M. P., to Dr. Thomas H. Webb, of
Boston, dated London, March 3, 1848, says, "I am informed by the General
Post-office, that the gross revenue this year will equal, it is expected,
the gross amount of the postage in the year before the postage was
reduced." Mr. Hume also encloses a tabular statement of the increase of
letters, together with a copy of the Parliamentary return, made the
present year, showing the fiscal condition and continued success of the
Post-office. He sends also, a copy of a note which he had just written to
Mr. Bancroft, our Minister at the Court of St. James, as follows:

(COPY.)

Bry. Square, 2d March, 1848.

_My Dear Sir_,

I have the pleasure to send you the copy of a paper I have prepared, at
the request of Mr. Webb, of Boston, to show the progress of increase of
the number of letters by the post-office here, since the reduction of the
postage, and I hope it may induce your government to adopt the same
course.

I am not aware of any reform, amongst the many reforms that I have
promoted during the last forty years, that has had, and will have better
results towards the improvement of this country, morally, socially and
commercially.

I wish as much as possible that the communication by letters, newspapers
and pamphlets, should pass between the United States and Great Britain as
between Great Britain and Ireland, as the intercommunication of knowledge
and kindly feelings must be the result, tending to the promotion of
friendly intercourse, and to maintain peace, so desirable to all
countries.

Any further information on this subject shall be freely and with pleasure
supplied by, yours, sincerely,

(Signed) JOSEPH HUME.

His Excellency George Bancroft.

MR. HUME'S TABLE.

_Estimate of the number of chargeable Letters delivered in the United
Kingdom in each year, from_ 1839 _to_ 1847.(1)

Year. Number of Letters. Annual Increase. Increase per cent.
Millions. Millions. on the No. for 1839.
1839. 76(2)
1840. 169 93 123
1841. 196-1/2 27-1/2 36
1842. 208-1/2 12 16
1843. 220-1/2 12 16
1844. 242 21-1/2 28
1845. 271-1/2 29-1/2 39
1846. 299-1/2 28 37
1847. 322 22-1/2 30

The most important of t