delivered free. The postage claimed by the foreign government being in each case paid by the foreign resident.
This arrangement would appear to obviate the necessity for all negotiation with foreign governments on the subject of postage, and it would be practically the same in its results as though the English postage were charged in both directions. The only difference being, (with few exceptions not worth regarding,) that in an interchange of letters the English resident would pay his share of the postage at once instead of at twice. As this arrangement would be an exception to the penny rate, it would be well to require that all letters addressed to foreign countries should be enclosed in the stamped covers already named. These covers should be legibly marked "Foreign Letter," and sold at uniform rates.
If, as I would recommend, the rates of postage already proposed for Inland letters were extended to Foreign letters, the prices of covers for Foreign letters would be exactly double those for Inland letters; but as it appears necessary to treat Foreign letters differently from others, no inconvenience would arise to the operation of the general plan if the prices were higher.
For the sake of simplicity it appears desirable to treat all foreign letters alike, although certain Governments might be willing to require payment of the whole postage in advance, and to account to the English Government for the English portion.
