Foot-Prints Of A Letter Carrier; Or, A History Of The World's Correspondece - free ebook by James Rees

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Foot-Prints Of A Letter Carrier; Or, A History Of The World's Correspondece

James Rees

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115 chapters

FOOT-PRINTS OF A LETTER-CARRIER;

FOOT-PRINTS OF A LETTER-CARRIER;

OR CONTAINING BIOGRAPHIES, TALES, SKETCHES, INCIDENTS, AND STATISTICS CONNECTED WITH POSTAL HISTORY. BY JAMES REES, CLERK IN THE PHILADELPHIA POST-OFFICE. “The Post-Office is properly a mercantile project. The government advances the expense of establishing the different offices, and of buying or hiring the necessary horses or carriages, and is repaid with a large profit by the duties upon what is carried.” Smith , Wealth of Nations . “A Messenger with Letters.”— Spenser. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIP

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PREFACE.

PREFACE.

There are few institutions in this or in any other country the history of which is so little known as is that of the post-office. The very name, in the opinion of the masses, is sufficient to enlighten them; and beyond this little or no interest is manifested. Yet the history, if fairly written, would surprise that very portion who consider the name alone an index to its unwritten pages. Indeed, it seems strange that so important a branch of our government should have been so slighted by those w

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DEDICATION.

DEDICATION.

The custom of dedicating works to individuals is of some antiquity, or, at least, as far as the antiquity of book-making extends. At one period it served the double purpose of creating a patron and enlarging the sale of the book. Again, dedications became popular when great men condescended to notice authors and placed their extensive libraries at their disposal. Books published in the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries afford the curious reader rich specimens of this species of lite

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THE FIRST RECORDED RIDING-POST.

THE FIRST RECORDED RIDING-POST.

The first recorded riding-post was established in Persia, by Cyrus, 599 B.C. Cyrus was the son of Cambyses, King of Persia, and Mandane, daughter of Astyages, King of the Medes. The history of Cyrus is a lesson worthy to be read by all who can appreciate in one man all those elements which combine to make a great one. He was educated according to the Persian institutions, of which Xenophon gives such glowing accounts. Among the numerous inventions he made and carried into operation, that of the

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PASTORAL LIFE.

PASTORAL LIFE.

“Nothing great, nothing useful, nothing high and ennobling, nothing worthy of man’s nature, of his lofty origin and ultimate exalted destiny has ever been accomplished but by toil; by diligent and well-directed effort, by the busy hand guided in its effort by the wise, thoughtful, hard-working brain.”— Anon. When God said, “Let there be light: and there was light,” it was not the mere flash of the brightness of heaven over the earth, but a light that was to be as lasting as creation itself. Ever

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LANGUAGE.

LANGUAGE.

Blair, in his introduction to his Lectures on Rhetoric, speaking of language, says:—“One of the most distinguished privileges which Providence has conferred upon mankind is the power of communicating their thoughts to one another. Destitute of this power, reason would be a solitary and, in some measure, an unavoidable principle. Speech is the great instrument by which man becomes beneficial to man; and it is to the intercourse and transmission of thought, by means of speech, that we are chiefly

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THE PEN.

THE PEN.

The instruments employed by the ancients for making the letters on their tablets was a small, pointed piece of iron, or some other hard substance, called by the Romans a style : hence a man’s manner of composition was figuratively called his style of writing. The use of the word still continues, though the instrument has long since passed away. Style derives its name from stylus , Latin, as also from a Greek word, columna , an instrument with a point. Reeds formed into pens were used to trace th

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PENCILS.

PENCILS.

The ancients drew their lines with leaden styles; afterwards a mixture of tin and lead fused together was used. The mineral known under the name of plumbago is supposed to have been first employed for the purpose of drawing in the fifteenth century. In 1565, an old author notes that people had pencils for writing which consisted of a wooden handle, in which was a piece of lead; and a drawing is given of the pencil as an object of curiosity. They continued to be uncommon for upwards of a century,

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THE SCRIBE.

THE SCRIBE.

“Scribe was a name which, among the Jews, was applied to two sorts of officers. 1. To a civil: and so it signifies a notary, or, in a large sense, any one employed to draw up deeds and writings. 2. This name signifies a church officer, one skillful and conversant in the law to interpret and explain it.”— South. vol. iv. ser. 1. The word scribe is derived from the Latin, scribere , which has the same meaning as “schrabben” (Dutch), to scrape or draw a style, or pen, over the surface of paper or p

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ANCIENT INK.

ANCIENT INK.

The ink used by the ancients appears to have been what is termed in art a “body color,” or a more solid medium than is at present used, and similar to what is used by the modern Chinese. Subsequently, lamp-black, or the black taken from burnt ivory, and soot from furnaces and baths, according to Pliny and others, formed the basis of the ink used by old writers. It has also been conjectured that the black liquor of the scuttle-fish was frequently employed. 11 Of whatever ingredients it was made,

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INK-HORNS.

INK-HORNS.

The ink-horns were sometimes made of lead, sometimes of silver, and were generally polygonal in their form....

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HIEROGLYPHICAL WRITING.

HIEROGLYPHICAL WRITING.

The remote antiquity of hieroglyphical writing may be inferred from the fact that it must have existed before the use of the solar month in Egypt,—“which,” says Gliddon, “astronomical observations on Egyptian records prove to have been in use at an epoch close up to the Septuagint era of the Flood.” From Egyptian annals we may glean some faint confirmation of the view that they either possessed the primeval alphabet, or else they rediscovered its equivalent from the mystic functions and attribut

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THE CONFUSION OF TONGUES—THE CONFOUNDING OF LANGUAGES.

THE CONFUSION OF TONGUES—THE CONFOUNDING OF LANGUAGES.

One of the most remarkable passages in Holy Writ is that which speaks of the confounding of language. “And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language. Let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of the earth, and they left off to build the city.” The name of it was called “Babel” (confusion), from the Hebrew. The consequence of this eternal fiat, whi

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THE CARRIER-PIGEON.

THE CARRIER-PIGEON.

The first mention we find made of the employment of pigeons as letter-carriers is by Ovid, in his “Metamorphoses,” who tells us that Taurosthenes, by a pigeon stained with purple, gave notice of his having been victor at the Olympic Games on the very same day to his father at Ægina. Goldsmith, in his “Animated Nature,” says:—“It is from their attachment to their native place, and particularly where they have brought up their young, that these birds (pigeons) are employed in several countries as

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LETTERS.

LETTERS.

