POST-OFFICE, ROADS, AND CONVEYANCE. 609 



into the subject, and prepare a Bill to carry it in the best manner 

 into execution. 



" With respect to the need for reform in the Post-office depart- 

 ment, we have only to refer our readers to the exposure given of its 

 abuses in the last number of the Westminster Review; abuses which 

 are characterised as c so glaring and prejudicial to the public weal, 

 that they prove beyond all controversy that the internal concerns of 

 the Post-office, which many persons suppose to be admirably con- 

 ducted, are, in point of fact, carried on in a most irregular, insecure, 

 and extravagant manner.' 



e< We cannot, however, leave this part of the subject without cur- 

 sorily remarking how greatly the public service would be forwarded 

 by being relieved from the acknowledged inconveniences of the Sta- 

 tute Labour Acts the conflicting interests of local trustees the in- 

 efficiency of large bodies of irresponsible managers the burthens 

 entailed by the habitual misapplication of the funds from the vexa- 

 tious arbitrary imposts of tolls and the expense of their collection 

 and the whole round of narrow prejudice, intolerable selfishness, and 

 ruinous mismanagement, which envelope the present modes of in- 

 ternal communication.* Also, how it would relieve Parliament, al- 

 ready overladen, from the laborious and troublesome duties relative 

 to the road acts, which are constantly engrossing the time and atten- 

 tion of the House, and which, from the great increase and press of 

 other business, now form a burden too heavy to be borne. Further, 

 it will enable Government to protect the interests of the numerous 

 and important bodies in whose hands the existing system of convey- 

 ance is placed, by forming arrangements with them of such a nature 

 as would admit of their establishments being kept up, and themselves 

 and servants employed in the introduction of the substitution ; 

 whilst, over and above all, it would allow the poor rates to be applied 

 to preparing the roads for locomotive conveyance, which cannot be 

 done unless it is made a state measure. 



" Had the change in our system of internal locomotion, which the 

 application of an elemental power will effect, been limited merely to 

 an accelerated, cheaper, or more comfortable mode, the whole argu- 

 ment in support of our Proposal would have resolved into its com- 

 mercial importance, and the financial advantages to arise from its 

 being appropriated for the use of the public purse. But when it is 

 further considered that the removal of brute labour will effect a most 

 extensive change upon the economical condition of society, by saving 

 food and extending human labour, the measure assumes a magnitude 

 and importance greater than any that ever was proposed for public 

 co-operation. We trust, therefore, that we need not apologize at a 



* The expense of collecting the Post- office Revenue is from 24 to 30 per 

 cent; that of Tolls 15 to 20. When Turgot entered on his administration, 

 he caused estimates to be made, which shewed that the money contributions for 

 repair of roads would be about 10,000,000 livres a year, whereas he shewed that 

 the execution of their repairs and constructions by contributions of forced labour, 

 would not be less than 40,000,000 livres. A similar saving in this country 

 would arise from a thorough revision of the present anomalous laws, and the 

 substitution of an equalized County Rate. 



M.M. No. 102. 4 I 



