The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-19 00:00:00

MORE LETTER OPENING AT THE,

POST-OFFICE.

- - _
During the last few days disclosures of the most ex-
traordinary character have been made in the letter-car-
riers' office of the General Post-office,'' from the dis-
covery by the authorities of a most extensive collusion.
on the part of several letter-carriers*employed in the de-.
livery of letters in the western district of the metropolis, ,
who, it appears, have been for some time in the habit of
opening letters directed to noblemen, gentlemen, am/
others connected with the sporting world, with the view,
as far as we can learn, of disposing of such informations
for some pecuniary consideration, or betting themselve4
upon the strength of it. From what has already been
ascertained there can be no question but that this illegal
and most reprehensible practice has been carried on for
a length of time, and that letters, both inward and out-
ward, have been thus treated, and their contents copied,
the letters being afterwards duly delivered, or forwarded,
as the case might be. It is also proved that bets to is . ,
large amount have been laid by several of the partit
implicated ; and as the inquiry progresses from day to
day, other and more startling facts are brought to light,
and additional revelations made culpatory of other •
letter-carriers and sub-sorters, who have, either
directly orindirectly, been engaged in the transaction. Ku- • -
mour states, and we believe as far as it can be ascertained •
that the statement is substantially correct, that :th.a •,
scandalous plot was thus discovered :—Two letten,
open, were
found on Wednesday morning last upon the
seat occupied by a letter-carrier named Tapson, directed
to well-known sporting characters, but with which he
had no business, as tho parties did not live upon his dis- ",'
trict, or walk. Upon being closely questioned, Tapson
admitted that suck letters had frequently come into his ti
hands, and eventually he gave so much information con-
cerning the opening of the letters, the use made of the ,s
contents, and the parties connected with the extraorc
nary affair, that six other letter-carriers and one su ,-
sorter were eventually brought up for examinatio n. :
Two or three of these men have been several years ii
letter-carrier
the service, and all of them are persons of upwards of
nefariousrmed
tbis object
:—The
was
Accomplished,
years official standing. The mode by which the
as
ccomplishdeetewn.engssrleettienrfs upono
a certain walk, who appeared to he the lead-
ing
g member of the clique, would obtain from one :
of his colleagues (of course by mistake.', if die.
covered) the correspondence of some celebrated memlser
of the turf. The letter was then opened, it appe,ars, by
him, or some one of the party who happened to pass; s$
the greatest facilities, and the opinions of the writes' as- .
certained with reference to the qualities of the seviala ‘;
race-horses, or the state of the odds upon a race. This
being done, the letters were transferred to their proper '
districts, and eventually delivered. The value of such
information to the letter-carrier either as a disposable
article for a given sum to a low gambler, or as a ground
for betting upon his own account, can be best estimated
by those who are in the habit of paying for the accom-
modation. A most rigid inquiry into the whole cireutn•
stances of the case is instituted daily; and up to Sati.sr-
day afternoon there were suspended, until the decision.
of the Postmaster-General upon the whole affair can be
known, the letter-carrier who delivered the letters• of
Lord George Bentiuck, the one who delivered Oose of
Mr. Tattersall, besides four others employed ;to distai.:
bute those belonging to other sporting characters,
end y
one sub-sorter, who has had connexion in some way' oc
other with the transaction.

•

EFFECTS OF TILE GAME LAWS.—It appears by iv
Parliamentary return, ordered on the motion of Ur...
Bright, that no less than 4,529 persons were convietaat
in England and Wales, during the year 1843, of offeriegivt
against the game laws. No doubt a much greater ntun:ir
ber were tried. It is a serious question for the moralist:
and the patriot, whether laws which make it criminal to:
take wild animals) and thereby consign thousands everyl
year to the contamination Of a prison, ought not to In-'
entirely abolishea.—Leeds Mercury,