1899, vol. i. p. 612.
[193] Law of 15th March 1827.
[194] Law of 3rd June 1829.
[195] "Citoyens repr['e]sentants, puisque l'honorable d['e]fenseur de
l'inter[^e]t du tr['e]sor a port['e] [a'] cette tribune un mot, je ne le
nie pas; il est vrai qu'au comit['e] des finances j'ai dit que cette loi
['e]tait une loi d'amour; je le r['e]p[e']te, et j'adresse de sinc[e']re
remerciements [a'] la monarchie, pour avoir laiss['e] [a'] la
R['e]publique le soin de donner cette loi au pays."--Le Citoyen
Goudchaux, Ministre des Finances, Assembl['e]e Nationale, 24 ao[^u]t
1848 (_Le Moniteur Universel, Journal Officiel de la R['e]publique
Francaise_).
[196] "La question que j'appelerai sociale est la premi[e']re qui se
presente [a'] mon esprit ... Je dis done, que, au point de vue sociale,
la diminution de la taxe des lettres, loin d'[^e]tre favorable
uniquement aux n['e]gociants, aux gros banquiers, comme on l'a
suppos['e] toute [a'] l'heure, sera favorable aussi au plus grand nombre
des citoyens ...
"Quant [a'] l'avantage moral qui r['e]sulterait de l'accroissement de
ces correspondances, je crois inutile de m'appesantir sur ce c[^o]t['e]
de la question. Est-il douteux, en effet, que les enfants auront
toujours [a'] profiter des conseils d'un p[e']re, d'une m[e']re? Est-il
douteux que les liens de famille so resserreront davantage, lorsque les
r['e]lations seront plus fr['e]quentes?"--Le Citoyen Goudchaux,
Assembl['e]e Nationale, 24 ao[^u]t 1848 (ibid.).
[197] The total is made up thus:--
Local letters in towns of the departments 14-1/2 millions
Local letters in Paris 10 "
Foreign letters 7-1/2 "
Letters passing between different towns 23 "
------
55 "
[198] See _Le Moniteur Universel, Journal Officiel de la R['e]publique
Francaise_, ao[^u]t 1848.
[199] "Je concevrais quo le Gouvernement ['e]tabl[^i]t un imp[^o]t sur
tout autre chose pour favoriser celle-l[a'], mais qu'il ['e]tablisse un
imp[^o]t, sur celle-l[a'], cela me parait contradictoire. Tous les jours
nous votons des taxes pour faciliter la locomotion des hommes et des
choses, nous construisons des routes, des canaux, des chemins de fer
dont nous livrons gratuitement l'usage au public, et ensuite nous
entravons par des taxes la transmission des id['e]es! Je dis quo le
Gouvernement ne doit pas faire des profits sur ce service. C'est l[a']
un principe qui s'est ['e]tendu sur presque toute l'Europe. En
Angleterre on est compl[e']tement entr['e] dans cette voie. Aux
Etats-Unis le Gouvernement fait des frais et des frais ['e]normes pour
en ['e]pargner [a'] ceux qui veulent correspondre."--Le Citoyen
Fr['e]d['e]ric Bastiat, Assembl['e]e Nationale, 24 ao[^u]t 1848, ibid.
[200] "Les frais de la poste sont [a'] peu pr[e']s de 30 millions.
Qu'est-ce que la poste nous porte? Qu'est-ce qu'elle distribue? Elle
distribue trois natures d'objets; d'abord une multitude de journaux, et
remarquez-le bien, ces journaux sont soumis [a'] la m[^e]me
l['e]gislation que je propose aujourd'hui pour les lettres; car, telle
est la puissance de l'habitude, ce qui vous a paru fort extraordinaire
se pratique sous nos yeux, tous les jours pour les journaux; et
cependant aujourd'hui vous trouvez singulier qu'on le propose pour les
lettres. La poste transporte done des journaux dont le poids, si je ne
me trompe, est de 900 kilogrammes.
"Elle transporte ensuite toutes les d['e]p[^e]ches administratives dont
le poids d['e]passe 1,000 [a'] 1,100 kilogrammes.
