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, and
others connected with the sporting world, with the view,
as far as we can learn, of disposing of such information
for some pecuniary consideration, or betting themselves
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 a
large amount have been laid by several of the parties
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 or indirectly, been engaged in the transaction. Ru-
mour states, and we believe as far as it can be ascertained
that the statement is substantially correct, that this
scandalous plot was thus discovered :—Two letters,
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
rwall.. business,,
lk.
as
Upontheb
parties did
closely questioned,
n liveot
Tapson
pot
upon hisdsisi-tad
dis-
trict,
o admitted that suck letters had frequently come into his
hands, and eventually he gave so much information con-
cerning the opening of the letters, the use made of their
contents, and the parties connected with the extraordi-
hihnaotthioon ofir.
extraordi-
nary affair, that six other letter-carriers and one sub-
sorter were eventually brought up
personstiumpodo forbt Iyf upwardsex‘sa,
examination.
Two or three of these men have been several years in
fourth e y
service,ears 0 andi allofficial
s toafn
dt
ihngem are
. a
nefarious object was accomplished, we are informed
lo'nhgfeuetsilleett(eocil:icciaouroe:,iresr:,ndubelyldivering letters upon
ovfas this
certain walk, who appeared to be the lead-
ingb
his coe—lrobtain
mistake, r oinif odis-
covered)ne the correspondence of some celebrated' member
of the turf. The letter was then opened, it appears, by
him, or some one of the party who happened to possess
the greatest facilities, and the opinions of the writer as-
certained with reference to the qualities of the several
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 circum-
stances of the case is instituted daily; and up to Satur-
day afternoon there wore suspended, until the decisien
of the Postmaster. General upon the whole affair canbe
known, the letter-carrier who delivered the letters of
Lord George Bentinck, the one who delivered those of
Mr. Tattersall, besides four others employed to distri-
bute those belonging to other sporting and;
.characters, an
one sub-sorter, who has had connexion in some way or
-‘r with the transaction.

EFFECTS OF THE GAME LAWS.--It appear% by a
Parliamentary return, ordered on the motir,,n of Mr.
Wales,lesst duringhan, the years29perso .sns were convicted
in Bright,England
i 843,
of
offences
against the game laws. No doubt A "iuuch greater num-
ber were tried. It is a serious
tha
at n nod
Till:stion for the moralist
and the patriot, whether laws Nv'.iich make it criminal to
take wild animals, and. thereh'y consign thousands every
year to the contamination, of a prison, ought not to be
entirely abolished,--.40.4/$ Mercury.