The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-31 00:00:00

RAILWAY POST-Orr:CEA.

On the 30th June last there were in operation 37 lines of
railway post-offices, 'extending in the aggregate over
7,201 miles of railroad and steamboat lines —being an in-
crease of three lines and 182 miles of service over the
year 1868. The number of clerks employed during the
last year was 324, at an annual cost of $384,300. During
the previous year the number of clerks employed was
297, and the amountjixpended in compensatio, $329,700.
No increase was made during the last year in the twice-
daily service, except by interchangeable podthes between
the principal post-office and between the several lines.
The railway post-office, by reason of the additional facili-
ties it affords in mailing important letters up to the mo-
ment of the departure of the trains, and in receiving,
assorting, and distributing the mails daring their transit,
thus saving many hours, and in some instances days. in
the communication between important points, has be-
come an essential part of the service. It is, in fact, indis-
pensable, and, as the population and wealth of the coun-
try shall increase, it will be necessary to extend it to keep
pace with the wants and demands of the people.
A list of railway post-office lines in operation on the
30th June, 1869, is appended hereto.
FOREIGN MAIL SERVICE.

The total nuinberofLiters passing between the United
States and foreign countries (Canada excepted) during
the last year was 12,596,654, of which 6,638,858, were sent
from, and. 5,957,796 received in the United States. The
increase over the number exchanged in 1868 is 1,468,122.
Estimating the number exchanged with the Dominion of
Canada, of which no accurate account is reported, at
3,000,000, the whole number of letters exchanged in the
mails with foreign countries exceeded 15,500,000. The
total postages on letters exchanged with foreign countries
estimating the postage on letters to and from Canada at
$350,000, amounted to $2,014,18315.
The aggregate amount of postage, inland, sea, and
foreign, upon the letter correspondence exchanged with
Great Britain and other European countries during the
year 1869, was $1,503,773 05, being $202,694 71 less than
the postage receipts of the previous fiscal year. The
number of .letters (single rates) exchanged in the mails
with the saine. countries was 11,428,551, an increase of
1,358,892 over the number exchanged in the previous
year. Notwithstanding recent reductions of postage to
all the countries of Europe, except France, amounting in
most instances to 50 per cent., the increased correspond-
ence has produced a revenue only 12 per cent. less than
that derived from the higher rates of the preceding year.
The postages upon letters sent to European countries
exceeded the postages upon letters received from Europe
in the sum of $14,968 13, the excess of letters sent being
about six per cent. This very small excess of postage on
correspondence sent over that on correspondence re-
ceived is a convincing argument in favour of simplifying
our postal arrangements with other countries by dispens-
ing with the present complicated and expensive interna-
tional postage accounts. This can be readily accomplished
by adopting the rule of compulsory prepayment of post-
age, and by :providing (upon the general principle, now
well established, that every letter brings a reply) that the
postages collected on all the international correspondence
shall belong wholly to the despatcling office; that no
charge whatever shall be made at the office of destination
in the country wherein the correspondence may be deli-
vered ; and that in all cases the dispatching otlice shall
defray the expense of intermediate transmission. The
inconsiderable pecuniiry disadvantages which might re-
sult to either poet department under the practical working
of such a system would be more than compensated by the
conveuieuce of the arrangement and the ahilhion of in-
tricate and vexatious accounts This principle has
already been adopted in the conventions with some of
the countries with which the United Sitees has direct
postal relation?, end it is hoped that the p ,st depal talents
of others will also see the propriety of adep;ing it, a$ a
means of simplit)ing and pi ontotiug international postal
exchanges.
The excess of collections in the Ut.ited States over the
pes!ages collected in Europe upon the letter cerrespond-
olctQeidtii r
u ° this
ence exchanged with OYat Britain, the North German
Union, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switz !Hand,
and Italy, was 8374,944 85, 62 per cent. of
collected
thel .t
ternational postage charges having been
country. This result is owing, mainly. to a failure to pre-
pay postages abroad. The excess of like
\collectioelslillu,vry
ing the previous year S 5474,020 30.. 'rhea.) excessive
collections of postage in the United States cans:,
balances against this department on settlement of the
quarterly accounts with the respective fofrign post de-
payments. Dur:ng the last fist:al year the aggregate of
such balances amounted to 518.""..;385 07.

