmed for 10,0001., and in 1659 for 14,000/. (Jour nals of the Commons). In 1663 it was farmed for 21,500/. annually, and the amount settled on the Duke of York. In 1674 the farming of the revenue yielded 43,0001. In 1685 it produced 65,000/. Parliament resumed the grant after 1688, though the king continued to receive the revenue. In 1711 the gross revenue was reckoned at 111,4261. From 1716 to 1733 the average yearly net revenue was 97,5401., founded upon " a certain account and not an estimate." (Commons' Jour nals, April 16, 1735). In the Postage Reports of 1838 (vol. ii., App., p. 176 ; vol i., p. 511) are accounts showing the gross receipt, charge of management, net receipt, and rate per cent. of collection in Great Britain from 1758 to 1837, and in Scotland and Ireland from 1800 to 1837. The accounts for a few years will serve to show its progress.
The Select Committee on Postage, in 1838, instituted a comparison of the Post office revenue, from which it appeared that from 1815 to 1820 inclusive, on an average gross revenue, excluding repay ments, of 2,190,5971. there had been an increase of 60,8271., averaging only 35781. yearly, or little more than per thou sand, though the advance had been rapid in population, and still more so in wealth, industry, and trade.
Establishment, Cost of Management, 4-c.—The head of the Post-office is styled the Postmaster-General, under whose authority are placed all the post-offices in the United Kingdom and the colonies. The office was jointly held by two persons until the last few years. It is considered a political one, and the holder relinquishes it with a change of ministry ; but the postmaster-general has not generally a seat in the cabinet. The Commissioners
of Post-office Inquiry (4th Report) recom mended that the office should be exercised by three permanent commissioners ; and a Bill passed the Commons to give effect to the recommendation, but was thrown out by the Lords.
In 1835 the number of persons em ployed at the General Post-office, London, was 1337; the number of General-post letter-carriers was 281, and of Twopenny post letter-carriers 464. The expenses of the office in salaries amounted to 96,2341. A parliamentary paper was printed in 1845, which shewed the number of persons employed in the General Post-office at that time. This return is now out of print, but it shewed that a large addition had been made to the staff of the depart ment since 1835.
In 1831 and 1832 the chief offices of London, Dublin, and Edinburgh were re-modelled by the Duke of Richmond, then postmaster-general. The separate office of postmaster-general for Ireland was abolished ; and a secretary at Dublin and at Edinburgh is chief executive offi cer for the respective countries.
Constant additions are being made to the number of post-offices throughout the kingdom. In 1840, considering posts formerly called penny-posts, fifth•clause posts,' and sub-offices as post-offices, the following may be taken to be about the numbers Post- Sub- Penny Offices. Offices. posts. Total.
England . 650 190 1090 1930 Scotland . 220 105 230 555 Ireland . 330 105 200 635 Every post-office in the United King dom has direct communication respec tively with the chief offices in London, Dublin, and Edinburgh.
The Commons' Committee, in 1838, prepared an analysis of the cost of man agement of the Post-office for the United Kingdom. These accounts show that about four-fifths of the charges consisted of the cost of distributing letters in the United Kingdom. Transit cost two-fifths, (287,3061.), and the establishment two fifths (288,0781.). The maintenance of the post between this country and the colonies and foreign countries, the in land post in certain colonies, and other charges, make up the remaining fifth. But these accounts were not altogether complete, because the expense of those packets controlled by the Admiralty was included in the Navy Estimates, and could not be separated. And as the penny stamp on newspapers was retained as a postage, about 185,000/. should be carried to the account of the Post-office receipts. These accounts are, of course, subject to change yearly. The transmission of the mails by railroads has added much, since the above analysis was made, to the mileage charges.