1899.] 87 



General Post OfBce on the one side, and my Secretary (Mr. Durrant) and myself 

 on the other, in which I endeavoured to convince the authorities that British 

 Naturalists should at least be allowed to enjoy such facilities as were given in other 

 countries equally members of the Postal Union, and that notably in the acceptance 

 by our Post OfEce of small boxes of flowers sent from France at sample rates they 

 were permitting to other signatories of the Postal Convention an infringement of 

 the rules therein laid down, while their own over scrupulous regard for the letter of 

 those rules was inflicting great disadvantages upon those who might desire to oblige 

 their correspondents abroad in a reciprocal manner. In effect, the action of the 

 Post Office permitted a Frenchman to send a box of specimens to this country at a 

 cost of 15 centimes, while, at the same time, obliging an Englishman to pay at least 

 one shilling and fourpence in returning the same box to France ! 



In 1896 the British Association appointed a Sub-Committee to concert measures 

 for bringing about a reform, and in March of that year, by the direction of that 

 Committee (consisting of R. McLachlan, F.R.S., Col. Swinhoe, Dr. Stiles, and Dr. 

 H. O. Forbes), I, as Chairman, wrote to the Duke of Norfolk (then Postmaster- 

 G-eneral) requesting him to refer to the lengthy correspondence, and urging a re- 

 consideration of the case. Nothing was done at the time, but in June, 1897, the 

 Postal Union Congress at Washington decided that Natural History specimens 

 should in future be allowed to go by Sample Post, thus reversing the decision arrived 

 at at their last meeting when the proposal had been defeated, partly through the 

 influence of the British delegates. 



The new regulations came into operation on January 1st, 1899, and although 

 no reference is made to these regulations in the list of " Principal Alterations " 

 printed on the cover of the new Post Office Guide, they are given on p. 424 of that 

 Guide, as follows : — 



Patterns and Samples. 



" Natui'al History specimens, dried or preserved animals and plants, and geo- 

 logical specimens, may be forwarded at the sample rate when sent for no com- 

 mercial purpose and packed in accordance with the Sample Post regulations." 

 Limits of Size and Weight. 



(1) British Colonies or Possessions and non-Union countries — 5 lbs. ; 



2 ft. X 1 ft. X 1 ft. 



(2) Foreign Countries in Postal Union — 12 ozs. ; 12 in. x 8 in. x 4 in. 



(if a roll, 12 in. x 6 in.). 



Rate of Postage. 

 gd. per 2 oz. (minimum charge, Id.). 



Packing. 



Must be sent in such a manner as to be easy of examination, and when practi- 

 cable, must be sent in covers open at the end. Letters may not be enclosed, but 

 descriptive labels are permitted. 



It is satisfactory to be able to record that the agitation, although prolonged for 

 eight years, has not been fruitless in the end, and we may reasonably hope that a 

 stimulus may thus be given to the useful exchange of specimens and information 

 between increasing numbers of workers in Science who reside at distances which 

 practically prohibit personal intercourse. 



Merton Hall, Thetford : 



Februari) 22nd, 1899. 



