Closed mail, viâ U.S., by British Packet,not exceeding½ oz.10d.
Viâ Halifax”½ oz.7½d.
By U.S. Packet”½ oz.1s. 5½d.
And on October 1st, 1856, by Canadian Packet”½ oz.7½d.

We know from the extract from the Report of the Postmaster-General of Canada for 1851, given further on in the Society’s list, that the first stamps consisted of a Three Penny, Six Penny, and One Shilling, and that these three values were issued shortly after April 1st. Taking into consideration the notice I have mentioned, it seems probable the issue took place on April 5th, 1851. I can give no new information about any of the later issues, and I shall conclude my remarks on this province by giving some postal statistics taken from The Colonial Office List, 1889, which prove to what a huge system the Post-office establishment of the Dominion has grown. We find, however, the present expenditure greatly exceeds the revenue, owing, I am told, to the desire of the Government to extend postal facilities as widely as possible. I understand some changes have been made by an Act passed this year, one of which abolishes the privilege hitherto granted to Canadian newspapers of free transmission by post to subscribers from the publishing office.

The number of letters sent in the year ending 30th June, 1887, was 74,300,000; of post cards, 16,356,000; and of newspapers (other than those sent from the office of publication, which are all carried free), periodicals, parcels, &c., 31,160,000. The number of newspapers sent from the office of publication was about 60,000,000; the number of letters per head of population was 15.24; the number of offices was 7,534; the revenue for 1887 was $2,603,255, and the expenditure $3,458,100. There is weekly mail communication with Great Britain viâ Quebec or Halifax, and twice a week viâ New York. There is a through daily service by the Canadian-Pacific Railway to the Pacific Coast.

The present rates of postage are as follows:

Letters.
Per ½ oz.
Cents.		Newspapers.
Cents.
Canada and United States3½ each.
Newfoundland5½ each.
Europe, Egypt, the West Indies, and British Guiana51 per oz.
South and West Africa, China, East Indies, Mauritius, Straits Settlements, South America102 per oz.
Australasia152 per oz.
Ditto, viâ Brindisi193 per oz.

There is a Parcels Post to Newfoundland, the United States, and Europe. The present Postmaster-General is the Hon. J. G. Haggart.

REFERENCE LIST OF THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.

Issue I. 5th (?) April, 1851.

Three values. Engraved and printed in taille-douce by Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch, and Edson, of New York, on thin white paper; laid horizontally in the case of the Three Pence, and vertically in the other two values; brownish gum. Designs: Three Pence.—Beaver on bank of river; trees in the distance, with sun shining above them; oval coloured frame, broken at the top by a Royal Crown, beneath which are heraldic flowers, with “V” on the left and “R” on the right. The oval is inscribed with white Roman capitals. In each spandrel is an arabesque and the Arabic numeral of value. Two plain outer lines complete the design. Six Pence.—Nearly full face bust portrait of Prince Albert, in military uniform, looking to right, within coloured oval, lettered in white Roman capitals. Heraldic flowers on either side separate the upper and lower portions of the inscription. Arabesques and Arabic numeral of value in each spandrel; border of two plain outer lines. Twelve Pence.—Three-quarter face bust portrait of Queen Victoria on ground of horizontal lines, looking to left, with diadem and necklace within coloured oval, inscribed in white Roman capitals; a Crown on either side separating the upper and lower parts of the inscription. Arabesques and Arabic numerals of value in each spandrel; border of two plain outer lines. Shapes: small oblong rectangular for the Three Pence; small upright rectangular for the Six Pence and Twelve Pence. ([Illustrations 8, 9, 10.])

T. “CANADA POSTAGE.” B. “THREE PENCE,” “SIXPENCE,” “TWELVE PENCE.”