We seem to have nearly reached the limit of postal
develop- ,ment in England. According to the report of the Postmaster- General, the total increase of letters on the year is under 5 per cent., while the use of post-cards has decreased by about as much, that mode of communication following, we suspect, the movement of trade'which regulates-the number of advertisements. A half- penny post might bring more letters, though we rather doubt it, but-it certainly would not bring more revenue, and improvement must be looked for rather in the transmission of parcels, books, and money, than of letters. If postmen could be trusted, post- office cheques to bearer would be a most popular form of remit- tance; but if that is hopeless, we might try a cheaper system. A system of penny orders for any remittance under a pound would not be a dangerous experiment, and the order itself might be a mere piece of paper with the figure on it. The real check, the necessity of giving the sender's name, would be as strong as before, while the trouble of getting the order would be reduced to a minimum. Nothing impedes any system like trouble, as the Railways will one day find out, and the'Insurance offices, which make so much of a certificate that does not protect them. for three years.
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