Foot-prints of a letter carrier; or, a history of the world's correspondece

IMPORTANT POSTAL TABLES. Some years ago, long before the postal system became the mighty engine of power that it is now, a Philadelphia postmaster, since gathered to his fathers, openly stated that no man should intrust a clerk in the post-office (his own office) with the knowledge that a letter posted contained money! How different is the English post-office in this respect from ours! There the employees are considered a part and portion of its national character, identified with it by all those ties which protection gives and justice sanctions. The government not only studies the present interest of all connected with the postal department, but amply provides for that of the future. (See p. 147.) Their confidence is not easily shaken; but like Othello, when they doubt, they prove; and on the proof there is no more but this:—Away at once! 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 country is ignorant of the history of our postal department, a knowledge of which would tend materially to strengthen that love of country which a state of ignorance naturally lessens. The post-office department should no longer be as a sealed book to the nation. Statement of Receipts and Expenditures of the Post-Office Department under Various Heads, and by States, for the Year ending June 30, 1862. States and Territories. Letter postage. Newspaper postage. Registered letters. Stamps sold. Total receipts. Compensation allowed postmasters. Maine $16,151 48 $15,143 32 $364 75 $174,250 15 $205,909 70 $87,437 05 New Hampshire 5,270 41 10,600 40 245 15 112,674 66 128,790 62 57,605 44 Vermont 5,040 02 13,210 71 107 80 111,001 79 129,360 32 62,723 43 Massachusetts 53,960 83 26,017 85 938 25 630,945 54 711,862 47 178,302 36 Rhode Island 4,597 27 3,138 61 124 00 71,259 82 79,119 70 18,723 46 Connecticut 10,360 68 16,560 24 200 55 199,995 04 227,116 51 78,643 49 New York 186,079 59 82,877 23 2,462 60 1,543,349 08 1,814,768 50 375,647 15 New Jersey 17,902 57 11,681 08 254 10 145,255 42 175,093 17 69,264 81 Pennsylvania 70,982 27 41,634 24 2,054 20 770,025 27 884,695 98 248,695 26 Delaware 1,782 20 2,265 95 50 95 26,431 57 30,530 67 10,867 93 Maryland 19,330 33 9,053 54 412 15 178,566 52 207,362 54 48,059 82 District of Columbia 8,113 23 3,295 38 714 85 220,399 83 232,523 29 4,974 33 Virginia 8,261 65 3,526 45 301 50 129,284 88 141,374 48 30,212 30 North Carolina 86 1 00 ... 1 17 3 03 1 37 South Carolina 693 54 16 68 31 25 8,734 47 9,475 94 1,173 96 Georgia ... ... ... ... ... ... Florida 224 29 238 44 27 10 3,702 27 4,192 10 2,181 17 Alabama ... ... ... ... ... ... Mississippi 768 82 45 39 2 10 2,598 46 3,414 77 571 74 Texas 410 41 303 63 3 25 3,774 49 4,491 78 1,568 48 Kentucky 10,853 71 10,413 86 225 36 156,383 79 177,876 71 56,134 80 Michigan 18,627 77 20,035 00 565 60 198,002 35 237,230 72 96,342 58 Wisconsin 20,500 74 21,160 79 706 15 200,304 73 242,672 41 92,140 83 Louisiana 413 88 12 50 1 55 1,063 97 1,491 90 164 83 Tennessee 346 25 294 67 9 65 13,242 05 13,892 62 1,722 39 Missouri 17,158 44 12,012 51 419 45 197,941 27 227,531 67 54,391 22 Illinois 35,528 66 40,921 73 1,516 90 512,537 84 590,505 13 192,517 25 Ohio 51,011 36 46,777 68 1,608 15 601,087 26 700,484 45 242,660 99 Indiana 30,056 54 28,366 16 720 55 258,659 00 317,802 25 133,765 80 Arkansas ... 46 ... 