In September 1848 the distinction between the letter rate and the rate for printed matter and documents was abolished, and on the 1st October 1848 the following scale of weights for all letters, publications, etc., was introduced, viz.:-- Not exceeding 3/8 oz. 1 rate (i.e. 1 sgr.) From 3/8 oz. to 1/2 oz. 1-1/2 " " 1/2 " 3/4 " 2 rates " 3/4 " 1 " 2-1/2 " " 1 " 4 " 3 " " 4 " 8 " 4 " and over 8 ounces 4 rates, until the charge was less than double parcel rate. The rates were still based on the old theory of distance. The Prussian administration feared that a complete reform of the rates on the English model would have a disastrous effect on the postal revenue, and so upset the equilibrium of the State finance. They had, of course, the experience of England to guide them, and they had not failed to note the large reduction of net revenue which the adoption of the reform of 1840 had entailed. In the following year, however, a great step was taken in the direction of the new system. By the law of the 21st December 1849 the following simplified rates of postage, to take effect from the 1st January 1850, were established:-- For a single letter not exceeding 1/2 oz. (1 zollloth)-- Up to 10 miles 1 silver groschen 10 miles to 20 miles 2 " All other distances 3 " For a letter weighing-- From 1/2 oz. to 1 oz. 2 rates " 1 " 1-1/2 " 3 " " 1-1/2 " 2 " 4 " " 2 " 4 " 5 " " 4 " 8 " 6 " and so on, until the rate became less than the parcel rate (1 zollloth = 1-1/8 loth). The reductions in Prussia were in all cases made with careful regard to the possible financial results. The desire to remove all trace of the fiscal tradition did not extend to a desire to relieve the Post Office of its revenue-producing function, and the actual loss of net revenue which resulted in Prussia from the introduction of cheap postage was much less than the loss in England.[240] The set-back to the revenue consequent on the reduction of 1844 was recovered in 1847; the set-back consequent on the reduction of the rates of value letters and parcels in 1848 (on the average some 66-2/3 per cent.) was recovered in 1852; and that occasioned by the reform of the 1st January 1850 was recovered in 1853. But the reform of 1850, which retained the three distance charges, was far from being a complete reform of the character of that in England.