Your note of the 6^th ins^t enclosing papers marked G. H. & I, the first a petition of citizens of Northumberland P^a asking that the compensation of the Postmaster of said place be fixed by law ^at a certain amount^ accompanied by a resolution of Congress referring the same to your Committee, the latter, petitions for the establishment of two mail routes in Pennsylvania, one from Boyerstown to Perkiomen Bridge & the other from Norristown to Foglesville, has been received.

In reply I have to inform you that upon a similar application to Congress last Session ^before last^ from the Postmaster of Northumberland P^a, a communication on this subject was directed to the Hon^[?] A. R. M^cIlvaine, on the 5^th March 1846, in which I had the honor to remark “that it is true that the Northumberland Post Office is a distributing Post Office, also that six daily mail lines depart & arrive at that point, of which (during summer) two are Canal Packet lines for the intermediate

---

points of which the Postmaster of Northumberland is obliged to make up & forward the mail in separate pouches, one for each office. No doubt however is entertained that there are a large number of instances in the United States where the compensation fixed by the existing law, is as inadequate for the service rendered, as in this case. The passage of an act of Congress for change of compensation of the Postmaster of Northumberland P^a involves the consideration of the expediency of an extensive change, embracing a great number of Offices & creating a large deduction in the amount of net proceeds to be derived from them, for the support of the mail service, for it would establish a precedent for a great many similar cases, equally entitled to the favour that would be granted to this Office.”

The paper marked G, is herewith returned, the petitions marked H & I, I have referred to the 1^st Ass^t Postmaster General who will examine them & address you on the subject.