The t.-allisliip lines employed by this denarlineht
ie
the transpottSiou of the mails t, G•vat Britain tv;(1 the
Continent of Europe performed four weekly services from
Quebec in summer end Portland in winter, and three out-

ward trips from Baltimore, receiving tit COmpensaticti
sea postages on the mails conveyed.
The earnings of the respective lines amounted RI di&
sum of $336,20749, as follows:
The North German Lloyd line, for 52 trips
from New York to Southampton
The Cunard line, for 52 trips from New York
to Queenstown
The Hamburg-American Packet Company ,
for 52 trips to Southampton, &c. (estimated
fourth quarter at $20,000)
The Inman line, for 52 trips from New York
to Queenstown
The Canadian line for 52 trips to Liverpool 5,750 03
The Baltimore and Liverpool StcamshipCom-
pany for three trips from Baltimore to Li-
verpool 4l 25

&faking a total of • $336,207 49
The cost of the United States transatlantic mail steam-
ship service fur the fiscal year 1867 was 8551,3 38 01 ; and
for the year 1868, $421,774 44 - the reduced rates of sea
postage established by the present postal convention with
Great B, Hain having been iu operation -during the last
six months of the year 1868.
The United States postages on the mails conveyed to
and from the West Indies amounted to $88,984 21, and the
coma ensatiun paid for their transportation was $69,862 09.
Tim re was also paid to the owners of steamships con-
veying mails to and from Central America, Nova Scotia,
Jte. r the provisions of the general law limiting the
compensation to the postages, the sum of $12,272 20,
making an aggregate expenditure for ocean mail trans-
portation under thb general law of $x18,:'.4178. Adding
the special appropriations for the mail steamship service
to Japan and China, to Brazil, and to the Hawaiian
Islands, which amount to $725,000, the total cost of the
United States ocean mail service for the year 1869 was
$1,143,341 78. The tabular statements iu the appendix
furnish detailed information of the operations of the
foreign mail service during the year.
Tho appointments of Government agents in charge of
the United States mails on hoard of the mail steamers
plying between San Francisco, Japan, and China, and
between San Francisco and Honolulu, were revoked is
the month of April last, and notice was given to the
respective steamship companies that thenceforth they
would be required to securely transport and safely de-
liver the mails at each terminal and intermediate port
according to the stipulations of their contracts. As the
employment of mail agents on board of these steamers
appeared to be of little practical benefit, I considered it
my duty to discontinue their services. The duties which
they discharged are now performed without charge by the
pursers of the steamers.

Propositions have been made to this department by
parties representing as responsible and experiencAd in
ocean steam navigation to contract for the conveyance of
the United States mails to European ports by American
steamships of the first class and of equal speed to the
faStegt steamers now carrying the mails, at a compensa-
tion limited to the amount'of sea portages, upon condition
.that the department should bind itself for a long term of
years, subject to the'approval of Congress; and some have
offered in this connection to fix the rate of sea postage at
two "cents per half ounce. But as the general law relating
to contracts for carrying the mails on the seas expressly
limits the authority of the department to a term not ex-
ceeding.two yeats, I have declined all proposals to con-
tract fora longer time, not desiring in any manner to fore-
stall the action of Congress upon a subject of so much im-
portance.

