Cheap Postage

A group of reform-minded gentlemen convene in Boston in the spring of 1848, forming a committee tasked with producing a pamphlet on cheap postage. Their minutes record a determined effort to persuade both British and American audiences that a modest postal rate can transform communication. The document opens with formal resolutions, setting the stage for a thorough case study of the recent British reforms.

The pamphlet then surveys the dramatic rise in letter traffic after the 1839 reduction, citing figures that show the post office’s revenue holding steady despite lower rates. It gathers testimonials from scholars, merchants, and politicians, all praising how affordable mail has knit together families, businesses, and ideas across vast distances. The authors argue that the United States stands to gain the same moral and economic benefits, urging legislators to follow Britain’s example. This early appeal offers a vivid snapshot of mid‑nineteenth‑century optimism about the power of cheap correspondence.