The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-04-17
DUTIES OF PoSTMAsTTRs.


In a Circular recently issued bv the yigilans
officer al the head of the General Post office Dc.
partmenf, communicating the Post Office Act
passed at the last session OF Congress. we observe
the following inunctions, which we publish for
general information. Nat. Int.
"rhe strict attention of Postmasters is invited
TO the follow ing duties:
l. Report every failure of mail carrier with
the cause which produced it, if known.
2. Repair mail bags that are unsound, though
ii should detain the mail
3. When packets are mis-sent from distr
buting office, first inform the Postmaster of such
Office, and ifthe error be not corrected report
him to the Postmaster General.
d When loss of letter mailed, which con.
tains money, occurs, report itwlthout delay with
all the circumstances connected with the loss,
none Ofwhich, or the loss should be published.
publication is sure to prevent the detection
Of the peTpetra,or.
g. Care should be taken that the name ofan
office at which letter is mailed should be
plainly written or stamped on it,
&. Be careful 10 return. on the routes by winch
they were received all mail bags of every des'
cription. not in use There is great want OF
attention 10 this duty, which subjects the De-
partmentto embarrassment aud loss.
I. Although instructions have repeatedly oeeh
given not TO enclose any communications IN quar-
terly returns except such as relate to the returns.
yet. designations. application for blanks, ana
/ letters of importance are often so enclosed ana
the consequence is that they are not opened uh-
III weeks, and sometimes MONTHS after they are
received at the General Post office. As all re-
turns are directed TO be made al the close OF each
quarter if PostmaSterS would reflect, they Wouiu
see, that to open ana examine more than Ma
! thousand returns, require many weeks row.
then, can they expect speedy answer 70 avg
communication enclosed in quarterly return
! 8. All applications for blanks at this once.
should he directed General Post Office, care o'
Joseph Burrows.
I g. Personal attention TO the duties OF his ONCE
by every Postmaster, Is indispensable.
10 Printers often complain of the mlsea,'at
Of their papers when they have never been seio,
sted in 3 Post Office, were badly put up, OF ms
directed. Postmasters are held responsible ~
such failures, unless they show the fault Is WI"
the Printer. This may be easily done ny ai}
Postmaster, at whose Office the papers are Man
cd
Procure from the Printer list of the paeke';,
he Sends--arrange this i5t aiphabeucal9, a'8
compare the packets deposited with il -,
II the packets are insecurity put up, NC
should he returned to the Printing Oiiiee--h '''
deposited, OF misdrected comparison with NV
list will detect the error
IL, Where an indiviinhl places has FRANK "
on packet of greater weight than the la" az.
thorises- the excess should be charged. ms %
often omitted. Many articles, such as Inc ep' w
tings of grape vines, fruit trees &c. are sent -. -,
che mail, which should be excluded from 1t a
fuch abuses must be corrected. or they Will IL
crease to the injury ofthe public.
Every carrier of the mail who becomes h'UA
cated. Having the mail in charge should be as
missed by any Postmaster at whose ofnce'
calls, and another one employed, at the esi'cns'
Of the contractor, Of which he SHOULD be lmihcO'
ately advised
Postmas,ers at the end of routes should -
that the carriers are sworn, and that they Dc g,
pecially charged not to carry, out of the ma
letters, open or sealed, in violation of the law
IL, The energetic cooperation OF every f1''
master, and contractor, is earnestly requested
Each one should consider himself so far idfnrA
cd with the Department, as ~ participate IN :"