4 MAY 1839, Page 8

A deputation from the City of London Uniform Penny Postage

Committee, accompanied by Mr. Warburton and about 150 Members of the House of Commons, had an interview with Lord Melbourne on Thursday. Mr. Spring Rice and Mr. F. 1'. Baring were present. Mr. Warburton explained the object of the deputation, and pressed upon Lora Melbourne the great advantages to every class which would arise from the proposed reduction of postage and the adoption of Mr. Hill's plan. He said, and was loudly cheered in the assertion, that the Liberal party had a right to expect the measure from a Liberal Government. Mr. Travers, a member of the London Mercantile Committee, stated his thorough conviction, that the revenue would be safe at a penny postage, but that twopence would not yield nearly so large a return : evasion and smuggling would not be removed by a twopenny rate. Sir John Campbell said that in Edinburgh the feeling in favour of a uniform penny-postage was general and intense. Mr. Mark Phillips mentioned facts to show the immense extent to which payment of the present rates was evaded in Manchester and Liverpool. Mr. O'Connell get upon a chair in a distant part of the room to speak "one word for Ire- land." Mr. Moffatt, Treasurer of the London Mercantile Committee, said that if Government shrunk from a trial of the plan, there would be no difficulty in finding, in London, a body of high mercantile elm- racter who would undertake it, and insure to the Government the pre- sent amount of revenue.

Lord Melbourne observed, that it must be obvious that the revenue must, for the safety of all, be made safe— That was a consideration, he might say, nearly as much to be borne in mind by the gentlemen of the House of Commons, so many of whom were now pre- sent, as of her Majesty's Government. Of course, the deputation would not expect hint to express any opinion on this occasion ; but they might rely upon the subject receiving that attention its importance and the many interests connected with it demanded. The Government had already discussed it— they had come to no adverse cunelusion—they would further consider it, and could not fail to give a very careful consideration to the statements which had' been made at that interview.