A HUNDRED YEARS AGO
" THE SPECTATOR," MAY 13TH, 1837.
POSTAGE OF LEL iMtS.
On Tuesday, the order of the day for going into Committee on the Irish Poor Bill having been read, Mr. Wallace (who would not yield to the request of Lord John Russell to postpone the question) moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the practicability of the plan proposed by Mr. Rowland Hill for reducing and rendering uniform the postage charge on letters.
The principle of the plan was so plain and simple, and its advantages so obvious, that he was sure it would meet with general approbation ; but some of the details might appear impracticable to those who had not had an opportunity of closely and intimately considering them. Part of the plan, if brought to bear, would be found to be a great discovery in finance. He alluded to the proposal that the rates and duties should in future be paid in advance. One great principle of the plan of Mr. Hill was that they should in future have one uniform rate of taxation for every description of letters, and one rate only. He did not say that he was prepared to advocate Mr. Hill's proposal so far as the low amount to which he proposed to reduce the rate of postage, but he was perfectly prepared to stand by the principle of his plan.
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