The word letter is derived from the Latin “ litera ,” of which Vossius has not decided its etymology,—perhaps, from litum , past participle of linere , to smear, as one of the oldest modes of writing was by graving the characters upon tablets smeared over or covered with wax. From this word comes that of letters ; and, as they are more immediately connected with our subject, we incline to the opinion of Pliny that the word linere , to smear, is by far the most truthful definition. In this respec

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THE FIRST LETTER-WRITERS.

THE FIRST LETTER-WRITERS.

Jezebel, it seems, was the first—or, at least, we believe the first—that is mentioned in the Bible as a letter-writer: “So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.”—1 Kings xxi. 8. For fear a wrong construction should be put upon this act of Jezebel, and the cause of letters affected thereby, it may be well to state that she was allowed to do so by him, and that his name an

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SOLOMON TO KING HIRAM.

SOLOMON TO KING HIRAM.

“Know thou that my father would have built a temple to God, but was hindered by wars and continual expeditions; for he did not leave off to overthrow his enemies till he made them all subject to tribute. But I give thanks to God for the peace I at present enjoy, and on that account I am at leisure and design to build a house to God; for God foretold to my father that such a house should be built by me. Wherefore I desire thee to send some of thy subjects with mine to Mount Lebanon, to cut down t

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HIRAM TO KING SOLOMON.

HIRAM TO KING SOLOMON.

“It is fit to bless God that he hath committed thy father’s government to thee, who art a wise man and endowed with all virtues. As for myself, I rejoice at the condition thou art in, and will be subservient to thee in all that thou sendest to me about; for when by my subjects I have cut down many trees of cedar and cypress wood, I will send them to sea, and will order my subjects to make floats of them, and to sail to what place soever of thy country thou shalt desire, and leave them there; aft

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SUMMARY.

SUMMARY.

Posts for letters, mode of carrying, invented in Paris, 1470; post-horses by stages, 1483. Louis XI. first established them in France. In England, 1581; Germany, 1641; in the Turkish dominions, 1740. Offices erected, 1643, and in 1657; made general in England, 1656; in Scotland, 1695; as at present formed, 12 Charles II., December 27, 1660. Penny posts began in London, 1681; taken in hand by the government, 1711; the penny post made twopence, 1801. Mails first conveyed by coaches, August 2, 1784

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LONDON DISTRICTS.

LONDON DISTRICTS.

The postal districts of London are so arranged as to render favorable not only the facilities for delivering letters, but equally so to the carriers. The employees of the London post-office are not overtasked, nor are the carriers compelled as it were to become “beasts of burden.” A want of consideration on the part of officials here for those in their employ is a sad reflection on our republican institutions. Men who exercise a little brief authority imagine themselves for the time-being taskma

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TOWN DELIVERIES.

TOWN DELIVERIES.

The portion of each district within about three miles of the general post-office is designated the town delivery, and the remainder the suburban delivery. Within the town limits there are twelve deliveries of letters daily. The first, or general post delivery, including all inland, colonial, and foreign letters arriving in sufficient time, commences about 7.30 A.M. , and is generally completed throughout London by nine o’clock, except on Mondays, or on other days when there are large arrivals of

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THE POSTE RESTANTE.

THE POSTE RESTANTE.

There is more attention paid in England to this letter or paper inscription than there is with us. The “Poste Restante” being intended solely for the accommodation of strangers and travellers who have no permanent abode in London, letters for residence in London must not be addressed “Post-Office till called for.” Letters addressed to “initials” or “fictitious names” cannot be received at the “Poste Restante.” If so addressed, they are returned to the writers. With us, little or no attention is

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VI. The Kaffir Letter-Carrier—African Post.

VI. The Kaffir Letter-Carrier—African Post.

The African post, as we term it, is of course simply connected with the European settlements. A system of carrying letters is established, and the principal messengers or carriers are the Kaffirs. In the several settlements, more particularly those of the British at Sierra Leone, Cape Coast Castle, and the Cape of Good Hope, and at several unimportant establishments on the Gold and Silver Coasts, these messengers of the African race were not only very useful in conveying letters, packages, &

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EARLY POSTS.

EARLY POSTS.

New York, like Pennsylvania, has its primitive postal history. The first postmaster at Schenectady was Dr. Eleazer Mosely, who died in 1833, aged seventy-three years. He established a post by raising subscriptions from the inhabitants, which operated very favorably; and the result was the carrying the mail by contract. At first the western mail was carried from Albany once a week, in a valise on the shoulder of a footman. As late as the year 1810 there was only a weekly mail between Canandaigua

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NEW YORK POST-OFFICE.

NEW YORK POST-OFFICE.

The original office was situated at the corner of William and Garden Streets, in which house resided the then Postmaster-General, Theodorus Bailey. It was also the residence of Sebastian Ballman, the first postmaster of the city subsequently to the Revolution, who was appointed to the office by General Washington. The room used as an office was twenty-five to thirty-five feet in length, and contained one hundred boxes. In 1827 it was in the basement of the “Merchants’ Exchange,” occupying two-th

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INDEPENDENT POST-OFFICE.

INDEPENDENT POST-OFFICE.

An independent post-office was established in New York in 1775. It was suggested by William Goddard, the publisher of the “Maryland Journal,” and John Holt, the printer, was appointed postmaster. It went into (partial) operation on the 11th of May. The office was kept at Holt’s printing-office. There is no doubt that the “Sons of Liberty,” a popular association of Americans, were connected with this movement; for one of the first acts of its members was to send, through this office, threatening

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JOHN HOLT.

JOHN HOLT.

This gentleman was originally mayor of Williamsburg, Virginia. He also established a newspaper there, and rendered important service to the cause of the patriots. He came to New York, where ten years before he had published the “New York Gazette and Post-Boy” in company with James Parker. He started another paper shortly after his arrival in New York. When the British took possession of the city, he left it, and published his journal at Esopus and Poughkeepsie. While at the former place he publi

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SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

William Penn, the founder of the colony of Pennsylvania, was born in London in the year 1644. His father, Sir William Penn, was distinguished in the British navy as an able admiral, being commander of the fleet at the reduction of Jamaica in 1655, and contributing greatly to the defeat of the Dutch fleet in 1664. For his services he was knighted by Charles II. William Penn was entered in 1660, as a gentleman commoner, at Christ’s Church, Oxford; but, withdrawing from the national forms of worshi

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THE ROMANCE OF THE POST-OFFICE.

THE ROMANCE OF THE POST-OFFICE.

History and romance have, as it were, by mutual consent allied themselves together for the sole purpose of mystifying mankind. It is true the first cannot pervert a living fact, but it can materially affect the character of one long since passed away and mingled with the revolution of words, men, and nations. The latter is simply a colorist: the one maps, the other paints. And yet how often do we hear it said that truth is stranger than fiction! The romance of a post-office would be a far more t

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HENRY WALDY, WM. PENN’S FIRST POSTMASTER.

