THE POST OFFICE OF FIFTY YEARS AGO.
adopting a uniform rate of postage, and this vital principle was only carried at last by the casting-vote of Mr. Robert Wallace, the Chairman; but even then the scheme was nearly wrecked, for the proposal that the uniform rate should be one penny was negatived by six votes against three. A three-half-penny rate was then proposed, but rejected; but a twopenny rate was finally adopted by the Committee, though this again was only carried by the Chairman's casting-vote. The report of the Committee therefore recommended the twopenny rate.
To any persons interested in postal history, this long-forgotten blue book (Third Report of the Select Committee on Postage, 1838) will amply repay perusal. It was written by Mr. Henry Warburton, a member of the Parliamentary Committee, and a most earnest friend to the measure; and though in obedience to the vote of the Committee a twopenny rate is proposed, any one able to read between the lines can easily see that the facts and conclusions of that report undoubtedly show that the rate which ought logically to be adopted was the penny.
Notwithstanding the favourable report of the Committee, the Government were reluctant to move in the matter, and little, probably, would at that time have been done but for a lucky chapter of accidents.
On the 9th April, 1839, Lord Melbourne's Government brought in what is generally known as the Jamaica Bill—a Bill for suspending for five years the constitution of that colony. This measure was
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