- If it be possible, I should greatly prefer sack legislation
by Congress as would so far revive and encourage our own
shipbuilding interests as to enable American builders and
mechanics to tinter into active competition in the con-
struction and equipment of steam vessels with the builders
and mechanics of other countries. If, however, it should
be decided that this cannot be done, then I would respect-
fully suggest the propriety of so modifying our navigation
laws as to authorise the issuing of American registers to
such foreign-built steamers as may be purchased and em-
ployed by citizens of the United States under contracts
with this department in the transportation of our foreign

The present postal convention between the United
States and France was concluded on March 2, 1857. It
establishes a combined rate of international postage at 15
cents per quarter ounce, equal to 30 cents per halt ounce,
a higher rate than is charged upon correspondence be-
tween the United States and any other civilized nation
with which we are in direct communication. it is iueom-
plete in that it makes no provision for the exchange of
mailable articles other than letters. It adopts au excep-
tional standard weight of one-quarter ounce for the single
rate of letters, differing from the uniform standard of one-
half ounce
,established with all other countries. The
postage charge for letters is exorbitantly high, compared
with the cheaper rates recently adopted with all ether
countries of Europ. In its details and practical operation
it is very unequal, giving unfair advantages to the French
post department, and fails utterly to meet the advanced
opinions of the times in regard to international postal in-
tercourse, and to afford the public benefits that postal
conventions are intended to secure.

The necessity of at revision of this convention on a
more liberal basis was made known to the general post
department of Franco in December, 1866 ; and on the 4th
of February, 1867, official intelligence was communicated
by the French Minister, M. Berthemy, through the "De-
partment of State, that the Government of the Emperor
was also of the belief that a new convention would be
of advantage to the two countries, accompanied with
the request that a special delegate or employd of the
American post-office should be sent to Paris with com-
plet3 instructions to confer with the Director General
of the French Posts upon the conditions of agreement
between the two post olepartinents. This invitation
was promptly accepted, and the Hon. John A. Kasson
was appointed on the sth of April, 1867, a special com-
missioner on behalf of this Department to proceed to Paris,
and there negotiate and arrange the conditions of a more
liberal postal convention, subject to the appro.al of the
Postmaster-General of the United States. Mr. Kasson
left immediately for Paris, and entered upon the nego-
tiations intrusted to him. He remained in that city
several months, labouring faithfully and perseveringly to
accoinp:ish the object of his mission, but failed to obtain
any amelioration of our postal relations with France,
slitiough he succeeded, during the same visit to Europe,
in negotiating liberal postal conventions, establishing
greatly reduced postage rates with Great B itain, the
North German Union, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzer-
land, and Italy.
The apparent unwillingness of the Frerch post depart-
ment to modity the provisions of the present convention
iu conforinity with the more liberal principles adopted
in our postal intercourse with other countries of Europe
induced my p edocessor' on the Bth of January, 1868, to
give the rept:l'4A notice to terminate that convention on
the Ist of February. 1869, and at the same time to request
the French post department to send an agent to Wash-
ington authorize 1 to enter upon the ntg)tiation of a
new convention. This invitation was dtclined by the
French Administration. Afterward, on the application
of the French office, the deration of the convention was
prolonged until the Ist of April, 1865.
Soon after assuming charge of the department, I
learned that no progress had been made in adjusting the
basis of a new convention, and that, unless a second ex-
tension could be had, the subsisting convention would
expire before any further action could be taken for its
reformation. Impelled by an earnest desire to maintain
our direct postal relations with France on an improved
basis of liberality, mutually advantageous t • the public
of both countries, I proposed to the French office, under
date of 10th March, to further prolong the duration of
the present convention until Ist January, 18.0. A letter
from the French Director-General of Posts, dated 3d
March, making the same proposition, crossed my own in
transit, and was received at this department on the 14th
of the same month. A second extension having been
thus effected, I immediately reopened negotiations.
Being fully satisfied, from an exchange of letters, that
there was• no prospect of harmonizing the conflicting
views and propositions of the two departments through
the ordinary medium of epistolary correspondence, I
decided to make another effort to adjust the points of
disagreement by direct personal negotiations at Paris.
I very fortunately had it in my power to avail myself of
the services of the Hon. Alexander Ramsey, Chairman
of the Senate Committee ois Post-Offices and Post-Roads,
who, at my solicitation, consented to undertake these
difficult negotiations. He was accordingly designated a
special commissioner on behalf of this department to
negotiate with the General Post-Office at Paris the basis
of a new postal convention with France.
Gov. Ramsey arrived in Paris on the 23d July, 1869,
and immediately entered upon the important duths' in-
trusted to him. Since that date several proposals and
counter proposals have been submitted and considered,
personal interviews had with the French Director-Ge-
neral of Posts and the Minister of Finance, for mutual
interchange of opinions and explanations, and yet no
progress has been made toward the conclusion of a new
convention, on account of the persistent adherence of the
French postal administration to impossible propositions
and conditions, so illiberal and unjust toward the United
States that considerations of national self-respect would
alone forbid their acceptance by this department. The
negotiations of Gov. Ramsey at Paris, which have been
conducted with great ability, patience, and perseverance
on his part, have, I regret to state, been terminated, after
three months' eforts, without any reasonable hope of an
agreement on the leading provisions of the proposed new
arrangement; and it seems probable, therefore, that our
direct postal relations with France will cease on the Ist of
Jauttary neat.