"Enfin elle transporte les lettres dont le poids n'est pas ['e]gal ni
[a'] celui des journaux, ni [a'] celui des d['e]p[^e]ches
administratives.
"En cons['e]quence, si vous r['e]partissez les 30 millions ou 35
millions, si vous voulez, sur les trois services, vous verrez qu'il ne
faut pas mettre au compte des lettres plus d'une douzaine de millions de
francs.
"Eh bien, si toutes les lettres ['e]taient tax['e]es [a'] 5 centimes, il
n'y a pas de doute que les 12 ou 15 millions de frais seraient
parfaitement couverts."--Le Citoyen Fr['e]d['e]ric Bastiat, ibid.
[201] Edgar Bonnet, _Importance, des Postes et T['e]l['e]graphes au
point de vue social et ['e]conomique_, Paris, 1891.
[202] M. Caillaux, Assembl['e]e Nationale, 23 ao[^u]t 1871 (_Journal
Officiel de la R['e]publique Francaise_).
[203] P. Jaccottey, op. cit., p. 298.
[204] See _Rapport sur l'Administration des Postes_, pr['e]sent['e] au
Ministre des Finances par M. L['e]on Riant, Directeur-G['e]n['e]ral,
octobre 1877.
[205] "Toute commune doit [^e]tre desservie une fois par jour, au moins
(_loi du 21 avril, 1832, art. 47_) sauf exception temporaire en cas de
force majeure, et dont il est rendu compte au directeur du
d['e]partement."--_Instruction g['e]n['e]rale sur le service des Postes
et des T['e]l['e]graphes_, Paris, 1905, vol. iv. p. 453, Instr. 5316.
[206] It must further be borne in mind that France was less developed
industrially.
[207] "Nous avons jug['e] cette r['e]forme insuffisante; elle ne serait
pas de nature [a'] donner une satisfaction r['e]elle [a'] notre
industrie et [a'] acc['e]l['e]rer suffisamment le mouvement de la
correspondance. On pouvait discuter peut-[^e]tre l'opportunit['e] de la
mesure; mais d[e']s que cette mesure est reconnue n['e]cessaire, elle
doit [^e]tre compl[e']te, de mani[e']re [a'] produire tous ses
effets....
"La r['e]forme [a'] 20 centimes entra[^i]nerait done un d['e]ficit total
de 12 millions; et celle [a'] 15 centimes, de 27 millions; le
rapprochement de ces deux chiffres suffit [a'] d['e]montrer que le
sacrifice n'est pas assez consid['e]rable pour h['e]siter [a'] faire une
r['e]forme compl[e']te en r['e]duisant imm['e]diatement la taxe [a'] 15
centimes."--_Rapport portant fixation du Budget g['e]n['e]rale_,
d['e]pos['e] le 31 juillet 1877.
[208] _Rapport portant fixation du Budget g['e]n['e]rale_, Chambre des
D['e]put['e]s, 1898, No. 498.
[209] Their remarks are characteristic of the attitude adopted towards
the reform. They said:--
"L'adoption de cette proposition de M. Chassaing aurait pour effet de
cr['e]er dans le Budget de 1898 un d['e]ficit qu'il ne parait gu[e']re
possible d'['e]valuer [a'] moins de 38 millions. Quel qu'il puisse
[^e]tre, dans la situation actuelle, il serait indispensable de le
combler et l'on ne pourrait pour cela recourir qu'[a'] des ressources
nouvelles. L'auteur de la proposition n'en indique pas. II se borne [a']
demander l'abandon d'une recette sans dire par quoi cet abandon serait
compens['e]. Sera-ce [a'] l'imp[^o]t qu'il faudra s'adresser? Mais ce
n'est pas seulement d'une diminution de recette qu'il s'agira. On a vu
qu'une augmentation de d['e]pense ['e]tait le corollaire imm['e]diat de
la proposition, car plus prompt et plus sensible sera l'effet de la
r['e]duction de tarif, plus pressante sera la n['e]cessit['e] d'ouvrir
de nouveaux bureaux, de cr['e]er de nouveaux courriers, de renforcer le
personnel charg['e] de la manipulation et de la distribution, plus
t[^o]t s'imposera l'obligation de r['e]organiser le service de Paris.
