The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

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APPENDIX I.
number of newspapers freed by the impressed stamp at the present
time is not only as great as the number so conveyed in 1838, but is
even somewhat larger ;
whilst a considerable increase has also taken
place in the weight and bulk of the individual papers ; so that the
amount of gratuitous service, instead of being diminished, has been
largely increased, and consequently, the sum derived from the adhe-
sive stamp is, to say the least, a mere payment for additional duty.
Again, it is a mistake to suppose that, under the old system, the
conveyance of newspapers was altogether free. In fact, there were
numerous and important exceptions, since the impressed stamp, to
which all newspapers were then subjected, freed the paper only when
transmitted from one post-town to another; moreover, in nearly
every town there were extensive districts beyond the free-delivery, in
which not only letters, but newspapers, were subjected to an ad-
ditional charge. From this charge both are now relieved. Again,
in addition to the towns that were then post-towns, there are at
present more than 10,000 places having sub-offices. Before the
introduction of Penny Postage, a newspaper transmitted by post
between a post-town and, with few exceptions, any of the 10,000
places which have now sub-offices, was subjected to a charge of at
least one penny ; and when transmitted between any two of the
above 10,000 places, with but few exceptions, to a charge
of at
least twopence.
At present a newspaper, even without the impressed stamp, if
posted at any one of the 11,400 places at which head or sub-offices
are now established, provided only that it does not exceed 4 ozs. in
weight, is delivered at any other for a single penny.
No doubt, the number of newspapers directly charged with
postage is larger now than under the old system ; but as the charge
is far from being remunerative, this is anything but a gain to the
department.
As regards the expense of the Packet Service.
For the year 1838, the last year, as has been said, throughout
which the old rates were maintained, the Post Office accounts,
excepting a trifling amount of arrears, contain no charge for packet
service, that service having been transferred from the Post Office to
the Admiralty, partly in 1823, and the remainder in 1837,* so that,
for the purpose of comparison, such charge must of course be
excluded from the present account.
In the Postmaster-General's Report for 1861 is a table (p. 31)
* " Report of Select Committee of Lords (1847)," question 352.