societies of letter-carriers,who bear to
and fro all the missives sent upon affairs
of trade or family interest from Chinaman
to Chinaman, in envelopes variously endorsed.
To show how the ordinary Chinese postal
business is conducted let us take one town,
Shanghai, the northern open port, for an
example. Of course the arrangements of the
office there can be described only as they
existed before the city of Shanghai fell into
the hands of the revolutionary party:

Outside the small east gate of Shanghai,
and in one of the most populous thoroughfares,
stand the offices of a letter and parcel
delivery company, called the Tienshun house.
It transmits letters through four postal lines,
connected with the first cities in the central
provinces, Kiangnan, Kiangsi, Honan, and
Chihkiang; indirectly also with the remote
country parts in those directions. Each of
these lines is served separately by its own
particular firm; but the junction of the four
at Shanghai is completed by the union of
these four firms in a general partnership,
limiting its own liabilities. Its mode of
working will be understood by following it
on any single line, say that which runs along
the coast of Chihkiang, and extends to the
N.E. corner of the Fokien province, a distance
of not quite seven hundred miles. There
are employed upon it sixteen postmen. The
names of these are written in large characters
upon a board hung up in the receiving house;
and most of them are partners in the business.
There are fixed days for the receipt of
letters on this line, making about twenty
post days in the month. For each post day
one man is nominated as carrier, and his
name is regularly advertised upon the "letter-
board", one day at least previous to his
departure. Expresses may be had on the other
days; and if possible, public notice of an
express is given, in order that the general
public may participate in its advantages.

The clerk who receives any letter posted at
the office, gives a receipt to the person
bringing it; he then places it upon a rack
till the hour comes for regular distribution
and assortment. Several "letter-receipts"
are in our hands; the following is a translation
of one given in exchange for a letter
addressed to Peking:-

       "30th Year of Taoukwang, 5th Moon.

"This is to certify that we have received from——
a letter, purporting to contain GOOD NEWS for dispatch
to and safe delivery at the city of Peking,— of which,
too, this paper is to be taken as a sufficient guarantee.
Postage paid." (The official seal.)

As to the cost of postage, if the parties are
well known, payment may be deferred until
the letter is delivered. But in general it is
required that at least half be paid at the
receiving house. The rates vary according to
distance as well as according to the contents
of the despatch. All envelopes of single or
double letters go under the head of "empty
letters," providing they enclose no coin. The
charge for a letter upon this line of seven
hundred miles, from the one terminus to the
other, is about five shillings and sixpence;
but as this was the charge made by a native
on a foreigner, it is probably above the honest
rate. The utmost caution is exercised in
admitting money enclosures of gold, silver, or
copper. Of these the carriers require special
notice at the receiving office, prior to the
exchange of duly stamped receipts. Failing
this, the company considers itself free from
responsibility in case of accident or loss. In
carrying all letters and packages properly
entered, the society engages to incur the
entire risk of loss and damage, except from
weather and (the most pressing of all risks
in China) robbers.

On the day of despatch, after the covers
have been examined, sorted, and marked
with the office stamp, the bag is made up and
entrusted to the custody of the messenger for
the day. He forthwith starts upon his journey,
which he pursues on foot or by boat, though
not at one half the average speed of the
English postboy seventy years ago, ''which
then was about three miles and a half per
hour." It is understood that the bearer
prosecutes his route uninterruptedly and
indefatigably, sparing no exertions, using
every means, and undaunted by obstacles,
until he shall reach his journey's end. He does
his mile and a half an hour, according to the
circular of one of these post-offices, "spreading
out the heavens overhead, carrying the moon,
shunning neither rain nor snow, labouring
with the sweat of his brow, and running with
all haste."

Most, if not all, establishments for posting
letters before being set on foot, have to apply
to the local authorities for sanction and
protection. Two separate post-offices were opened
at Soochow, the one in the year eighteen
hundred and fifty two, the other in eighteen
hundred and forty three; the former for
conveyance of letters to Nanking, the latter
running direct into the province of Honan.
The circulars of both of them begin in the
same strain: "We, the undersigned, during
—— month, applied to our local authorities
for their sanction and permission to open the
—— Post-Office. In compliance with our
petition, their worships have given orders,
forbidding any others assuming the same
designation as that of our firm, and granting
us the right of appeal in case of any violation
of our special privilege."

We annex the prospectus of one of the chief
offices in Soochow. It conveys letters to Canton,
a distance of one thousand three hundred miles.

CIRCULAR.—We, the undersigned, are humbly of
opinion that the sure, safe, and speedy delivery of
letters to and fro depends mainly on the punctuality
of the post. Of late, this important business having
been undertaken by really too many,—although the
greater part have been true to their word, yet not a
few have broken faith with the public. Now if it
indeed be deemed requisite to fix on days of departure