Under the trying circumstances to which I have alluded, I venture to think that your Lordship will not consider it obtrusive if I assure you that you have the earnest sympathy of every one at the Post Office--of every one at least who had the honour of knowing you--a sympathy accompanied, however, by the most entire conviction that under your able and energetic administration all that is possible to restore order and to prevent future outbreak will be accomplished. In our small way we have done our best to expedite the arrival of the Indian mails. The last was conveyed from Paris to London, viâ Boulogne and Folkestone, all circumstances being favourable, in eight and a-half hours. I have, &c., (Signed) ROWLAND HILL. The Right Hon. VISCOUNT CANNING &c. &c. &c. APPENDIX M. [See p. 347.] _Proposed Reduction in the Postage on Newspapers and other Printed Matter._ Of the importance of distributing our cheap and excellent newspapers and other periodicals and serials over the whole face of the country there can be but one opinion amongst enlightened men. The aim of this memorandum is to show to what extent, and by what means, this great end can be attained, without undue sacrifice of other equally great interests. With respect to the allegations made as to the cheaper conveyance of such matter in other countries, it is important to remark that no argument can be safely drawn from them, even when they are found literally correct, without careful examination into all the appertaining circumstances.[273] And here it may be observed, that forty years ago our own journals, though laden with heavy duties, viz., the stamp duty and those on advertisements and paper, were constantly spoken of as carried free. An anomaly the more remarkable because if addressed anywhere beyond the narrow limits of what was termed the "free delivery," every newspaper bore a postal charge. It scarcely need be said that to the "freedom" of those earlier days, no one, least of all the applicants in this case, would wish to return.[274] It must, therefore, be inquired as respect the countries referred to-- 1st. Whether the postage be in addition to a stamp duty. 2nd. Whether the post office undertakes house-to-house delivery, and that free of charge. 3rd. What are the restrictions as to weight, as to writing or other marks, and as to time and place of posting. Whether, in short, the cheap transmission be not made under regulations which would not be tolerated here. 4th. Whether the governments concerned have not either the free use of the railways for the conveyance of mails, or at least their use on very much lower terms than are conceded here. 5th. Whether lowness of postage on printed matter be not obtained at the cost of high postage on letters.