[85] In 1837-8 the deficiency was £1,428,000; in 1838-9, £430,000; in 1839-40, £1,457,000; in 1840-1, £1,851,000; and for 1841-2 it was estimated at £2,421,000.
[86] "Was the Committee ignorant—we think not—that the radicals in politics and the sectarians in religion, have been the warmest advocates—and indeed (except the mercantile body we have alluded to) the only very zealous advocates for this penny post?"—Quarterly Review, October 1839, p. 531. Cf. Edinburgh Review, January 1840; J. Morley, Life of Cobden, London, 1881, p. 411.
[87] "On the 9th April 1839, Lord Melbourne's Government brought in what is generally known as the Jamaica Bill—a Bill for suspending for five years the constitution of that colony. This measure was strongly opposed by the Conservative party (led by Sir Robert Peel), and by many of the Radicals. On the second reading of the Bill, the Government only escaped defeat by the narrow majority of five votes. The Ministry thereupon resigned; Sir Robert Peel was sent for by her Majesty, but owing to the 'Bedchamber Difficulty' failed to form a Government. Lord Melbourne was recalled, and in the negotiations with the Radical members for future support to his Government, the bargain was struck that that support should be given, provided Penny Postage was conceded.
"Thus one of the greatest social reforms ever introduced was, to speak plainly, given as a bribe by a tottering Government to secure political support."—The Post Office of Fifty Years Ago, London, 1890, p. 24. Cf. Parl. Debates, 26th March 1855, vol. cxxxvii, col. 1136; Sir Stafford H. Northcote, Twenty Years of Financial Policy, London, 1862, pp. 8-9.
[88] As a temporary measure, with the view of minimizing the practical difficulties of the Post Office, a uniform rate of 4d. a letter (1d. a letter for London local letters) was introduced on the 5th December 1839.
[89] Estimate of number of chargeable letters delivered in the United Kingdom (in round numbers):—
| 1839 | Letters | 76.0 | millions |
| Franks | 6.6 | " | |
| 1840 | Letters | 169.0 | " |
| 1841 | " | 197.0 | " |
| 1842 | " | 208.0 | " |
| 1843 | " | 220.0 | " |
| 1844 | " | 242.0 | " |
| 1845 | " | 271.0 | " |
| 1846 | " | 300.0 | " |
| 1847 | " | 322.0 | " |
| 1848 | " | 329.0 | " |
| 1849 | " | 337.0 | " |
| 1860 | " | 564.0 | " |
| 1900-1 | " | 2,323.6 | " |
| 1913-14 | " | 3,477.8 | " |
The total number of packets of all descriptions delivered in the United Kingdom in the year 1913-14 was about 6,000 millions.—Annual Reports of the Postmaster-General.
[90] See J. R. McCulloch, Taxation and the Funding System, Edinburgh, 1863, p. 331.
[91] The number of letters per head of population shows a continuous increase, as follows:—