12 26 12 72 45 Iowa 12,736 41 18,866 91 444 60 151,436 63 183,484 55 80,201 30 California 24,430 64 9,869 93 402 55 218,540 19 253,243 31 48,672 41 Oregon 2,211 07 1,467 34 7 25 10,390 35 14,076 01 5,975 93 Minnesota 5,907 22 6,336 24 159 05 41,850 41 54,253 22 24,693 39 Kansas 1,842 71 2,348 60 44 25 26,236 61 30,472 17 13,592 51 Utah 1,436 81 174 49 2 40 1,348 58 2,962 28 1,597 13 Nebraska 843 61 1,023 34 9 35 7,876 64 9,752 94 4,846 26 Washington 1,013 85 258 66 2 45 2,017 39 3,292 35 1,852 25 New Mexico 240 54 95 00 95 1,246 42 1,582 91 815 24 Colorado 1,639 00 569 83 3 70 6,404 97 8,617 50 4,478 89 Dakota 569 76 72 23 50 817 40 1,459 89 810 78 Nevada 1,905 54 862 01 6 25 3,200 68 5,974 48 3,500 44 649,205 26 461,550 08 15,151 20 6,942,851 22 8,068,757 76 2,337,531 21 Deduct miscellan’s items. 1,297 20 745 22 1 85 32,719 33 34,763 60 ... Add miscellaneous 3,236 07 647,908 06 460,804 86 15,149 35 6,910,131 89 8,033,994 16 2,340,767 28 On acc’t of route ag’ts, mail messengers, special transportation, for’n mails, &c. Add receipts on account of emoluments, &c. Deduct excess of receipts. [Transcriber’s note: Table below is the right side of the table above, with first column repeated.] States and Territories. Incidental expenses of post-offices. Total compensation and incidental expenses. Amount of transportation certified to the Postmaster General for payment and credited to contractors. Total expenses. Excess of expenditures over receipts. Excess of receipts over expenditures. Maine $17,489 69 $104,926 74 $103,483 36 $208,410 00 $2,500 40 ... New Hampshire 5,118 38 62,723 82 53,929 30 116,653 12 ... $12,137 50 Vermont 1,344 44 64,067 87 73,958 60 138,027 47 8,666 15 ... Massachusetts 112,309 47 290,611 83 177,787 29 468,399 12 ... 213,463 35 Rhode Island 9,676 44 28,399 90 11,369 87 39,769 77 ... 39,349 93 Connecticut 17,295 78 95,939 27 82,471 38 178,410 65 ... 48,705 86 New York 323,254 45 698,901 60 479,342 89 1,178,244 49 ... 636,524 01 New Jersey 8,691 96 77,956 77 98,778 11 176,734 88 1,641 71 ... Pennsylvania 103,911 87 352,607 19 365,907 08 718,514 21 ... 166,181 77 Delaware 2,335 17 13,203 09 18,730 29 31,933 38 1,402 71 ... Maryland 34,410 10 82,469 92 232,202 13 314,672 05 107,309 51 ... District of Columbia 62,304 15 67,278 48 ... 67,278 48 ... 165,244 81 Virginia 19,062 42 49,274 72 53,319 09 102,593 81 ... 38,780 67 North Carolina ... 1 37 ... 1 37 ... 1 66 South Carolina ... 1,173 96 ... 1,173 96 ... 8,301 98 Georgia ... ... ... ... ... ... Florida 91 49 2,272 66 ... 2,272 66 ... 1,919 44 Alabama ... ... ... ... ... ... Mississippi 395 08 966 82 ... 966 82 ... 2,447 95 Texas 50 1,568 98 ... 1,568 98 ... 2,922 80 Kentucky 19,066 27 75,201 07 216,073 18 291,274 25 113,397 54 ... Michigan 23,322 77 119,665 35 187,149 80 306,815 15 69,584 43 ... Wisconsin 14,584 80 106,725 63 151,010 16 257,735 79 15,063 38 ... Louisiana 465 51 630 34 ... 630 34 ... 861 56 Tennessee 2,639 96 4,362 35 ... 4,362 35 ... 9,530 27 Missouri 42,601 09 96,992 31 1,340,613 47 1,437,605 78 1,210,074 11 ... Illinois 90,703 04 283,220 29 386,610 669,830 50 79,325 37 ... Ohio 35,636 32 328,297 31 558,771 56 887,068 87 186,584 42 ... Indiana 18,836 84 152,602 64 283,193 46 435,796 10 117,993 85 ... Arkansas ... 45 1,089 29 1,089 74 1,077 02 ... Iowa 13,272 81 93,474 11 204,283 26 297,757 37 114,272 82 ... California 35,259 26 83,931 67 297,072 52 381,004 19 127,760 88 ... Oregon 67 37 6,043 30 23,474 00 29,517 30 15,441 29 ... Minnesota 2,860 03 27,553 42 123,278 10 150,831 52 96,578 30 ... Kansas 790 06 14,382 57 73,703 60 88,086 17 57,614 00 ... Utah 39 87 1,637 00 17,226 00 18,863 00 15,900 72 ... Nebraska 88 71 4,934 97 51,904 37 56,839 34 47,086 40 ... Washington 6 84 1,859 09 32,685 45 34,544 54 31,252 19 ... New Mexico ... 