HENRY WALDY, WM. PENN’S FIRST POSTMASTER.

The want of a regular postal system was not felt in the colonies until they had reached a certain point in trade, commerce, and population. The mode of conveying letters and packages, indeed, as well as merchandise of all kinds, was perfectly simple and of a decided primitive character. Pack-horses were used for the purpose of conveying goods from Philadelphia to towns west. Pack-horses afforded almost the sole means of transportation until about 1788, when the roads were made accessible for wag

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MAD ANTHONY WAYNE AND JEMMY THE ROVER.

MAD ANTHONY WAYNE AND JEMMY THE ROVER.

In the year 1776 authority was given to employ extra post-riders between the armies from the head-quarters to Philadelphia. These post-riders ran many risks, as refugees were not rare at that day: hence the danger was materially increased in consequence. The letters of General Wayne were interrupted, as were those of others, and the utmost caution was necessary for the purpose of securing a safe conveyance. Various plans were adopted, and the postmaster was active in establishing a postal commun

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FOURTH OF JULY, 1776.

FOURTH OF JULY, 1776.

“The first motion in Congress was to declare this country independent.” The first assembling of the Revolutionary Congress took place in this city on the 5th of September, 1774. Subsequently the progress of the war continued to ripen the public mind and feelings for a total separation from Great Britain. It was not, however, until the 7th of June, 1776, that any special action was had for that purpose. On that day Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, made the following motion, which was

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LIBERTY-TREE.

LIBERTY-TREE.

During the Stamp Act excitement there arose a practice of signifying public sentiment in a very effectual way,—though without any responsible agent, unless the inanimate Liberty-Tree may be so considered. This tree was a majestic elm that stood in front of a house opposite the Boylston market, on the edge of the “High Street,” in the town of Boston. On the 14th of August, 1765, an effigy representing Andrew Oliver, a gentleman appointed to distribute the stamps, was found hanging upon this tree,

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YANKEE DOODLE:—THE AIR AND WORDS.

YANKEE DOODLE:—THE AIR AND WORDS.

There are so many versions of the origin of this popular and now national air, as well as the words, that we offer the following to our readers without note or comment. In Burgh’s Anecdotes of Music, vol. iii. p. 405, after speaking of Dr. Arne and John Frederick Lampe, the author proceeds:—“Besides Lampe and Arne, there were at this time [1731] other candidates for musical fame of the same description. Among these were Mr. John Christian Smith, who set two English operas for Lincoln’s Inn Field

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HAIL COLUMBIA.

HAIL COLUMBIA.

The following is Judge Hopkinson’s own account of the origin of “Hail Columbia:”— “This song was written in the summer of 1798, when a war with France was thought to be inevitable, Congress being then in session in Philadelphia, deliberating upon that important subject, and acts of hostility having actually occurred. About that time a young man by the name of Fox, attached to the Chestnut Street Theatre, was getting up some attraction for his benefit. I had known him when at school. On this acqu

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THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.

Was written by Francis S. Key, while on board one of the vessels composing the British fleet. He was an agent for the exchange of prisoners, and witnessed in the distance the bombardment of Fort McHenry. The tune was originally set to the song “To Anacreon in Heaven,” by Dr. Arnold....

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THE PRESENT AMERICAN FLAG.

THE PRESENT AMERICAN FLAG.

The first flag adopted by the colonial army before Boston was a red flag, with the mottoes, “An appeal to Heaven,” and “Qui transtulit sustinet,” which was construed by the colonists thus:—“God, who transplanted us hither, will sustain us.” About this time also the floating batteries, which were the germ of the navy subsequently organized, bore a flag with the motto, “Appeal to Heaven.” These flags were adopted before the union of the colonies was effected. After that union, and upon the organiz

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CONGRESS.

CONGRESS.

Previous to the Revolution, and during the war, the seat of government, or points of meeting of Congress, were at such places as convenience suggested or the vicissitudes of war allowed. The first Congress under the present Constitution met in New York, on the 4th of March, 1789. George Washington was inaugurated President before this body, John Adams Vice-President. F.A. Muhlenberg, of Pennsylvania, was the Speaker of the House. The following are the places at which the Continental Congress met

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THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.

THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.

First Congress , Sept. 5, 1774. Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, President. Born in Virginia, in 1726, died at Philadelphia, Oct. 22, 1785. Charles Thomson, of Pennsylvania, Secretary. Born in Ireland, in 1730, died in Pennsylvania, Aug. 16, 1824. This patriot was Secretary of all the Congresses in session during the Revolution, and until March 3, 1789. Second Congress , May 10, 1775, Peyton Randolph, President. Resigned May 24, 1775. John Hancock, of Massachusetts, elected his successor. He was bo

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UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

1789 to 1793. George Washington, of Virginia, inaugurated as President of the United States, April 30, 1789. He was born upon Wakefield estate, Virginia, February 22 (11th, Old Style), 1732, died at Mount Vernon, December 14, 1799. John Adams, of Massachusetts, Vice-President. Born at Braintree, Massachusetts, October 19, 1735, died July 4, 1826, near Quincy, Massachusetts. Electoral Vote —George Washington, 69. John Adams, 34. John Jay, New York, 9. R.H. Harrison, Maryland, 6. John Rutledge, So

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GOVERNORS OF PENNSYLVANIA,

GOVERNORS OF PENNSYLVANIA,

more, however, as being useful for future reference rather than to its connection with our subject:— 1682 to 1863. 1682, October. William Penn (Proprietary), acted as Governor until August, 1684. Thomas Lloyd, President until December, 1688. Captain John Blackwell, Deputy-Governor to 1690. President and Council to April 26, 1693. Benjamin Fletcher, Deputy-Governor to September, 1692. William Markham, Deputy-Governor to December 3, 1696. William Penn again acted as Governor to November 1, 1701. A

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XI. Postmasters.

XI. Postmasters.

Having brought the postal history of the colonies up to the time Richard Bache succeeded Benjamin Franklin (November, 1776), and whose dismissal gave the latter some grounds of complaint, if not censure, against the appointment of Ebenezer Hazard, who had the office under President Washington, we will carry out the object of these tables, by continuing the list of postmaster-generals from that period. Samuel Osgood. —This gentleman was born at Andover, Massachusetts, February 14, 1748; graduated

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POST-OFFICE.

POST-OFFICE.

As trade and commerce progressed, the postal department extended its operations, and the Philadelphia post-office was not behind those of other cities in furthering the cause of the great postal institution of the country. The postal boundaries of our country extend over an area ten times greater than those of England and France combined; three times as large as the whole of France, Britain, Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Holland, and Denmark together; one and a half times larger th

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LIST OF PHILADELPHIA POSTMASTERS.

