The accounts accompanying the report contain but one item concerning stamps:-- Rawdon, Wright & Co., Postage Stamps furnished Post Office Department £12.11.3 This amount was of course only for printing supplies, evidently for the 250,000 3d. stamps received during the fiscal year. In the fourth report, of 31st March, 1855, there are several items of interest. The lowering of the British packet rates proved a popular step, naturally, and the report states that "Notwithstanding the important reduction granted by the Imperial Government in the postage rate between this country and the United Kingdom in March, 1854," the results were as follows:-- British Packet Postage collected in Canada in year ending 31 March, 1855 (postage rate 8d. sterling) £16,449.14.3-1/2. British Packet Postage collected in Canada in year ending 31 March, 1854 (postage rate 1s. 2d. sterling) £17,495.1.4-1/2. which was a drop of but six per cent. in receipts upon a reduction of over forty per cent. in the postal charge. Again:-- In March, 1855 the Imperial Post Office authorized a reduction in the charge on letters passing through the English Posts between Canada and France, from 2s. 8-1/2d. Currency to 1s. 8d. Currency per 1/4 oz. letter. The suggestions contained in the report for 1854 concerning the franking of official mail matter, and the payment of a fixed annual sum to the Post Office Department on this account, were acted upon, and the report states:-- In July last the Act of last Session came into effect, removing altogether the Postage charge on the circulation of Provincial Newspapers and according a franking privilege to the correspondence of the Legislature and of the Public Departments of the Government. The Act referred to was doubtless the following:-- 18^o Vict. Cap. LXXIX. An act to abolish Postage on Newspapers published within the Province of Canada, and for other purposes connected with the Post Office Department of this Province. [_Assented to_ 19th May, 1855.] WHEREAS papers devoted to the advancement of Education, Temperance, Science, Agriculture and other special objects, are now exempt from postage; And whereas it would further materially aid the diffusion of useful knowledge to remove all postal restrictions on the transmission of Newspapers in general, published within this Province, and of all documents printed by order of either House of Parliament: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, * * * * and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, as follows: I. All Newspapers published within the Province of Canada, shall be transmitted by mail free of Postage. * * * * *