The revenue from the stage coach duty had increased 128 per cent. in twenty years. There was no reason why the natural demand for the conveyance of letters should not have increased at least as much as the demand for the conveyance of persons. It was evident that the postage revenue fell short by at least two millions which was lost by the high rate of postage. NEWSPAPERS. [From Porter’s Progress of the British Nation.] Owing to the great craving of the people for information upon political subjects during the agitation that accompanied the introduction and passing of the bill “to amend the representation of the people,” commonly known as “The Reform Bill,” a great temptation was offered for the illegal publication of newspapers upon unstamped paper, many of which were sold in large numbers in defiance of all the preventive efforts made by the officers of government. The stamp duty of fourpence per sheet was therefore taken off in 1836, leaving a stamp of 1_d_., as an equivalent for free postage. IX. Table showing the Number of Newspapers at different periods, and the Revenue derived from the same. Years. Newspapers. Revenue. 1801 16,085,085 £185,806 1811 24,421,713 298,547 1821 24,862,186 335,753 1826 27,004,802 451,676 1830 30,158,741 505,439 1831 35,198,160 483,153 1835 33,191,820 453,130 1836 35,576,056 359,826 1837 53,496,207 218,042 1838 53,347,231 221,164 1839 55,891,003 238,394 1840 60,922,151 244,416 1841 59,936,897 1842 61,495,503 1843 1844 X. Table showing the Increase of Expense in the British Post Office, consequent upon the Increase of the Number of Letters under the new System; the Rate per Letter of the Cost of additional Letters, and the Profits realized from such Increase, expressed in decimals of a penny. Years. Increase of Increase of Additional Additional Letters. Cost. Cost. Profit. 1840 93,000,000 £70,231 _d_. 0.181 _d_. 0.819 1841 27,500,000 101,678 0.887 0.113 1842 12,000,000 72,256 1.445 (12) 1843 12,000,000 35,826 0.716 0.284 1844 21,500,000 (13) — 1.004 1845 29,500,000 6,870 0.055 0.945 1846 28,000,000 140,576 1.205 (14) 1847 2,2500,000 23,879 0.257 0.746 N. B. The increase of letters since 1839 is 246 millions, and cost of the increase is .347 of a penny; so that every letter now added to the circulation yields a net profit to the government of .625_d_., or nearly two thirds of the penny postage. FOOTNOTES