LIST OF PHILADELPHIA POSTMASTERS.

Robert Patton, appointed August 25, 1791. Michael Leib, appointed February 14, 1814. Richard Bache, appointed Feb. 26, 1819. Thomas Sargeant, appointed April 16, 1828. James Page, appointed April 11, 1833. OFFICE BECAME PRESIDENTIAL, JULY 9, 1836. James Page, reappointed July 9, 1836. John C. Montgomery, appointed March 23, 1841. James Hoy, Jr., appointed June 26, 1844. George F. Lehman, appointed May 5, 1845. William J. P. White, appointed May 9, 1849. John Miller, appointed April 1, 1853. Gide

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A GLANCE AT THE PHILADELPHIA POST-OFFICE FROM AN ARCHITECTURAL POINT OF VIEW.

A GLANCE AT THE PHILADELPHIA POST-OFFICE FROM AN ARCHITECTURAL POINT OF VIEW.

The Philadelphia post-office was completed and ready for the transaction of business on the 23d of March, 1863. It is situated on Chestnut Street, between Fourth and Fifth Streets, adjoining the custom-house. The contrast between these two buildings is most remarkable: one presents the view we have in classic illustrations of the Parthenon of Athens; the other, disdaining all the associations which the history of Greece and Rome throws around our ideas of classic architectural beauty, looms up b

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OUTSIDE AND INSIDE VIEW OF THE PHILADELPHIA POST-OFFICE.

OUTSIDE AND INSIDE VIEW OF THE PHILADELPHIA POST-OFFICE.

The outside of a post-office before the opening of its doors reminds one of a vast sleeping city, cold and calm, though containing within itself all the elements that make up a living, sleepless world. As the stars shine down on the earth and move on in their spheres, so feeble lights gleam up from the post-office windows to denote that “watchers” of the night are there, and thus, like the machinery of the great world, move on the wheels of this epitomized one. Dull and heavy glide on the hours

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THE LETTER-CARRYING SYSTEM.

THE LETTER-CARRYING SYSTEM.

But few persons have any adequate idea of the vast number of letters which day after day pass through the post-office into the hands of the carrier, to be delivered at their final destination. The following list gives the number of letters delivered and collected in the four largest cities during the month of June, 1865:— During the same period there were collected from pillar or lamp-post boxes 1,294,850 letters. The annexed statement gives the number of letters delivered in three principal cit

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THE PRESS.

THE PRESS.

It has identified itself with, and forms one of the main features of, our great republic. Its very liberty is essential to the nature of a free state. Its complicity and power claim for it a consideration which no other department of literature and science, however popular, can attain. The press of our country is now the medium, if not, in fact, the very source, of that knowledge of which as a nation we are so justly proud. The work of the post-office is of such a nature, changing its character

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LETTER-CARRIERS.

LETTER-CARRIERS.

Letter-carriers are a very important class of men,—important, we mean, in their connection with the postal department. We speak of them here because their duties are not generally known to the public, nor their services properly appreciated or rewarded by the department. They are the “walking posts,” and carry with them daily thousands of dollars, which rarely are lost on their way to the recipients. The instances are so few of dishonest carriers that we have often been surprised that the fact h

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IMPORTANT POSTAL TABLES.

IMPORTANT POSTAL TABLES.

The following tables, carefully prepared, fully prove that there is no surer test of the advance of business and commercial enterprise than that which is learned from the increase of postage. A glance at the table from 1790 shows a wonderful increase in the short space of eight or ten years, entirely unexampled in the history of the world; and taken in connection, as we think it may be, with a similar increase in other statistics, it sets all previous examples completely aside. The fact is, the

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CHANGES AND REDUCTIONS IN THE RATES OF DOMESTIC POSTAGE IN FORMER YEARS.

CHANGES AND REDUCTIONS IN THE RATES OF DOMESTIC POSTAGE IN FORMER YEARS.

The following will exhibit the principal changes and reductions in the rates of postage on domestic letters at various dates from 1792 to 1863. The single rate for land transit is referred to in every case. Act of February 20, 1792. Rates for a single-sheet letter,—30 miles or under, 6 cents; 30 to 60 miles, 8 cents; 60 to 100 miles, 10 cents; 100 to 150 miles, 12 cents; 150 to 200 miles, 15 cents; 200 to 250 miles, 17 cents; 250 to 350 miles, 20 cents; 350 to 450 miles, 22 cents; over 450 miles

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DOMESTIC POSTAGE.

DOMESTIC POSTAGE.

The law requires postage on all letters (including those to foreign countries when prepaid), excepting those written by officers of the government, addressed to the department with which they are connected, and on official business, to be prepaid by stamps or stamped envelopes, prepayment in money being prohibited. All drop-letters must be prepaid, at the rate of two cents per half-ounce or fraction of a half-ounce, by postage stamps. If not prepaid, the double rate to be charged. The single rat

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NEWSPAPER POSTAGE.

NEWSPAPER POSTAGE.

Weekly Newspapers (one copy only) sent by the publisher to actual subscribers within the county where printed and published, free . Postage per Quarter (to be paid quarterly or yearly in advance) on Newspapers and Periodicals issued less frequently than once a week , sent to actual subscribers in any part of the United States: Publishers of Newspapers and Periodicals may send to each other from their respective offices of publication, free of postage, one copy of each publication, and may also s

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ORGANIZATION OF THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT.

ORGANIZATION OF THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT.

Congress shall have power “to establish post-offices and post-roads.” This short, concise, yet embracing sentence sums up the constitutional basis of this department. It is comprehensive enough to all who fully understand the economical and practical workings of our government. Its conciseness is its very history; and that history becomes a mighty tome in the library of nations. The direction and management of the post-office department are assigned by the Constitution to the postmaster-general.

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APPOINTMENT-OFFICE.

APPOINTMENT-OFFICE.

The Appointment-Office not only has supervision of the appointment and regulation of all postmasters, and the establishment and discontinuance of post-offices, but also the distribution of blanks, wrapping-paper, and twine to all post-offices; the supervision of pay of clerks in post-offices; of allowance for furniture of post-offices; of extra allowances to postmasters under the acts of Congress; of the appointment and pay of special agents, route-agents, local agents, and blank-agents, and of

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CONTRACT-OFFICE.

CONTRACT-OFFICE.

The Contract-Office is charged with the conduct of mail-lettings, and all contracts and allowances for inland mail transportation, with the mail messenger service; the supervision and regulation of mail-contractors, and the routes of mail-transit, including distributing-offices; and with the increase and diminution of service on mail-routes....

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FINANCE-OFFICE.

FINANCE-OFFICE.

