The operation of the new plan in Great Britain caused much confusion and loss in the correspondence with the colonies. The British or Irish people, who had become accustomed to having their postage fixed by the application of the rate of one penny for each half ounce, could not in many cases be made to understand why the same principle did not apply to their letters to their friends and relatives beyond the seas.
Hence many letters weighing less than half an ounce were sent to Canada, which on examination were found to contain enclosures, and the postage was, in accordance with the regulations, doubled or even trebled, though their weight would not call for a charge of more than one shilling and twopence.
Poulett Thomson drew attention to the obvious embarrassment occasioned by the application of the two different principles, and he had the satisfaction of finding a ready acquiescence in his views on the part of the postal authorities at home. Accordingly, by the treasury minute of July 6th, 1840, the rate on letters conveyed by direct packet from any post office in the United Kingdom to Halifax was made one shilling the half ounce. If, for any other post office, the rate was one shilling and twopence.
FOOTNOTES:
[253] Report on the affairs of British North America (Oxford, 1912), p. 143.
[254] Stayner to governor general's secretary, December 8, 1837 (Can. Arch., Br. P.O. Transcripts).
[255] Maberly to postmaster general, March 29, 1838, and accompanying papers (Can. Arch., Br. P.O. Transcripts), and Q. 402-409 passim.
[256] Can. Arch., Q. 416, p. 49.
[257] Colonial office to post office, May 25, 1838 (Can. Arch., Br. P.O. Transcripts).
[258] Speeches and Public Letters of Joseph Howe, 1909, I. 188.