The subjoined letter, from a Paris correspondent, discloses an un-
pardonable blunder committed by the parties who had the charge of the recent negotiations with the French Post-office. It appears that Mr. -HENRY FREELING did not ascertain the meaning of the word feuille, but took it for granted that it signified a newspaper of any size. This conies of intrusting the management of important business to inca- pables,—unless, indeed, the oversight was designed and malicious.
"The new regulations regarding newspapers and letters sent from England to France, took effect on the 16th of this month ; and I expected to receive the Spectator newspaper, for which I formerly paid five sous, or 21id., at the re- duced postage of one sous. I was much surprised, however, at finding that since the adoption of the new regulations, no alteration was made in the sum charged for the postage of the Spectator,—for the last Spectator, sent since the 16th, I have paid five sous, as usual ; so that I am no gainer by this new Post. office arrangement. The explanation is easy enough : the English Post-office authorities have been over-reached by the French l'ost-office in their late ne- gotiation. The French ordonnance says, that four centimes per feuille shall be charged for the English newspapers : now this word, " feuille," has been understood by the person or persons making the negotiation with France, in the sense of a "newspaper "or "paper,".—as appears by the printed notice hung up at the Post-office in London, where it is stated that four centimes will be charged fur each paper in France to the person to whom it is delivered. But, at the Post-offices in France, the word feuille has a technical meaning, and each office has a measure, not only of conefeuille, but many of various sizes. The Spectator, measured even by the larger scale, contains six such feuilles ; and the receiver has accordingly five sous to pay, according to the present new arrangements, or exactly the same sum as before any negotiations were set on loot respecting the matter. It is to be regretted that it was not stipulated by the English agents, that what was a stamped sheet in England, should be con- sidered as a feuille by the French authorities. As it is, however, we are taken io ; and this will be one example more of the awkwardness with which this im- portant negotiation has been carried on."
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