Mr. Monsell will, we think, have to modify his new
decree taxing the transmission of coins, bank-notes, jewellery, watches, and postage stamps. He says they tempt the letter-carriers. Very true, and although we do not see why all shops should be shut because they also tempt the hungry, we are quite willing to give up all coins, watches, and jewellery, but we are not willing to give up the right of sending cut notes, and cannot- give up the right of sending postage stamps. They are the only transmissible small currency, and we do not see how news- papers, especially in the provinces, can manage to exist with- out them. Moreover, he is sapping his own revenue, for people will not buy a Post-Office Order merely to send sixpence. He said on Thursday night he did not object to postage stamps, if they were not " obvious ;" but what is obviousness, and why should the innocent man who has done nothing be flied eight- pence because his guilty correspondent cannot tell what obvious- ness means? It is all very well to talk of temptation, but a little better pay to delivering postmen would keep their hands from picking and stealing much better than these precautions.
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