815 24 19,825 14 20,640 38 19,057 47 ... Colorado 124 76 4,603 65 1,327 60 5,931 25 ... 2,686 25 Dakota 8 75 819 53 ... 819 53 ... 640 36 Nevada 59 93 3,560 37 ... 3,560 37 ... 2,414 11 1,068,126 38 3,405,656 59 5,720,570 56 9,126,228 15 2,439,584 67 1,382,114 28 Deduct miscellan’s items. Add miscellaneous items 3,236 07 65,143 61 103,143 28 103,143 28 1,068,126 38 3,408,893 66 5,785,714 17 9,229,371 43 2,542,727 95 1,382,114 28 On acc’t of route ag’ts, mail messengers, special transportation, for’n mails, &c. 1,207,899 58 6,993,613 75 Add receipts on account of emoluments, &c. 265,826 74 Deduct excess of receipts. 1,647,941 02 1,647,941 02 894,786 93 Note. —The following items of revenue are not embraced in the above statement, viz.: Receipts on account of emoluments $93,842 25 Receipts on account of letter-carriers 167,662 16 Receipts on account of fines 1,455 00 Receipts on account of dead letters 1,052 51 Miscellaneous receipts 1,814 82 Total 265,826 74 Excess of expenditures over receipts $894,786 93 Add amount paid for foreign mails and expenses of government mail agents $405,249 22 Route agents 274,081 30 Supply of special offices and mail messengers 238,916 10 Ship, steamboat, and way-letters 6,860 11 Letter-carriers’ fees 167,662 16 Dead-letter money refunded ... Amounts allowed and paid to Department, viz.: Interest to contractors, under Act of February 15, 1860 400 36 Amount carried forward $1,093,169 25 $894,786 93 Amount brought forward $1,093,169 25 $894,786 93 Wrapping paper 18,179 70 Office furniture 213 31 Advertising 24,120 73 Mail bags 47,902 35 Blanks 89,557 44 Mail locks, keys, and stamps 16,690 00 Mail depredations and special agents 48,320 06 Clerks for offices 14,697 63 Postage stamps and stamped envelopes 93,291 04 Miscellaneous payments 27,723 43 Foreign postage collected and returned to foreign governments 167,238 40 1,641,103 34 Total excess of expenditures over receipts $2,535,890 27 Add difference between accrued and paid transportation 289,652 96 Add amount charged to “bad debts” and “suspense” accounts 601 12 Total amount $2,826,144 35 The aggregate receipts for 1863 were $11,163,789 59 ”         ” expenditures for 1863 were 11,314,206 84 Deficiency $150,417 25 Number of Post-Offices, Extent of Post-Routes, and Revenue and Expenditures of the Post-Office Department; with the Amount paid to Postmasters and for Transportation of the Mail, since 1790. Year. No. of Post- Offices. Extent of Post-Routes in Miles. Revenue of the Department. Expenditures of the Department. Amount paid for Compen. of Postmasters. Transport'n of the Mail. 1790 75 1,875 $37,935 $32,140 $8,198 $22,081 1795 453 13,207 160,620 117,893 30,272 75,359 1800 903 20,817 280,804 213,994 69,243 128,644 1805 1,558 31,076 421,373 377,367 111,552 239,635 1810 2,300 36,406 551,684 495,969 149,438 327,966 1815 3,000 43,748 1,043,065 748,121 241,901 487,779 1816 3,260 48,673 961,782 804,422 265,944 521,970 1817 3,459 52,089 1,002,973 916,515 303,916 589,189 1818 3,618 59,473 1,130,235 1,035,832 346,429 664,611 1819 4,000 67,586 1,204,737 1,117,861 375,828 717,881 1820 4,500 72,492 1,111,927 1,160,926 352,295 782,425 1821 4,650 78,808 1,059,087 1,184,283 337,599 815,681 1822 4,709 82,763 1,117,490 1,167,572 355,299 788,618 1823 5,043 84,860 1,130,115 1,156,995 360,462 767,464 1824 5,182 84,860 1,197,758 1,188,019 383,804 768,939 1825 5,677 94,052 1,306,525 1,229,043 411,183 785,646 1826 6,150 94,052 1,447,703 1,366,712 447,727 