The Sun.
London, England, 1823-04-08 00:00:00

POSTING.

To the Editor of the Balls Herald.
SlR—Observing a letter addressed to the Editor of the
Worcester Journal of March 13th, signed DEE it II U T re-
specting the price of Posting, I am called upon to make a plain
statement of facts, which I am ready not only to verify
on oath, but to bring vouchers sufficient to convince the
most incredulous. I am an innkeeper, and live between
London and Worcester; I keep, for the accommodation of
the public, twenty pair of post-horses. I have carefully as-
certained their earnings, and the expences attending them,
for the last twelve months, and will furnish you with a state-
ment of debtor and creditor, and leave it to your judgment
how I can, in justice to my family, let post-horses at less
than 15d. per mile. As I before stated, I keep twenty pair
of post-horses ; it may be said, why keep so many ? My
answer to this is, the demand in some seasons is for more than
I keep, and often I have been upbraided with neglect in keep-
ing a carriage waiting the return of horses ; but this has
been but seldom—it is a sufficient reason why more stock is
necessary. I have taken the average of my last year's re-
ccipts and disbursements, and have discovered a positive loss of
461* 6s. at MI. per mile ; bad debts are not included in this
loss of 91. per week. Suppose, where 20 pair of post-horses
are kept, that half of them (11) pair) are engaged every day,
and that they go 15 miles a-day out, they will earn, at led.
per mile, 65/. 12s. 6d. per week. This is supposed good
business for a post-master to have half his stock at work
every day, a thing hardly to be remembered ; but suppose
they are, as 1 have before stated, and go fifteen out 4 they
have fifteen miles to return, being as much work as post.
horses can stand to continue. The following are the ex.
peaces attending this undertaking :—The keep of each horse,
at a moderate calculation, is 175., being for twenty pair
341. per week ; 131. 2s. 6d. is. paid for Government Post.lfarse
Duty ; expences attending baiting from home, N. bs. per w..,ek ;
for shoeing and physic, at Is. bd. each horse, 31. per week : As.
si tied Taxes for 8 chaises, bLiler week ; wear and tear, and keep.
ing up stock of horses, 51. per week; coach-maker's bill for wear
and tear of carriages, 31. 16s. per week ; expences for keep of
yost-boys in bringing jobs to the house, M. 12s. per week ; mak -
ing a sum total of 741. 15s. tai. If lam to continue, to Its:
as much as 1 did last year the sooner I decline the Post-
ing the better for my family. To the • above loss of 01.
Ter week, I have refrained mentioning that every servant
?acting post-horses, makes a demand for a glass of liquor ;
and, if the account is paid yearly, a further demand is ex-
lexted, called poundage, after giving a year or more's credit.
There have been many innkeepers, who having little to lose,
in order to gain, custom, have posted at Is. per mile; the
result by honest men was anticipated by the failure of four out
of six that started at that price ; the other two declare them-
selves to be on the brink of ruin. The fact is, if the post-mas-
ter is not paid a fair price for his work, a short time will disco,:
ver that none will be foolish..enough to continue the losing
business, and those that now complain without reason, mu `t
either use their own horses, or, remain at home.
A POST-MASTER.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday evan-
ing a very melancholy and fatal accident happened to a gentle.;
man in the neighbourhood of Dalkeith. While returning, to
that town from a visit to, a friend, near Gore Bridge, either
in riding through the fields to the turnpike road, or having
missed his way from the darkness of the night, the horse
started when at the mouth of a coal-pit, and by a sudden jerk,
the Gentleman fell forward, over the horse's head into the pit,
and was killed upon thespot. His !Indy was found the next tnorr
ing by the colliers, with part of thehorse's bridle in his hand. Be
has left a widow and four children to lament his untimely fate.
It is to be hoped that this melancholy circumstance will forcibly
point out the impropriety of leaving coal pits. open, in situations
where there may even be a possibility of accidents occurring
similar to the present truly distressing event.—( Edinlrir la
Courant, April 3.) _ _ _

About seven o'clock on Saturday evening, a
fellow of respectable appearance, who was ob-
served for some time looking in at the shop win-
dow of Mr. EDWARDS, watch-maker, 65, St.
John's-street, Clerkenwell, suddenly thrust his
hand in through a pane of the glass, and ran off
with a very valuable watch, which, from the
high price at which it was marked, it is sup-
posed he had selected from the rest. Mr. Ed-
wards had only a minute before gone into the
back parlour to wash his handA, when he was
nlarmed nt hearing a child he left in the shop to
cake care of it, give a fealini .renai, and the
noise of the glass break at the snow time ; be ran
into the street, calling out stop thief, but the
Villain effected his escape—it WON not quite dark
at the time. On returning into the shop, lw
found the child, from the effects of the fright, in
strong fits, and it remains dangerously