The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-14 00:00:00

THE GENERAL POSTMEN.

The General Postmen have recently memorialised the Post-
master- General on the subject of their pay. The petition was
signed by nearly two hundred of the junior members of the
corps. We have looked into the very valuable Return made
to the House of Commons, on the 20th of February, ou the
motion of Mr. Duncombe, M P., for Finsbury, and find that
the aggregate incomes of the two hundred junior General
Postmen exceed 15,0001., being an average of upwards of 751.
per annum to each. The complaint can therefore scarcely be as
to the amount of the incomes, and, indeed, as their petition
states, it is rather to the mode of remuneration that they ob-
ject, made up, as their receipts are, of various fees and per-
quisites. They pray that they may not be left dependent on
the public for a considerable portion of their incomes. The
prayer seems sufficiently reasonable, and the men should
certainly receive all their pay from the revenue, and
not be permitted to levy contributions on the pub-
lic in the shape of early delivery, Christmas gratui-
ties, sale of " Directories," &c. If the wages of the senior
postmen were fixed at double the present Government pay of
145., that is at 28s. or even at 30s. weekly, the middle class at
255. or 265., and the juniors at 21s. or 225., it would probably
give perfect satisfaction to the petitioners. Probably, to ensure
certainty, they would prefer even a smaller fixed scale to the
present system; but, for ulterior reasons, it would be better
that the more liberal arrangement were adopted.
It is probable—indeed, we believe, certain—that a consider-
able increase must shortly be made to the rank and file of the
Post-office establishment, and such a rate of wages should be
decided upon as would induce men of decent attainments to
enter the service. At the present period of the 19th century,
and in the present state of general education, we should no
longer be subject to such endorsements on our letters as " gorn
from rate nightrider strete," " try camebridg terris high
parke,' " gorn awa not none ware," &c., in a style of penman-
ship worthy of the orthography.

THE INFANT SAPPHO.—This wonderful child gave
the second of her series of concerts at Crosby Hall, last evening.
She is more wonderful than ever. Her musical and poetical
improvisations are most extraordinary ; not only does she ex-
temporise the music, but she will extemporise the words of a
song. Nay, more wonderful still, she will, if we may be allowed
the expression, extemporise a musical score. She can, in an
instant, adapt her improvisations to the mast complicated har-
monies and sudden transitions. She was last night encored in
the favourite song " I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls,"
and in Arne's beautiful air, " Where the bee sucks." Perhaps
the most astonishing performance last evening, however, was
her " Laughing Irish Gallope," in which her laughing in har-
mony produced the most extraordinary, and, at the same time,
pleasing effect. The concert was very well attended.
SADLER'S WELLS.— ihe play of the Stranger was
acted in this theatre, on Tuesday last, with complete success,
Mr. Phelps taking the part of the Stranger, which he person-
ated to the satisfaction of a crowded and highly respectable au-
dience. Mrs. Warner, as Mrs. Haller, succeeded equally
well. Her acting throughout was faultless, particularly the
affecting scene in which she expresses her penitence and contri-
tion. The character of Baron Steinfort was by Mr. H. Mars-
ton, and that of Solomon,: the pompous old steward, was amus-
ingly performed by Mr. A. Younge. We are glad to see the
steady improvement which progresses in the class of audience
which attends this theatre, and the managers deserve every en-
courogement and support.
BRIGHTON, AUG. 12.—Earl Somers, Lord Chief
Baron Pollock, and Count Lebzeltern, left here this afternoon
in the General Steam Navigation Company's packet Fame, for
Dieppe, en route to Paris.
TIIE MESSRS. ROGERS' STOLEN NOTES.—NOW
that the excitement consequent upon the recent robbery at the
above firm, has somewhat subsided, all sorts of expedients are
being adopted by the thieves, with a view of bringing the
missing notes into circulation. Some of rather an ingenious
character have come to the knowledge of the police, amongst
the most conspicuous of which is that of having a new list of
the stolen notes printed, and taken round to the places where
the old lists are, or have been exposed. In the new bills, the
numbers of all the small notes am fictitious; a casual observer
would not notice this, and, consequently, upon a stolen note
being presented, and the I arty referring to their list for secu-
rity, the number not being there, it is changed.
ESCAPE OF CONVICTS IN SPAIN AND MURDER OF
THE ESCORT.—A letter from Madrid of the 2d inst. states,
that as 200 convicts were being conducted from Carthagena to
the Canal of Castile, they rose upon the troops escorting them,
massacred them all, hanged the commanding officer on a tree,
and escaped in different directions.— Galignani of Tuesday.