885,100 1827 7,003 105,336 1,524,633 1,468,959 486,411 942,335 1828 7,530 105,336 1,659,915 1,689,945 548,049 1,086,313 1829 8,004 115,000 1,707,418 1,782,132 559,237 1,153,646 1830 8,450 115,176 1,850,583 1,932,708 595,234 1,274,009 1831 8,686 115,486 1,997,811 1,936,122 635,028 1,252,226 1832 9,205 104,466 2,258,570 2,266,171 715,481 1,482,507 1833 10,127 119,916 2,617,011 2,930,414 826,283 1,894,638 1834 10,693 119,916 2,823,749 2,910,605 897,317 1,925,544 1835 10,770 112,774 2,993,356 2,757,350 945,418 1,719,007 1836 11,091 118,264 3,408,323 3,841,766 812,804 1,638,052 1837 11,767 141,242 4,236,779 3,544,630 891,353 1,996,727 1838 12,519 134,818 4,238,733 4,430,662 933,948 3,131,308 1839 12,780 133,999 4,484,657 4,636,536 980,000 3,285,622 1840 13,468 155,739 4,543,522 4,718,236 1,028,925 3,296,876 1841 13,778 155,026 4,407,726 4,499,528 1,018,645 3,159,375 1842 13,733 149,732 4,546,849 5,674,752 1,147,256 3,087,796 1843 13,814 142,295 4,296,225 4,374,754 1,426,394 2,947,319 1844 14,103 144,687 4,237,288 4,296,513 1,358,316 2,938,551 1845 14,183 143,940 4,289,841 4,320,732 1,409,875 2,905,504 *1846 14,601 152,865 3,487,199 4,084,297 1,042,079 2,716,673 *1847 15,146 153,818 3,955,893 3,979,570 1,060,228 2,476,455 *1848 16,159 163,208 4,371,077 4,346,850 2,394,703 *1849 16,749 163,703 4,905,176 4,479,049 1,320,921 2,577,407 *1850 18,417 178,672 5,552,971 5,212,953 1,549,376 2,965,786 *1851 19,796 196,290 6,727,867 6,278,402 1,781,686 3,538,064 *1852 20,901 214,284 6,925,971 7,108,459 1,296,765 4,225,311 *1853 22,320 217,743 5,940,725 7,982,957 1,406,477 4,906,308 *1854 23,548 219,935 6,955,586 8,577,424 1,707,708 5,401,382 *1855 24,410 227,908 7,342,136 9,968,342 2,135,335 6,076,335 *1856 25,565 239,642 7,620,822 10,405,286 2,102,891 6,765,639 *1857 26,586 242,601 8,053,952 11,508,058 2,285,610 7,239,333 *1858 27,977 260,603 8,186,793 12,722,470 2,355,016 8,246,054 *1859 28,539 260,052 8,668,484 15,754,093 2,453,901 7,157,629 *1860 28,498 240,594 8,518,067 19,170,600 2,552,868 14,281,655 *1861 28,586 140,399 8,349,296 13,606,759 2,514,157 9,173,274 *1862 28,875 134,013 8,299,820 11,125,364 2,340,767 6,993,613 47 *1863 29,047 139,598 11,163,789 11,314,206 2,876,983 6,541,580 Comparative Statement of the Value of Stamps and Stamped Envelopes issued during the Three Years 1860-61-62. Years. Stamps. Envelopes. Total. 1860 $5,920,939 00 $949,377 19 $6,870,316 19 1861 5,908,522 60 781,711 13 6,690,233 73 1862 7,078,188 00 756,904 00 7,835,092 00 Increase over the issue of 1860 $964,775 81 Increase over the issue of 1861 1,144,858 27 Statement showing Postal Revenue and Expenditures of the United States, in toto and per capita, according to Population, at Eight Successive Decades, from 1790 to 1863, inclusive. Years. Revenue. Expenditures. Population. Revenue per capita Expenditures per capita 1790 $37,935 $32,140 3,929,827 9/10 of a cent. 8/10 of a cent. 1800 280,804 213,994 5,305,925 5-3/10 cents. 4      cents. 1810 551,684 495,969 7,239,814 7-6/10   ” 6-8/10   ” 1820 1,111,927 1,160,926 9,638,131 11-1/2    ” 12         ” 1830 1,919,300 1,959,109 12,866,020 14-9/10  ” 15-2/10  ” 1840 4,543,522 4,718,236 17,069,453 26-6/10  ” 27-6/10  ” 1850 5,499,985 5,212,953 23,191,876 23-7/10  ” 22-1/2    ” 1851 6,410,604 6,278,402 23,873,717 26-9/10  ” 26-3/10  ” 1852 5,184,527 7,108,459 24,575,604 21-1/10  ” 28-9/10  ” 1853 5,240,725 7,982,756 25,298,126 20-7/10  ” 31-1/10  ” 1854 6,255,586 8,577,424 26,041,890 24          ” 32-9/10  ” 1855 6,642,136 9,968,342 26,807,521 24-8/10  ” 37-2/10  ” 1856 6,920,822 10,405,286 27,595,662 25          ” 37-7/10  ” 1857 7,353,952 11,508,058 28,406,974 25-9/10  ” 40-1/2    ” 1858 7,486,793 15,754,093 30,101,857 26-1/2    ” 52-3/10  ” 1860 8,518,067 14,874,601 31,445,089 27-1/10  ” 47-3/10  ” 1861 8,349,296 13,606,759 32,577,112 25-6/10  ” 41-8/10  ” 1862 8,299,821 11,125,364 33,749,888 24-6/10  ” 33          ” 1863 11,163,790 11,314,207 34,762,384 32-4/10  ” 32-9/10  ” Note. —The population from 1851 to 1863, excepting the year 1860, is estimated by the standard ratio of increase. 