To this office are assigned the issuing of postage-stamps and stamped envelopes for the prepayment of postage and the accounts thereof; the preparation of warrants and drafts in payment of balances reported by the Auditor to be due to mail-contractors and other persons; and the superintendence of the rendition by postmasters of their quarterly returns of postages. It embraces, also, all the operations of the dead-letter office, and the accounts connected therewith....

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INSPECTION-OFFICE.

INSPECTION-OFFICE.

The Inspection-Office is charged with the observation of failures and delinquencies in the service of contractors and route-agents; with fines and remissions thereof; with the subject of mail-depredations, and prosecution of violators of postal laws; with the duty of procuring and distributing mail-bags, locks and keys, and some other duties of detail. Perhaps no institution in this or any other country requires more enterprise, general knowledge of business, and geography, than does that of the

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POST-COACHES, POST-HORSES, AND RAILROADS.

POST-COACHES, POST-HORSES, AND RAILROADS.

Postmaster-generals up to the period when railroads superseded that of post-coaches and post-horses had a much harder time in their “vocation” than have their successors since. The difficulties then were to overcome the opposition of parties interested in contracts. Coaches and post-horses, routes and agents, became important items in such contracts; and the least favoritism on the part of the postmaster-general called forth not only censure from those immediately interested, but not unfrequentl

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SOMETHING ABOUT RAILROADS.

SOMETHING ABOUT RAILROADS.

Railroads, although evidently of ancient origin, were first used near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1650. Wooden rails four to eight inches square, resting upon transverse sleepers two feet apart, were in use for many years, when railroads of the same description covered with thin plates of iron were substituted. In another part of this work we speak of the lost arts. Proofs of their existence are found in the excavated cities, and even in those vestiges which establish the belief of an antediluvian s

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HOW THE PYRAMIDS WERE BUILT.

HOW THE PYRAMIDS WERE BUILT.

The stones used in building the pyramids of Egypt, it is supposed, were raised to their places by piling up immense inclined planes of sand, up which the blocks were pushed with rollers. If inclined planes were used to raise large blocks to a great height, is it to be supposed that a similar mode, or railroads , were not used to convey them on a level plane? The statement, often repeated on high authority, that the pyramids were built before the Egyptians acquired the art of writing hieroglyphic

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RAILROADS FROM 1760—ENGLAND.

RAILROADS FROM 1760—ENGLAND.

In 1760, wooden railroads were in pretty general use to facilitate mining operations. Tram-roads, with rails of cast iron, first introduced at the Colebrookdale Works, at the instance of Mr. Reynolds in 1767; at the Sheffield colliery in 1776. Stone props for the support of the rails substituted for timber in 1797, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Edge rails were brought into use by Mr. Jessop in 1789, at Loughborough. Malleable iron edge rails adopted at Newcastle in 1805, and at Tinsdale Fell in 1808.

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RAILROADS IN THE UNITED STATES.

RAILROADS IN THE UNITED STATES.

(Abstract of the Seventh Census.) In no other particular can the prosperity of a country be more strikingly manifested than by the perfection of its roads and other means of internal communication. The system of railroads, canals, turnpikes, post-routes, river navigation, and telegraphs possessed by the United States presents an indication of its advancement in power and civilization more wonderful than any other feature of its progress. In truth, our country in this respect occupies the first p

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IMPORTANT FACTS.

IMPORTANT FACTS.

The maximum annual receipts of the postal department, previous to the rebellion, from all the States was $8,518,067.40, which was exceeded in the sum of $6,038,091.30 by the receipts of the last year from the loyal States alone. The revenues during the past four years amounted to $46,458,022.97, an average of $11,614,505.74 per annum. Compared with the receipts of the four years immediately preceding, which amounted to $32,322,640.73, the annual average increase of revenue was $3,533,845.56, whi

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THE RAILWAY POSTAL SYSTEM.

THE RAILWAY POSTAL SYSTEM.

This system, which was suggested by the celebrated Rowland Hill, originated at a period in English postal history when the requirements of trade and commerce demanded a revisal of the code. Perhaps no man was better qualified for the purpose than was Mr. Hill. In 1839 railroad post-offices were in use for mail-bags. Each railway company provided a car, when desired to do so by the postmaster-general, for the exclusive use of the mails. These cars were fitted up with boxes to facilitate the distr

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THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE.

THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE.

“I have said so much, that if I had not a frank I must burn my letter and begin again.”— Cowper. It is the abuse of certain privileges, which all governments accord to a portion of its officers, which leads to fraud, crime, and corruption. Among these, that of the franking system may be ranked as a most prominent one. Had it been checked at an earlier period of our postal history, how many evils would have been prevented, and how far more plethoric would have been its treasury! As early as 1782,

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MAILS ON THE SABBATH.

MAILS ON THE SABBATH.

“Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.” Ever since the postal system was established, an opposition has been made to its operations on the Sabbath. It is not for us to question the moral principle upon which these objections were based. The law for the observance of the Sabbath comes to us in language that cannot be mistaken and from a source not to be denied. But we question whether it applies to the wheels of a government, which, in the same order as that of the spheres, must move on for

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DEAD-LETTERS.

DEAD-LETTERS.

“And thus there were many dead.”— Gower. It would fill a volume were we to attempt any thing like a history of this department of the general post-office. One thing, however, would impress itself forcibly upon the minds of our readers, were we to furnish such a history, and that would be to establish the fact beyond the possibility of a doubt that “the fools are not all dead yet.” As far as the employees of the post-office are concerned, if not irreverent, this would be a “consummation devoutly

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PANDORA’S MAIL-BOX OPENED.

PANDORA’S MAIL-BOX OPENED.

Among the “mail-matters” which had accumulated at the dead-letter-office in Washington since 1848, and which were sold to the highest bidder on the 6th of December, 1859, were the following articles:—coats, hats, socks, drawers, gloves, scarfs, suspenders, patent inhaling-tubes, gold pens, pencils, ladies’ slippers half worn , all kinds of jewelry, undersleeves, fans, handkerchiefs, box of dissecting-instruments, pocket-Bibles, religious books, others not quite so acceptable to the moral portion

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ADVERTISED LETTERS.

ADVERTISED LETTERS.

Advertised letters, uncalled for and sent to the dead-letter-office, cost the government annually over $60,000! This is a dead loss, as, from the very nature of the superscription and imperfect direction, such letters have no more chance of reaching their places of destination than a sinner has of going to heaven....

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DECOY-LETTERS.

DECOY-LETTERS.

Devices employed for the public good, if predicated on the principles that maintain all men dishonest and are themselves deceptive, both in theory and practice, cannot be considered either honorable or complimentary to our public men. The system, more particularly in its connection with the postal department, originated, we are inclined to think, from some suspicious postmaster or his chief clerk, and thus was established a plan to test the employees, alike unjust and questionable in equity. It

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WHAT IS REQUIRED OF A SPECIAL AGENT.