"C'est l[a'] une [oe]uvre ou l'initiative et l'intervention du
Gouvemement sont n['e]cessaires.
"Mais, en tout cas, et pour ce qui concerne la Commission du Budget de
1898, un abandon de recettes de 21 millions ayant lui-m[^e]me pour
consequence une augmentation de d['e]pense de 17 millions ne lui ont pas
paru admissibles."--_Rapport portant fixation du Budget g['e]n['e]rale_,
Chambre des D['e]put['e]s, 1897, No. 2701, p. 49.
[210] _Rapport sur les conditions du Fonctionnement de l'Administration
des Postes et des T['e]l['e]graphes_, par A. Millerand, le Ministre du
Commerce, de l'Industrie, des Postes, et des T['e]l['e]graphes, 12 May
1900.
[211] "En tout cas les r['e]sultats de l'exp['e]rience faite [a']
l'['e]tranger prouvent que l'on peut abaisser la taxe des cartes
postales jusqu'[a'] la moiti['e] de celle des lettres simple sans
craindre que les cartes fassent concurrence aux lettres et que la
g['e]n['e]ralisation de ce mode de correspondance [a'] prix r['e]duit
am[e']ne une diminution des revenus de la poste."--M. Millerand, op.
cit.
[212] Ibid.
[213] On such packets the rate was 1 centime for each 5 grammes. M.
Millerand was of opinion that any rate less than 5 centimes involved a
loss to the net revenue. In 1877 it had been estimated that the average
cost of dealing with a postal packet (taking all classes into
consideration) was 8 centimes: in 1889 it had been estimated at 5.5
centimes. The Budget Commission of 1901 estimated the cost at 4
centimes.--See _Rapport portant fixation du Budget g['e]n['e]rale_,
Chambre des D['e]put['e]s, 1901, No. 1866.
[214] "C'est tomber dans la banalit['e] de dire que la France n'occupe
pas dans le monde, au point de vue du trafic postal, un rang
correspondant [a'] l'importance de sa population, de son commerce, de
son Industrie, et de sa haute civilisation."--Ibid.
[215] "Depuis de longues ann['e]es, les chambres de commerce et la
Presse toute enti[e']re r['e]claimaient une r['e]forme depuis quelque
temps r['e]alis['e]e dans la plupart des pays ['e]trangers. Mais le
souci de l'['e]quilibre budg['e]taire avait toujours fait ajourner la
r['e]duction [a'] 10 centimes de la taxe des lettres."--Ibid., S['e]nat,
1906, No. 477.
[216] On the proposal at the Universal Postal Congress of 1907 to
increase the weight unit for international letters, the Budget Report
(Chambre des D['e]put['e]s, Session 1909, No. 2767) contained the
following:--
"Alors que tous nos voisins ou presque tous s'['e]taient conform['e]s
[a'] partir du 1^er octobre 1907, aux indications du Congr[e']s de
l'Union postale universelle, il ['e]tait humiliant pour la France de
montrer que des pr['e]occupations purement fiscales l'emp[^e]chaient
d'adopter, avec le m[^e]me empressement que l'Allemagne, la Belgique,
l'Angleterre ou la Suisse, la r['e]forme."
[217] _Rapport portant fixation du Budget g['e]n['e]rale_, S['e]nat,
1908, No. 340. Ibid., Chambre des D['e]put['e]s, 1908, No. 2032.
[218] "Il n'en coute pas plus pour timbrer, trier, transporter et
distribuer un objet pesant qu'un objet l['e]ger. Tout au plus doit ou
tenir compte de l'encombrement produit par les objets volumineux et du
surcro[^i]t de travail qu'occasionne le contr[^o]le obligatoire du poids
des objets pesantes, en graduant les tarifs suivant une progression
nettement d['e]croissante par rapport au poids."--Ibid.
[219] See table of financial effect, _Rapport portant fixation du Budget
g['e]n['e]rale_, S['e]nat, 1910, No. 115.
[220] Prior to the date of the establishment of the Imperial German Post
Office, the text deals more particularly with the rate in Prussia. For a
sketch of the Thurn and Taxis posts in Germany see _infra_, Appendix A,
pp. 349 ff.
