[301] Up to December 31st, 1879, have been printed more than twenty thousand millions of penny stamps. By the kindness of the Board of Inland Revenue, I am able to print the following statement, which I have received from the Secretary to the Board, Mr. Frederick B. Garnett—Ed.:—

Issues of Postage Labels from the 27th April, 1840, to 31st December, 1879.

1,600,276,320Labels at½d.
20,699,858,040”1d.
42,638,160”1½d.
338,540,280”2d.
105,829,824”2½d.
158,526,040”3d.
153,815,820”4d.
158,721,280”6d.
4,608,720”8d.
7,635,080”9d.
5,963,476”10d.
126,968,940”1s.
6,475,820”2s.
5,174,262”5s.
6,014”10s.
6,014ӣ1.

[302] Among other matters, attempts were made at reduction of rates in reference to correspondence with France; though, for a time, without success. “A letter has been received from Thiers—he appears willing to meet our views, but does not accept the invitation to negotiate the matter in London. Wishes to settle it with Lord Granville, our ambassador, who, not understanding the matter, very properly objects to undertaking the negotiation. Mr. Baring says he has observed that, if any course is pressed on the French Government, they immediately suspect some sinister motive, and that the only way to bring them to is to turn our backs upon them.... We made them a very good offer which they ought to have accepted.”—Sir R. Hill’s Journal, June 24th, 1840.—Ed.

[303] “First Report of the Postmaster-General,” p. 66.

[304] “First Report of the Postmaster-General,” p. 68.

[305] See “Post Office Reform,” second edition, p. 14.

[306] Finance Account for 1840.

[307] “Fifteenth Report of the Postmaster-General,” p. 15.

[308] “Report of the Select Committee on Postage, 1843,” p. 92.