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF A SPECIAL AGENT.

1. He should have a thorough knowledge of the laws and regulations of the department. 2. Apart from his special duties, he is to report and make known to the department any unnecessary expenditure on the part of those who have control of the mails, and at the same time report where there is any deficiency of agents, &amp;c. 3. He is intrusted with keys to the several mail-locks in use, and is, by virtue of his commission, authorized to open and examine the mails whenever and wherever. 4. He

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SPECIAL AGENT OF THE LETTER-CARRIERS’ DEPARTMENT.

SPECIAL AGENT OF THE LETTER-CARRIERS’ DEPARTMENT.

Since the introduction of the free-delivery letter system the position of a carrier has become one of considerable importance, from the fact of his duties being not only doubled, but the amount of responsibility considerably increased. At first there was considerable opposition in some places to having carriers at all; and even in large cities postmasters opposed it, as a general thing. Mr. C. A. Walborn, postmaster of Philadelphia, was among the first to favor the abolishing the one-cent system

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A LEAF FROM A SPECIAL AGENT’S NOTE-BOOK.

A LEAF FROM A SPECIAL AGENT’S NOTE-BOOK.

In the months of April and May, 1861, a large number of registered letters from points in the State of New York, passing through the New York and Philadelphia offices to Egg Harbor City and other places in that section of New Jersey, failed to reach their destination. Before Mr. C. A. Walborn took charge of the office at Philadelphia, the attention of special agent Mr. S. B. Row had been drawn to these losses by the late lamented Mr. James Holbrook, who was the oldest special agent in the employ

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THE YOUTHFUL MAIL-ROBBER.

THE YOUTHFUL MAIL-ROBBER.

Some time in the year 1860, a man by the name of Pardon Barrett made his appearance at Jackson Corners, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania. He was a shoemaker by trade, and opened a shop for business. He had no family, kept bachelor’s hall, and associated very little with men, simply confining himself to business relations with them. He, however, seemed to take pleasure in the company of boys, and, by insinuating himself into their good graces, soon succeeded in making his domicile a sort of rende

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THE DISHONEST MERCHANT.

THE DISHONEST MERCHANT.

Crime in high places has of late become fashionable; law itself has become aristocratic, and maintains its character for partiality by shielding aristocratical rascals beneath its wings. Justice is no longer blind,—at least, one of its eyes is open,—and the distinguishing marks on a greenback, denoting its value, are readily discerned by the goddess. The poor wretch who steals a loaf of bread to save his children from starvation invariably gets on the blind side of Justice, and, of course, the s

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LETTERS ADDRESSED TO CITIES ONLY.

LETTERS ADDRESSED TO CITIES ONLY.

Many persons are in the habit of addressing letters and circulars for firms and individuals, simply, “Philadelphia,” “New York,” &amp;c. This practice not unfrequently occasions delay in such letters reaching their rightful owners. In all cases, however well the firm may be known, it is most essential, to insure their correct delivery, that the street or locality in which they reside, and the number of the house, should form a portion of the address. Many of these circulars are prepared with

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UNMAILABLE LETTERS.

UNMAILABLE LETTERS.

“Letters attempted to be sent with stamps previously used or stamps cut from stamped envelopes. “Unpaid letters for foreign countries, on which prepayment is required by the regulations. “Letters not addressed, or so badly addressed that their destination cannot be known. “Letters misdirected to places where there are no post-offices.” It will be here seen that the government is not responsible for the ignorance and stupidity of all epistolarians. In some instances, however, postmasters are to b

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ADDRESSES SHOULD BE LEGIBLE AND COMPLETE.

ADDRESSES SHOULD BE LEGIBLE AND COMPLETE.

We have under other heads alluded to the carelessness of persons in addressing their letters. To make them legible and complete, give the name of the post-town, and if there be more than one town of that name, or if the post-town is not well known, be careful in giving the name of the county, which in all cases is as essential as that of the State. The number of the house, too, if in a street, is a great assistance. It must not be supposed that because a letter will eventually reach its destinat

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A LAW TO BE REPEALED.

A LAW TO BE REPEALED.

It is only necessary to give this section of the postal law to show its inconsistency and the necessity of its repeal (Section 131, Printed Regulations, 1859):— “ Bonâ fide subscribers to weekly newspapers can receive the same free of postage, if they reside in the county in which the paper is printed and published, even if the office to which the paper is sent is without the county, provided it is the office at which they regularly receive their mail-matter.” In justice, however, to many publis

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POSTAGE ON TRANSIENT PRINTED MATTER.

POSTAGE ON TRANSIENT PRINTED MATTER.

Persons anxious to possess a general knowledge of the post-office laws, rules, and regulations are referred to “Appleton’s United States Postal Guide,” published quarterly, by the authority of the postmaster-general, New York. It contains the chief regulations of the post-office, and a complete list of post-offices throughout the United States, &amp;c. The following accompanies each number:— “ Washington, D.C., ——, 1865. “This volume has been prepared with my sanction, and is an authorized m

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NEWSPAPERS, EXCHANGES, ETC.

NEWSPAPERS, EXCHANGES, ETC.

The question of the right to send and receive letters and packets through the mail free of postage is not denied, for it is so expressly stated in the “Laws and Regulations of the Post-Office Department,” chap. xviii. sect. 228. It is viewed in the light of “personal privileges,” or as an official trust for the maintenance of official correspondence. In both its forms the right varies in respect to different classes of officers and individuals, in the kind as well as weight of matters which may

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LETTER ADDRESSES.54

LETTER ADDRESSES.54

Meaning Camp Cadwalader. Connected with this letter is the following incident: it fortunately came to Philadelphia, and, of course, from its superscription was placed apart to find its way to the dead-letter-office. One day a poor Irishwoman came to the window and asked for a letter from her son, giving no name. The simplicity of the question struck the clerk, and the letter addressed “To My Mother” flashed upon his mind. He turned to the case and selected the letter. “Where does your son reside

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THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM.

THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM.

The money-order system, which in England is so popular, has partly failed here. It went into operation on the 1st of November, 1864, under circumstances which promised a decided success. The amount to which the law limited the order-system was not less than one dollar, and not more than thirty dollars. This was to accommodate a certain class of people, and at the same time test the utility of the system for the purpose of hereafter creating a more extensive operation of the principle and also in

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GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM.