[221] H. von Stephan, _Geschichte der preussischen Post_, Berlin, 1859,
p. 12.
[222] F. Haass, _Die Post und der Charakter ihrer Eink[:u]nfte_,
Stuttgart, 1890, p. 92.
[223] F. Haass, op. cit., p. 94.
[224] H. von Stephan, op. cit., p. 15.
[225] Ibid., p. 17.
[226] 1 German mile=7.5 kilometres. Distances are given throughout in
German miles.
[227] H. von Stephan, op. cit., p. 62.
[228] Ibid., p. 18.
[229] "Dass unter solchen Umst[:a]nden bei Ankunft der Posten namentlich
an bedeutenderen Orten ein grosser Zusammenlauf von Menschen stattfand,
ist begreiflich. Auch finden wir mehrere Rescripte wider das
tumultuarische Treiben des Publicums vor den Posth[:a]usern."--Ibid., p.
61.
[230] In 1662 the posts yielded 7,000 thalers surplus (revenue 17,000
thalers, expenditure 10,000 thalers); in 1672, 10,433 thalers (revenue
24,539 thalers, expenditure 14,106 thalers); in 1682, 29,058 thalers
(revenue 51,959 thalers, expenditure 22,901 thalers); and in 1688,
39,213 thalers (revenue 79,971 thalers, expenditure 40,758 thalers). The
net revenue of the posts was generally devoted to the payment of State
officials, to the improvement of means of communication (building of
canals, etc.), and to beneficence. For example, the Elector, during the
severe illness of his first wife, made a vow to found an almshouse and
ordered 6,000 thalers yearly to be assigned for its support. Of this sum
2,000 thalers were laid on the post revenues.--Ibid., p. 60.
[231] A groschen was roughly the equivalent of a penny. The value of
money was then about four times its present value.
[232] The price of a bushel of rye in Berlin, which from 1740 to 1756
had varied from 23 groschen to a thaler, rose to 4 thalers.
[233] The edict of the 27th January proclaiming the higher rates
remarked that the raising of the letter rate would be detrimental to the
public and prejudicial to the credit of the service, and that "in spite
of the high price of corn and the depreciation of money, raising of the
letter rate could not be thought of, and that in the neighbouring States
this measure, however soon it might be set aside, had worked to their
disadvantage."--H. von Stephan, op. cit., p. 292.
[234] "The encouragement of a particular business or manufacture in a
particular place; the better opposing of the competition of a
neighbouring route; tenderness for existing difference in newly acquired
districts; the difference in the price of corn in a province, and at an
earlier date even of money, weight, length of the miles, as also, in the
case of travelling post charges, the season of the year; all these
circumstances were often brought into consideration in the fixing of
postage rates."--Ibid., p. 296.
[235] The ascertainment of the direct distances was commenced in 1823.
It was completed in a year and a half (including two revisions), and a
map of distances prepared. There were 1,386,506 distances to measure,
and the measuring was done by land surveyors. The distances so measured
were tabulated for practical use by postal officials.--H. von Stephan,
op. cit., p. 746, n. 3; Moch, _Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_,
1893, p. 2.
[236] The rates were to be rounded up. One or 2 pfennigs were to be
counted as 3 pfennigs, 4 or 5 pfennigs as 6 pfennigs, 7 or 8 pfennigs as
9 pfennigs, and 10 or 11 pfennigs as 1 silver groschen.
[237] H. von Stephan, op. cit., pp. 760 and 761.
[238] This does not take into account the normal yearly increase, which
was 120,000 thalers under the old rates. If that be taken into account
there was still a loss in 1847. Thus:--
--------+------------------------+---------------+-----------
Year. | Probable Gross Postage | |
| Receipts under Old | Actual Yield. | Loss.
| Rates. | |
--------+------------------------+---------------+-----------
1844 | 4,765,000 | 4,628,133 | 136,867
1845 | 4,885,000 | 4,325,570 | 559,430
1846 | 5,005,000 | 4,514,338 | 490,662
1847 | 5,125,000 | 4,771,392 | 353,608
--------+------------------------+---------------+-----------
--Ibid., p. 762.
[239] Ibid., p. 763.
