country." And if the experiment was
to be tried at all, "it would be best to make it to the extent
proposed," for "the whole evidence went to show that a postage of
two pence would fail, but a penny might succeed."

Mr. WALLACE declared it "one of the greatest boons that could be
conferred on the human race," and he begged that, as "England had
the honor of the invention," they might not "lose the honor of
being the first to execute" a plan, which he pronounced
"essentially necessary to the comforts of the human race."

Sir ROBERT PEEL, then at the head of the opposition, found much
fault with the financial plans of Mr. Baring, but he "would not
say one word in disparagement of the plans of Mr. Hill;" and if he
wanted popularity, "he would at once give way to the public
feeling in favor of the great moral and social advantages" of the
plan, "the great stimulus it would afford to industry and
commercial enterprise," and "the boon it presented to the lower
classes."

Mr. O'CONNELL thought it would be "one of the most valuable
legislative reliefs that had ever been given to the people." It
was "impossible to exaggerate its benefits." And even if it would
not pay the expense of the post-office, he held that "_government
ought to make a sacrifice for the purpose of facilitating
communication_."

_July_ 12, the debate was resumed.

Mr. POULETTE THOMPSON showed the impossibility of making a correct
estimate of the loss of revenue that would accrue. One witness
before the committee stated that there would be no deficiency;
another said it would be small; while Lord Ashburton declared that
it would amount to a sacrifice of the whole revenue of the
post-office.

Mr. WARBURTON denied that the post-office had ever been regarded
as a mere matter of revenue; the primary object of its institution
was to contribute to the convenience of the people; its advantages
ought to be accessible to the whole community, and not be made a
matter of taxation at all.

VISCOUNT SANDON, of the opposition, said he had long been of the
opinion that the post-office was not a proper source of revenue,
but it "ought to be employed in stimulating other sources of
revenue."

_July_ 22, another discussion came on.

Sir ROBERT PEEL admitted that "great social and commercia