Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/318

 one of their ordinary stamped (sixpenny) forms? This would save a considerable sum and lots of trouble.

You may reply to this, We must be careful how we treat a Member of Parliament. Do not give way one inch. We cannot resist his suggestions when public opinion is stirred. But it never is over these small matters. Refuse to budge, but avoid acerbity, as far as possible: in any case avoid argument.

"Dublin" asks "That the tariff of charges for the transmission of telegrams shall be freed of such anomalies as have been exposed—e.g. ironworks as one word, steel works as two words, or St Leonards-on-Sea as one word and Charing Cross as two words."

It is also demanded that the names of all places in the United Kingdom should be charged as one word.

"Crouch End" asks that the name of that place shall be charged as one word and inquires why Charing Cross should be charged as two words, and St Pancras as one word in a telegram. "Hastings" complains that he was charged two words for N.B., whereas Scotland with four times more letters is charged as one word. Another writer complains that s.s. was charged as two words, but Steamship as one word. Another that H.M.S. be charged as one word for the benefit of officers and men. There seems to be conconsiderable [sic]