[240] "Die preussische Postverwaltung war bei Einf[:u]hrung der
weitgreifenden Taxerm[:a]ssigungen mit grosser Vorsicht und mit weiser
Berechnung aller in Betracht kommenden Vorst[:a]nde schrittweise zu
Werke gegangen und hatte die Erleichterungen ohne bedeutende Opfer aus
der Postkasse erkauft."--Moch, _Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_,
1893, p. 40.
[241] Regulation of 21st December 1800.
[242] Law of 21st March 1861.
[243] Moch, _Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_, 1893, p. 42.
[244] Ibid.
[245] Law of 16th September 1862.
[246] Law of 16th February 1867. See _infra_, Appendix, p. 355.
[247] Prussia, Hanover, the two Mecklenburgs, Oldenburg, Brunswick,
Saxony, Hamburg, Bremen, Lubeck, and the Thurn and Taxis posts.
[248] Moch, _Archiv f[:u]r Post und Telegraphie_, 1893, p. 44.
[249] Law of 28th October 1871.
[250] For 1906 it has been estimated at 41,693,017 M. P. Ullrich, _Die
Finanzen der Reichs-Post- und Telegraphenverwaltung_, Stettin, 1913, p.
54, n. 5.
[251] J. Jung, _Entwickelung des deutschen Post- und Telegraphenwesen in
den letzten 25 Jahren_, Leipzig, 1893, p. 45.
[252] The following table (J. Jung, loc. cit.) shows the increase in the
number of rural deliverers:--
1868 1870 1875 1880 1885 1891
8,021 8,334 11,405 11,480 20,386 25,649
[253] In a number of cases the deliverer was provided with a vehicle for
the sake of speed, and worked out from the railway. In 1898 there were
2,365 such services.--_Handw[:o]rterbuch der Staatswissenschaft_, Jena,
1901, p. 137.
[254] "There was a profession of 'news writers,' or correspondents, who
collected such scraps of information as they could from various sources,
and for a subscription of three or four pounds per annum sent them every
post-day to their employers in the country."--A. Andrews, _The History
of British Journalism_, London, 1859, vol. i. p. 14.
[255] E.g., "To Mr. Neale, Deale, 27 Nov. 1674.
" ... You should give me a Constant Accompt (as m^r Lodge was wont to
doe) of all Newes that happens in your Parts. It is Expected from me at
Whitehall, and much wondered at, y^t my officers doe not give me y^e
first, and best Accompt of all that Passes, all Newes, Comeing
(Probably) first to theire hands. I Pray be Carefull, and punctuall
herein hereafter. I shall be ready, in all things (as I have bin) to
shew myself
Y^rs, &c."
--Documents from Peover Hall, _British Official Records_.
"The Post Office Packets in those days were carriers of news as well as
of the mails. The officers had instructions to record most carefully in
their journals full details of any events of public importance occurring
in the countries which they visited. These journals, which frequently
contained news later and more authentic than any which had yet reached
London, were sent up from Falmouth immediately after the arrival of the
Packets, and lay at the Post Office open to the inspection of the
merchants."--A. H. Norway, _History of the Post Office Packet Service_,
London, 1895, p. 37.
"An old instruction was renewed in 1812, that all postmasters should
transmit to me (the Secretary), for the information of his Majesty's
Postmaster-General, an immediate account of all remarkable occurrences
within their districts, that the same may be communicated, if necessary,
to his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State. This has not been
invariably attended to, and I am commanded by his Lordship to say, that
henceforward it will be expected of every Deputy."--Cited (without
giving source) by J. W. Hyde, _A Hundred Years by Post_, London, 1891,
p. 91.
"The mail-coach it was that distributed over the face of the land, like
the opening of apocalyptic vials, the heartshaking news of Trafalgar, of
Salamanca, of Vittoria, of Waterloo."--De Quincey, _The English
Mail-Coach_.
[256] "As it seems clear that the 'Remonstrance' (_The Remonstrance and
Address of the Army_) was framed by Clarges, Henry Muddiman must have
settled its wording and final form, as he did that of many other
documents.... For this reason, after the Restoration, he became sole
privileged journalist of the kingdom, and was granted the privilege of
free postage for his letters like the officers of State."--J. B.
Williams, _A History of English Journalism_, London, 1908, p. 176.