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, 25 cents. Act of 2d March, 1799. Rates for a single-sheet letter,—40 miles or under, 8 cents; 40 to 90 miles, 10 cents; 90 to 150 miles, 12-1/2 cents; 150 to 300 miles, 17 cents; 300 to 500 miles, 20 cents; over 500 miles, 25 cents. The revenue act of 23d December, 1814, added 50 per cent. to the rates last above; but the addition was repealed February 1, 1816, which restored the rates of 1799. Act of April 9, 1816. Rates for a single-sheet letter,—30 miles or under, 6 cents; 30 to 80 miles, 10 cents; 80 to 150 miles, 12-1/2 cents; 150 to 400 miles, 18-1/2 cents; over 400 miles, 25 cents. Act of 3d March, 1845. Rates for a single-sheet letter,—300 miles or under, 5 cents; over 300 miles, 10 cents. Act of 3d March, 1851. Rates for a half-ounce letter,—3000 miles or under, if prepaid, 3 cents, if unpaid, 5 cents; over 3000 miles, double. Act of 3d March, 1855. Rates for a half-ounce letter,—3000 miles or under, 3 cents; over 3000 miles, 10 cents. Under this act prepayment was not compulsory, and after January, 1856, prepayment by stamps was required. [The issue of postage-stamps was first authorized by an act of 3d March, 1847, and subsequently by the act of 3d March, 1851.] Act of 3d March, 1863. Rate for half-ounce letter, 3 cents everywhere throughout the United States. 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 rate of postage on all domestic mail-letters throughout the United States is three cents per half-ounce, with an additional rate of three cents for each additional half-ounce or fraction of a half-ounce. The former ten-cent (Pacific) rate is abolished. NEWSPAPER POSTAGE. Postage on Daily Papers to subscribers when prepaid quarterly or yearly in advance, either at the mailing-office or office of delivery, per quarter (three months) 35 cts. Six times per week, ” ” 30 ” For Tri-Weekly, ” ” 15 ” For Semi-Weekly, ” ” 10 ” For Weekly, ” ” 5 ” 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: Semi-monthly, not over 4 oz. 6 cts. ” over 4 oz. and not over 8 oz. 12  ” ” over 8 oz. and not over 12 oz. 18  ” Monthly, not over 4 oz. 3  ” ” over 4 oz. and not over 8 oz. 6  ” ” over 8 oz. and not over 12 oz. 9  ” Quarterly, not over 4 oz. 1  ” ” over 4 oz. and not over 8 oz. 2  ” ” over 8 oz. and not over 12 oz. 3  ” 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 send to each actual subscriber, enclosed in their publications, bills and receipts for the same, free of postage. They may also state on their respective publications the date when the subscription expires, to be written or printed. Religious, educational, and agricultural newspapers of small size, issued less frequently than once a week, may be sent in packages to one address at the rate of one cent for each package not exceeding four ounces in weight, and an additional charge of one cent is made for each additional four ounces or fraction thereof, the postage to be paid quarterly or yearly in advance. Newsdealers may send newspapers