I. Money-order offices are divided into two classes. Offices of the first class are depositories, in which those of the second class deposit their surplus money-order funds. II. Any office in either class may draw upon any other office in the list of money-order offices for a sum, upon one order, from one dollar to thirty dollars . But when a larger sum than the latter is required, additional orders to make it up must be obtained. III. When money-orders exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars in

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FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

The freedom of the press, as understood and secured by high constitutional authority, consists in its identification with every principle which is involved in our Declaration of Independence. It dare not aim its shafts at the existence of the government, the Constitution, and the Union. And yet has not the press—a portion of it, we mean—aimed to do so during this rebellion, and that, too, at a time while claiming that government’s protection? A press devoted to the cause of traitors is as much a

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POST-OFFICE CURIOSITIES.

POST-OFFICE CURIOSITIES.

There are many curious things daily occurring in the post-office under this head. In “Chambers’s Journal” we find the following:— “A formal but most essential rule makes letters once posted the property of the postmaster-general until they are delivered as addressed, and they must not be given up to the writers on any pretence whatever. One or two requests of this kind related to us we are not likely soon to forget. On one occasion a commercial traveller called at an office and expressed a fear

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NEWSPAPERS.

NEWSPAPERS.

Although we have strict laws upon the subject of trifling with newspapers, our postmasters do not enforce them to the extent they should. The following is a provision of the English law which does not remain, as with us, a “dead letter:”— “Newspapers are always to be considered of equal importance with letters; and postmasters are forbidden to open them for any other purpose than that required by law, and are also forbidden to lend them to any person.” (From the “English Postal.”) “ By Weight. —

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WATCH YOUR LETTER-BOXES.

WATCH YOUR LETTER-BOXES.

In many of our large post-offices postmasters have baskets placed inside for the reception of letters. These are invariably too small, and it not unfrequently occurs that the aperture through which letters pass gets choked up, the basket being full to its mouth. Any person could from the outside take a handful of letters without any one being aware of it. Honest men, however, making the discovery, notify the clerks of the situation of the letters, but not until it is very natural to suppose some

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SUGGESTIONS TO THE PUBLIC, ETC.

SUGGESTIONS TO THE PUBLIC, ETC.

The following sensible suggestions are taken from “The British Postal Guide:” let us advise our readers to pay some little attention to them:— “To see that every letter, newspaper, or other packet sent by post is securely folded and sealed, and that, when postage-stamps are remitted, they are enclosed in paper sufficiently thick to prevent them from being seen or felt through the cover. It should be remembered that every such packet has to be several times handled, and that even when in the mail

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FORBIDDEN ARTICLES.

FORBIDDEN ARTICLES.

“Postmasters are instructed not to receive any letter, &amp;c. which there is good reason to believe contains any thing likely to injure the contents of the mail-bag or the person of any officer of the post-office. If such a packet be posted without the postmaster’s knowledge, or if at any time before its despatch he should discover any such packet, he is directed not to forward it, but to report the case, with the address of the packet, to the secretary. The following are examples of the ar

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LETTER-CARRIERS, THEIR COMPENSATION, ETC.

LETTER-CARRIERS, THEIR COMPENSATION, ETC.

“Letter-carriers shall be employed as the postmaster-general shall direct, at a compensation not exceeding $800 a year, which may be increased to $1000 at offices where the income will allow, on proof of the carrier’s fidelity, diligence, and experience. Carriers must give bond. Deliveries shall be made as frequently as the public interest may require. No carrier’s fee or extra postage shall be charged on letters delivered or collected by carriers. Separate accounts must be kept of the expenses

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ONE-CENT SYSTEM.

ONE-CENT SYSTEM.

The law authorizing the free delivery of mail-letters and all other mail-matter by carriers took effect on the first day of July, 1863. We much question if the change has benefited the treasury of the department....

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THE DISTRIBUTION OF LETTERS IN EUROPE.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF LETTERS IN EUROPE.

Although we have expressed a doubt in relation to this system with us, it may not apply to other countries. Here it is expected that the income of an office will sustain its own expenses, and hence every postmaster is anxious to make his report to the department favorably to this system. Carriers now receive a regular salary; before, they depended in a great measure on the one-cent system, which lessened the department’s expense for carriers’ pay more than one-third what it is now. The one cent

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THE ANDERSONVILLE POST-OFFICE.

THE ANDERSONVILLE POST-OFFICE.

The following touching lines, by George H. Hollister, Esq., of Litchfield, Connecticut, are descriptive of an incident in the pen of the Union prisoners at Andersonville, Georgia. The war has elicited nothing more beautiful in description or of sadder interest:—...

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A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.

“The Wheeling Intelligencer” (1865) gives the following “chapter of accidents”: it says,— “We received a letter several days ago from a gentleman, enclosing an announcement of his marriage, and stating that he had also enclosed the sum of seventy-five cents to pay for it. The letter did not enclose the money; but the next day we got another letter from the same gentleman, stating that it had occurred to him, after he had mailed the first note, that he had not enclosed the money; ‘and I therefore

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A SCENE AT THE PHILADELPHIA POST-OFFICE.

A SCENE AT THE PHILADELPHIA POST-OFFICE.

Didn’t like the idea. —A single female, apparently forty-five years of age, with a very scraggy neck and weazened features, made her appearance yesterday afternoon at the ladies’ window in the post-office. “I want to get back a letter.” “What for, madam?” “Why, I dropped it in the box over yonder. I want to take it back again.” “That’s against our rules, ma’am; I am not allowed to give back a letter unless I know all about it.” “Well, then, there’ll be a fuss here, that’s all: I want my letter a

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WATCH THE WASTE PAPER.

WATCH THE WASTE PAPER.

One of the postal regulations (sect. 217) is as follows:— “The postmaster, or one of his assistants, in all cases, immediately before the office is swept or otherwise cleared of rubbish, is to collect and examine the waste paper which has accumulated therein, in order to guard against the possibility of loss of letters or other mail-matter which may have fallen on the floor or have been intermingled with such waste paper during the transaction of business. The observance of this rule is strictly

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SEALING-WAX.

SEALING-WAX.

Under no circumstances use sealing-wax for postal purposes. Wax should only be used for letters or documents when a person is anxious to display his seal or coat of arms , or where it may be required for a legal purpose, and only then when they are more effectually secured. The practice of sealing letters passing more particularly through warm climates with wax is attended with much inconvenience, and frequently with serious injury, not only to the letters so sealed, but to the other letters in

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COMPLAINTS ABOUT MISTAKES.

COMPLAINTS ABOUT MISTAKES.

When complaint is made of letters or newspapers lost, miscarried, or delayed, to furnish information as precise as possible regarding all the facts of the case, and to enclose whatever documents may throw light upon it. The day and hour at which the letter or newspaper was posted, as well as the office at which and the person by whom this was done, should always be stated, and, when possible, the cover or wrapper, in an entire state, should be sent, in order that the place of delay may be ascert

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A LAW CASE.