[257] _Calendar of State Papers, Charles II_, vol. 139, No. 61.
[258] J. B. Williams, _A History of English Journalism_, p. 190.
[259] _Calendar of State Papers_ (_Domestic Series_), 1665-6, p. viii.
[260] "I find that the South Wales maile is much retarded in your Stage;
particularly that yo^r riding servant calles at severall places by y^e
way; and that you allow him noe other wages, but what hee getts (by a
_Gazette_ News-letter, w^ch you give him y^e benefitt of) from severall
Gentlemen near y^e Roade, and this hinders y^e due course of the post,
not only to y^e Damage and discreditt of y^e office, but to y^e
prejudice of publique businesse; it is much complained of and I canot
longer dispence with it; wherefore I Give you this freindly admonicon
and remaine
Yo^r, etc.
Mr. Davyes, Feb. 8th, 1672."--Documents from Peover Hall, _British
Official Records_.
"I am clearly of your opinion, that Hereford and the Hay is y^e best
roade for the Pembroke Maile, the onely difficulty will be to bring you
and Mr. Phillpotts to reason....
"I pray consider these 2 Points, that y^e Hay being in your Branch will
much Encrease your share, and it is easier to send thither than to
Abergaveny--if you will joyne Issue in this Proposall I will give y^e
Contrey y^e Satisfaction to turne the Roade that Way; and by y^e tyme I
have your answer I shall be ready, to give directions for the Change;
you must provide a fitt person, to keepe the office at Hay and for his
Encouragem^t I will send him a _Gazette_ by every Post, few of y^e By
offices expect more, and some make great Suite and would pay money for
the Imployment. I pray close w^th me herein, being desirous to
Continue--I pray give me your opinion of sending y^e Maile into Wales 3
tymes a weeke, as I doe to all other places.
I am, Y^{rs}, etc.
"Mr. Awbrey, Brecon, 1st April, 1675."--Documents from Peover Hall,
_British Official Records_.
[261] H. Joyce, _History of the Post Office_, p. 50.
[262] _Tenth Report of the Commissioners on Fees and Emoluments_, 1788,
p. 28.
"For Post Office purposes the kingdom was divided into six roads--the
North Road, the Chester or Holyhead Road, the Western Road, the Kent
Road, and the Roads to Bristol and to Yarmouth; and these roads were
presided over by a corresponding number of clerks in London, whose duty
it was to sort the letters and to tax them with the proper amount of
postage."--H. Joyce, ibid., p. 47; cf. _infra_, Appendix B, p. 404.
[263] _Eighteenth Report of Commissioners of Revenue Inquiry_, 1829,
Appx., p. 486.
[264] "That the six Clerks of the Road are also allowed to frank
newspapers from the London office.
"That the newspapers franked by them are not included in any of the
accounts of Deductions in respect of Franks. That the profits arising
from their franking newspapers may amount to [L]3,000 or [L]4,000 p.
ann., and that a considerable allowance is made thereout to the
Comptroller, Deputy-Comptroller, By Night Clerk and six assistants; all
of whom as well as the six Clerks of the Roads would without such
advantage be very insufficiently provided for."--Evidence of Anthony
Todd, Secretary to the Post Office. _Report of Committee appointed to
enquire into the several frauds and abuses in relation to the sending or
receiving of letters and parcels free from the Duty of Postage_
(_Commons Journal_, March 28, 1764).
"The Profits derived by the Clerks of the Road from the privilege of
sending Newspapers into the Country free of Postage, were so
considerable that they were not only able to make a good Provision for
their Families but also to pay thereout an Annual Sum of [L]1,300 to
Officers and Clerks in this Dept. in Aid of their Salaries, which on
that Account were proportionately small from the Public; and this
Situation of Clerk of the Roads was looked up to as the Reward of their
long and arduous Labour in the subordinate Stations of the Office.
Twenty years before, of the sum of [L]8,660 paid to the 39 Officers of
the Inland Dept., [L]2,060 was paid by the Public and [L]6,600 from the
profits on the circulation of newspapers."--_Tenth Report of the
Commissioners on Fees and Emoluments_, 1788, p. 28.
[265] 4 Geo. III, cap. 24.