and periodicals to regular subscribers at the quarterly rates, in the same manner as publishers, and may also receive them from publishers at subscribers’ rates. In both cases the postage to be prepaid, either at the mailing- or delivery-office. Publications issued without disclosing the office of publication, or containing a fictitious statement thereof, must not be forwarded by postmasters unless prepaid at the mailing-office at the rates of transient printed matter. A letter over 500 miles cost thirty-seven and one-half cents in 1815; now it is carried to the extreme portion of our country, traversing mountains, passing deep ravines and rivers, for the small sum of three cents! Harpers’ Magazine, had it been in existence in 1815, would have cost for each one twenty-seven cents, whereas now they only cost three cents to all parts of the country. What an age for literature! what an era in learning! In 1779, in consequence of the increased nature of the postal business and the necessity for a more extended ramification of the system, the postmaster-general was to receive $5000 per annum, and the comptroller $4000,—meaning, of course, Continental money. Besides these two offices in the postal department, there was a secretary who acted as clerk to the postmaster-general. The comptroller settled the accounts, and was the book-keeper. There were three surveyors, who were to travel and inspect the conduct of the riders, agents, &c. There was also an inspector of dead letters, at a salary of $100 a year. What is now called the post-office department was established in 1789 as the “post-office,” and subsequently as the “general post-office,” under the power given to Congress by the Constitution “to establish post-offices and post-roads,” and the exclusive privilege and control of all postal affairs, &c. 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. That its business may be the more conveniently arranged and prepared for its final action, it is distributed among several bureaus, as follows:—the Appointment-Office, in charge of the First Assistant Postmaster-General; the Contract-Office, in charge of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General; the Finance-Office, in charge of the Third Assistant Postmaster-General; and the Inspection-Office, in charge of the Chief Clerk. The duties of the several departments named above are thus defined:— The postmaster-general “is further directed to superintend the business of the department in all the duties that are or may be assigned to it, and he is required once in three months to render to the Secretary of the Treasury an account of all the receipts and expenditures in the department, to be adjusted and settled as other accounts.” The postmaster-general may establish post-offices and appoint postmasters on the post-roads which are or may be authorized by law, at all such places as to him may appear expedient. He regulates the number of times the mail shall go from place to place, and he is authorized to contract for carrying the mail, and to establish post-roads. 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 baggage-masters in charge of mails; of the foreign mail transportation and foreign correspondence; together with some other miscellaneous duties. 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. 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. 