Facts and Reasons in Support of Mr. Rowland Hill's Plan for a Universal Penny Postage

Facts And Reasons In Support Of Mr. Rowland Hill's Plan For A Universal Penny Postage by William Henry Ashurst presents a comprehensive argument for reforming the British postal system toward a universal penny rate. The work surveys the political and economic stakes of the Post Office, accusing the monopoly of public carriage of letters of suppressing commerce, science, religion, and everyday communication. It advocates a penny postage for letters not exceeding half an ounce, paid in advance, with heavier items charged per half-ounce, and outlines a revenue model built on stamp-based prepayment. The text develops the main proposal through parliamentary testimony, comparing costs of carriage, citing the Palmer and Palmer-era improvements, and contrasting domestic and international mail practices. It argues that cheap, frequent communication would boost trade, statistics, and public welfare, while diminishing fraud and administrative friction. The pamphlet also catalogs the social harms of high rates—impeding education, literature, and familial and religious life—and calls for public scrutiny of Parliament’s private committee proceedings. It culminates in a vision of a more efficient, expansive post system aligned with modern transportation advances.