A LAW CASE.

In 1806 a case was tried in the District Court of Maryland, “United States vs. Barney,” which we deem essential to the nature of our work. “ Winchester, J. —The indictment in this case, which charges the defendant with having wilfully obstructed the passage of the public mail at Susquehanna River, is founded on the act of Congress of March, 1799. “The defendant sets up as a defence and justification of this obstruction of the mail that he had fed the horses employed in carrying the mail for a co

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POSTAGE-STAMPS.

POSTAGE-STAMPS.

Connected with stamps, whether used as a currency or for the increase of revenue, there are many curious and interesting circumstances. The idea of producing a revenue by the sale of stamps and stamped paper in America was promulgated almost forty years before its final development in legislative enactment in 1765. Sir William Keith advised the policy as early as 1728. In 1739 the London merchants advised the ministry to adopt the measure, and public writers from time to time suggested various s

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REPORT OF MR. GEORGE PLITT.

REPORT OF MR. GEORGE PLITT.

Amos Kendall, postmaster-general from 1835 to 1840, anxious to have the postal department as perfect as human efforts can avail towards such a state of things, sent the gentleman whose name heads this article to Europe for the purpose of adding to our store of knowledge on postal matters. Mr. Plitt was well calculated for this mission, having served seven years in the New York post-office, and was familiar with its operations. He left New York in the month of June, 1839, and returned in August,

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ENGLISH POST-OFFICE.

ENGLISH POST-OFFICE.

Mr. Plitt states in his report that the number of persons employed in the English post-office, London, is one thousand nine hundred and three. 56 This number comprises all the letter-carriers and receivers employed within a circle of twelve miles from the post-office. In this circle letters are delivered at the residence of the person addressed and taken up from the receiving-houses five times per day. There is besides an inner circle of three miles from the post-office, within which there are s

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FRANKING PRIVILEGE.

FRANKING PRIVILEGE.

“This privilege is entirely abolished under the late new law. Members of Parliament, even before the law was passed, were restricted as to the number of letters they were allowed to frank, and were, besides, obliged to put the day of the month upon each letter franked by them.” The privilege, however, was not entirely abolished, inasmuch as it was granted to the Minister of Finance and some of his agents....

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PENNY POSTAGE.

PENNY POSTAGE.

Stamps of one penny and twopence each were first introduced on the 6th of May, 1840, and since that period there has been an increase of nearly three hundred thousand letters. Mr. Plitt strongly advocates the cheap postage system....

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LETTER-CARRIERS IN PARIS.

LETTER-CARRIERS IN PARIS.

In Paris, where there are six deliveries of the “Petite Poste” per day, the carriers of the General and “Petite Poste” letters are the same. In a report made by Rowland Hill on the French post-office, in October, 1839, speaking of this plan, he says, “The plan of employing one set of letter-carriers for the delivery of all letters appears to work exceedingly well in Paris. All that I heard and saw in Paris tends to confirm the opinion I have already expressed, that great convenience and economy

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INDECENT POSTAL MATTER.

INDECENT POSTAL MATTER.

“ Sec. 16. And be it further enacted , That no obscene book, pamphlet, picture, print, or other publication of a vulgar and indecent character shall be admitted into the mails of the United States; and any person or persons who shall deposit or cause to be deposited in any post -office or branch post-office of the United States, for mailing or for delivery, an obscene book, pamphlet, picture, print, or other publication, knowing the same to be of a vulgar and indecent character, shall be deemed

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ESPIONAGE OVER THE POST-OFFICE IN FRANCE.

ESPIONAGE OVER THE POST-OFFICE IN FRANCE.

That country must be in a bad way where the heads of the several departments find it necessary to resort to the most infamous means of tracing out suspected traitors. Thus, in the postal department, every letter is subject to the system of espionage, and the innocent as well as the guilty alike suspected and their private correspondence betrayed. In time of rebellion, insurrection, or an attempt to assassinate a king or an emperor, there might be some excuse for the exercise of such precaution;

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THE POST-OFFICE SOLVENT.

THE POST-OFFICE SOLVENT.

The following article we take from the “Philadelphia North American and United States Gazette” of the 13th July, 1865. The view the editor takes is simply, however, from a hastily-arranged statement made shortly after the appointment of Mr. Dennison as postmaster-general. We have our doubts about its accuracy, inasmuch as the short time for reductions of salary and other expenses would not lessen the debt against the postal department and yield a surplus of seven hundred thousand dollars. Well m

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SALARIES OF POSTMASTERS.

SALARIES OF POSTMASTERS.

Under the old postal arrangement, the salary of postmasters of the principal cities was limited to $2000. This compensation was derived from a commission out of their receipts, which could not exceed the amount named. This would appear at first as small pay for such an important position,—more particularly as under the administration of Postmaster Blair the salary was raised to $4000: yet there is not a postmaster but would willingly go back to the old system. Under the former provision of the p

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THE PENNY POST.

THE PENNY POST.

The first attempt to establish the penny post in the United States was in the years 1839-40. It was simply a speculation, and resulted at first in almost total failure, but revived again under more enterprising parties. Previous to this, however, contrary to the laws of Congress,—particularly the law of 1825, sect. 19, which enacts that no stage or other vehicle which regularly performs trips on a post-road or on a road parallel to it, and no packet, war, or other vessel which regularly plies on

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THE VICTIM OF LOVE.

THE VICTIM OF LOVE.

I was seated at my desk; the index-box was filled with letters,—the great Southern mail having just arrived. “Are there any letters for me, sir,—Henry Middleton?” I glanced my eyes at the applicant: there was something in his voice, look, and manner which for a moment riveted my attention. He appeared by no means annoyed at my scrutiny of his person, no doubt ascribing it to the nature of our situation. He was apparently about twenty-three years of age; eyes dark and penetrating; a shade of mela

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THE SIREN.

THE SIREN.

The morning was one in May, the first of the month. All nature was smiling and putting forth, like the gay daughters of earth, her ever-beauteous charms. I had just returned from a long ramble in the country, and reluctantly seated myself at the window to distribute the thoughts, the opinions, the love, the hatred, the wisdom, and the follies of mankind through the medium of letters. Passing over several commonplace, every-day applicants, I was at last struck with the interesting appearance of a

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ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

We had written this portion of our work with feelings of gratitude to the brave men who achieved the glorious victory over the rebellious armies of the South, and looked forward to the time when Abraham Lincoln in triumph could repeat his words, uttered long before the surrender of Lee’s army: “ When the rebellion is crushed, my work is done. ” That work was done, and four millions of people were rescued from slavery; not alone from the fact of any determined opposition to the institution as it

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