On Wednesday Mr. Sydney Buxton made the important and gratifying
announcement that, on and after October 1st next, a penny post would be established between Great Britain and the United States. Negotiations have been going on with the United States Postmaster-General, Mr. Meyer, for the past twelvemonth, and he had now received a telegram accepting the terms offered,—viz., that the rate of letter postage to the United States should be the same as that to the Colonies, or a penny per ounce throughout the scale, instead of twopence-halfpenny as at present. The loss entailed on the British Exchequer by the change is estimated at 2130,000 a year, but in view of the immense increase in the numbers of letters sent from this country to the United States during the last ten years—eighty-two per cent. —he hoped that part at least of this loss might be recouped by the still further increase likely to be caused by the reduced rate. The statement was very favourably received in the House, and we are glad to note that the simultaneous announcement made at Washington has been greeted with the utmost satisfaction. Mr. Buxton is cordially to be congratulated on crowning his previous reforms by an innovation which, while furthering t he common interests of the two great branches of the English- speaking race, cannot fail to strengthen the bonds of goodwill which already unite them.
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