her parcel, according to its weight and according to the distance
transmitted. The Government's justification for the proposal rested
chiefly on the moral and social benefits which would result,[196] and
they contended that if, as the opposers of the reduction had argued,
commercial letters comprised seven-eighths of the total number of
letters passing by post, such an extraordinary fact itself did not show
that advantage from reduced rates would accrue only to business
interests. It showed the injustice of the existing rates, and would
never have existed if the postage on letters had not been higher in
France than in any other country in the world. The Commission had,
moreover, made a calculation of the actual cost of conveying and
delivering letters, which showed that the average cost per letter was
from 10 to 12 centimes.

The Government estimated that the number of letters would double in the
first year (i.e. would increase from 55 millions[197] to 110 millions),
and the result would therefore be a diminution of 3,125,000 fr., or 6
per cent. of the total receipts. This would represent the total loss,
since the Minister of Finance assured the Assembly that, after the most
minute and persistent inquiries, he had received from the postal
administration definite statements that no increase in expenses would be
caused by the increase in the number of letters--a result explained by
the fact that the increase of traffic would be appreciable only in
certain large towns; in other places the result would simply be that the
postmen would each have a few more letters to carry. Moreover, under the
new system the manipulation of correspondence would be much simplified
and facilitated.[198]

Fr['e]d['e]ric Bastiat proposed to the Assembly, as an amendment, a
postage of 5 centimes on letters up to 10 grammes, and 1 fr. for packets
from 10 to 100 grammes. He said that the transmission of thought, of
communications between men, was the very essence of society, from which
arose wealth, business, civilization, and taxes themselves.
Consequently, to him it appeared an anomaly to place a tax on such
communication.[199]

On the economic aspect of the question he contended that a rate of 5
centimes would provide sufficient revenue to meet the expenses of the
service.[200]

The Government were not convinced, and maintained their original
proposal, which was carried. The new rates were--

Letters not exceeding 7-1/2 grammes 20 c