Mattoon, the New York State Legislator, who
confessed in Court to having used his legislative knbw-
ledge in stock speculations, the Age delicately remarks, is
being "interviewed" by the New York Supreme Court.
That gentleman sold his influence as a State Senator to a
stock speculator for half the profits, but unfortunately for
him the result was a loss, and the other sued him for half
the deficit. On the stand Mattoon testified to offering
official information for a share of profits, knowing that he
was dealing with a gambler, the mere keeper of a faro
bank, named S. P. White, who, in consequence of the
Senator's information, purchased heavily in Etie, whereby
he lost more than 86,000. White was introduced to Mat•
toon by a lobbyist named Jones as a good couple to run
together. Writing to White, he alludes to Jay Gould and
his black bag. The Erie clique have developed a vast
amount cf rascality, and it. is not the least surprising that
Mattoon, Republican State Senator of New York, after
giving the above testimony on his conduct as if it had
been quite correct, should have declined to answer further
questions of the plaintiff's attorney, as it might degrade
him. Much curiosity is expressed to know what further
disclosures could degrade a man so placed.
LADVERTISEMENT.f—Henceforth no one will doubt the valuable
properties _of Du Barry's health-restoring Revalenta Arabic&
Invalids and Infants' Food, since •to the thousands of blessing,
it has already received from Invalids whose position had been
deemed hopeless, we may
now add that of his Holiness the Pope,
whore health has been perfectly restored by it after thirty years of
nuauccessful medical treatment. We quote from the "Gazette du
Midi," July 25th :—" Rome, July 21, 1866. The health of the Holy
Father is excellent, especially since, abandoning all other reme-
dies, he has confined himself entirely to Du Barry's Revalenta,
A rabica Food, of which he consume,: a plateful at every me
It has produced a surprisinglbeneficial effect on his health,,and
his Holiness cannot praise this- excellent food too highly." NVe
extract a, few out of more than 63,000 cures:—Cure No. 58.21.6, of
the Marchioness do Brohan, of seven years' liver cony' aint
wasting away, debility, nervousness, with a nervous pall: t i?u,
all over, bad digestion, constant sleeplessness, and the II 0 it in-
tolerable nervous agitation. Cure No 1,771: Lord Stuart de
Decies, Lord-Lieutenant of Waterford, of many years' dyspeps!a•
No. 40,832: "Fifty years' indescribable agony from dysPePs!°,
nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms.lZl.
sic:afess, and vomiting —Maria Joly." Cure No. 46,270:
nr.
James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of 30 years' diseased u
_a.
spitting of blood. liver derangement, and partial deafness.
portant Caution—Beware of the many unsavoury and more than
sloppy imitations to which, without authority, Baron Lie ig's
name is most audaciously attached.

London : Printed and Pdblished by WILLIAM ANDREWS
of No. ;12, Strand, Printer, at TuE SUN Office,
in the Precinct of the Savoy, 113 the County of Middlefiex:•!
Friday, December 91, 18(9 o. 112, Strand,