eller within forty or fifty
miles, may henceforward procure for themselves, direct from London,
Edinburgh, or Dublin, within four or five days at furthest, any work they
may happen to require, from the largest sized Bible or Atlas, to the most
trifling pamphlet or school-book. A delay of twenty-four hours in the
despatch, after posting, is rendered indispensable by the possibility
there is of an overplus of such bulky packages on particular occasions."

A rate of 6_d._ per pound, is at the rate of .75, or 3/4 of a cent per
ounce, being prepaid in all cases. The rate I have proposed for large
periodicals, prepaid, is one-fourth of a cent below this, or less by
one-third of the English rate. It is doubtful whether a lower rate would
be consistent with a due regard to the necessary speed of the mails, until
railroad conveyance shall be more generally extended than it now is.

There is one class of pamphlets of extensive circulation, which come
within a liberal construction of a newspaper. But the Postmaster-General,
always vigilant to take care of the pecuniary interests of the department,
has ruled out most of them, to the inconvenience of the publishers, and
the lessening of the income of the post-office. At the time when there was
an attempt to compel the sending of all publications through the mail, a
statement was made in regard to one of these periodicals, the Missionary
Herald, that the postage on 2500 copies which are regularly sent to New
York, would be $1050 a year; while they are carried by Express for one
dollar a month. At this rate the difference on all the routes would be
more than $3000 a year. The rule was soon altered, and these periodicals
were allowed to be carried through private channels. I think, considering
the great numbers of these publications, and the many important interests
connected with them, there ought to be a rule allowing all periodical
pamphlets, published as often as once a month, and weighing not over three
ounces, to be mailed, if prepaid by the publisher, for one cent each. This
will include, I believe, that highly valuable publication, Littell's
Living Age, and I hope give it a circulation as wide as it deserves.
Almost all the religious denominations in the country have one or more
magazines, cherished by them with much interest, which will obtain greatly
increased circulation and influence in this way. I need not speak of the
desire which every patriot must feel, to secure for our