178 ' REPORT—1858. 
In a religious and moral point of view, the benefits of a colonial penny postage would 
be inconceivably great to our fellow-countrymen in the colonies. It must be remem- 
bered that the tide of emigration is rolling on at a rate that exceeds every ecclesiastical 
resource, and baffles every endeavour adequately to influence it by ordinary means of 
evangelization. 
The important measure now advocated would prove one great means of remedy for 
these evils. It would penetrate to the most remote districts of our colonies, entering 
the scattered dwellings of emigrants, too far removed perhaps from civilized life for 
any other outward medium of religious and intellectual progress. 
Another most important consideration in favour of a colonial penny postage, is the 
influence it would exercise upon emigration. 
From the increase of education in Great Britain, emigration has assumed a new 
feature within the last ten or twelve years, and a much larger proportion of the emi- 
grants can read and write. 
Nothing is more needed for the full development of this important means of colo- 
nization than free interchange of thought between those who have emigrated and 
friends at home. 
In this way would a penny postage be constantly pouring correct and unbiassed 
information into the mother country, preventing many mistakes made by persons emi- 
grating to the wrong place and at the wrong time, thus avoiding much misery and 
suffering. 
Free correspondence would form a cord binding the colonies to the mother country 
in ties scarcely possible to dissolve. The effect of distance would be practically anni- 
hilated, while the character of the colonists would continue to improve. 
In the prosecution of scientific research unrestricted communication between men 
of science is an important condition of progress. Observers at meteorological, mag- 
netic or astronomical stations, will often have occasion to communicate with others 
similarly engaged, and it is much to be desired that all such intercourse should be 
promoted by every possible means. 
Nor should the claims of commerce be forgotten in the enumeration of the con- 
siderations which favour a colonial penny postage. Let it be remembered that the 
benefits of free trade can by no means be considered as fully enjoyed while there is any 
thing like a heavy charge of postage. 
It would be difficult duly to estimate the bearing a penny postage to Canada would 
have upon our Anglo-Saxon brethren in America. 
Its action upon the United States would be immediate and powerful, and most pro- 
bably would quickly induce them to arrange a similar rate of postage to England. 
Who can calculate the beneficial results to the human race of such an intercourse 
between the two great Protestant nations of the world, both sprung from one parent 
stock, and destined probably to be again united in carrying out the designs of an over- 
ruling Providence for the Christian civilization of the world? 
On the Causes of the Fall in Price of Manufactured Cottons. 
By J. Porn Hennessy, M.P., of the Inner Temple. 
The author commenced by observing that, apart from its practical importance to 
men of business, the accurate determination of the causes which regulate the price of 
cotton is a subject of much interest to the student of political economy. On that 
accurate determination must to a great extent depend, in the present state of the 
science, the value we attach to the arguments of the modern school of British econo- 
mists with reference to one of their fundamental principles. Mr. Stuart Mill regards 
the principle in question as the most important in political economy. He states it 
thus :—The law of production from the soil is a law of diminishing return in propor- 
tion to the increased application of labour and capital; whilst in manufactures the 
very contrary is the case. Mr, Nassau Senior is still more explicit. He says :—Ad- 
ditional labour and capital when employed in manufactures are more, when em- 
ployed in agriculture are Jess, efficient in-proportion. At a former meeting of the 
British Association, Mr. Hennessy pointed out that this principle was not sound in 
theory. He now proceeded to deal with the great practical illustration—the price of 