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 post-office. We have already alluded to the fact of its being considered by many as a “mere workshop” of the general department, and whose operations are simply mechanical; but our readers ere this have been undeceived as regards such a construction, and it must loom up before them a prominent intellectual branch of our government. That England has a high estimate of her post-office department is evident from the encouragement given to every one connected with it, and sustaining alike its literary character in historic publications. We make the following extract from a recent work entitled “Her Majesty’s Mails”:— “There is no postal service in the world so well managed as that of Great Britain. It is now not merely a self-supporting but a productive institution; whereas there was a deficiency of half a million in the post-office of America before the rupture between North and South. Though America for ninety years has been, next to England, the most commercial country in the world, yet, compared with the population, five times as many letters pass through the English post as through the American. London and its suburbs alone, with its less than three millions of inhabitants, sends forth a greater number of letters than the whole of America. “The next best-managed post-office to our own is that of France; but in France, by the law of 1856, there are five different tariffs of postages. Judged by the revenue produced, the English post-office, notwithstanding its low rate of charges, stands first. “The Austrian post-office produces a revenue of 3,714,200 florins, or £378,000; the Belgian, 2,960,000 francs; the French, 66,452,000 francs; and the English, £3,800,000; being more than a quarter of a million beyond the proceeds of 1862. “A comparison of the year 1839—the year immediately preceding the penny postage—with the year 1861 gives these results: An increase nearly eightfold in the chargeable letters; a threefold increase in the receptacles for letters; a fortyfold increase in the number of money-orders; a fiftyfold increase in the amount of money-orders; and an increase of the gross revenue in round numbers from £2,390,000 to £3,402,000. The amount of the correspondence of a country will measure, with some approach towards accuracy, as Mr. Matthew Hill says, the height which a people has reached in true civilization. The town of Manchester equals in its number of letters the Empire of all the Russias both in Europe and Asia; and this fact we owe, as many of the marvels we have stated, to Sir Rowland Hill. The poor and the lowly, the domestic servant and the humble artisan, can now correspond with each other from one end of the kingdom to the other at the trifling expense of 1 d. ; and for this civilizing, Christianizing, and eminently social good we are indebted to a late post-office secretary, whose merits have been recognized, but who cannot be overpaid in money or money’s worth. As Lord Palmerston said on the 10th of June, Sir R. Hill showed, in relation to the post-office, great genius, sagacity, perseverance, and industry, and he was the first to prove that the department was a public institution for the performance of services, rather than for the collection of revenue. If, as the first minister of the crown stated, and as we believe, the cultivation of the affections raises men in their own estimation, improves their morals, and develops their social qualities, Sir R. Hill has been amongst the greatest benefactors of the human race, and he well deserves the vote that was agreed to on the 10th of June without a dissenting voice.”

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