The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-04-04

ally square pieces ol p3per, covering
not more space than quarter Of a dol
lar, and presenting a picture of the
queens face, with the words '.Postagc
one penny" They are printed on large
sheets, and sold in quantities. to suIt
purchasers. Those whoiiave occasion
to use them often, generally carry them
in their pocket books, as they would
carry post-oifice change. O1e side Of
the sheet is covered over with an adhe-
sive substance, SO that il is only neces-
sary to cut out stamp, moisten the
hack OF it. with the finger stick ii upon
the letter, and the postage is plid. u
may them be dropped into any Of the
receiving offices, which are scattered
overall the large towns, and within an
hour ii will be on its journey to the
place ofdestination. When it reaches
the Office to which it is directed, car
rier Immediately takes it to the person
for whom it was designed, if his loca-
ton is indicated--thns obyiating allne.
cessity to visit the office for ones self.
The facility with which letters find
stranger is remarkable. Perhaps the
first intlmation such person receives
that he is known, may be by a letter
left at his room. A New Yorker in
London will often receive letters with
in fourteen days from the time when
they were sealed bv his friends three
thousand five hundred miles away!i
These facilities of conveyance are
not confined to letters; other matter
may be forwarded by the mail,if the
right number ofstamps be placed upon
it. On one occasion, friend, who was
spending some days in the country,
met with plant which he wished 10
transfer to his own garden. 1t was
accordingly inclosed in a wrapper,
with the simple direction, "Be sure
you setit out tonight" Two stamps
were sufficient for the postage; and
when he returned, few days after
ward, it was in a fourishing condition.
On another occasion, friend left q
handkerchief which he valued as a re.
membrance some three hundred miles
from home. He wrote for it, and re-
oeived it on the following day, at a cost
of four stamps, worth l'ss than eight
cents. All letters or parcels weighing
more than. half an ounce have to pay
an extra charge for each additional halt
ounce. This has given rise to a curl
Gus invention for weighing letters. 1t
is pencil so arranged as TO be made
strictly pair of steelyards; one part
of the case serving as the yard, ano-
ther as the weight, and a third as to
hook to take hold OF the letter. With
this contrivance, no one need make
mistakes as to the number of stamps
necessary for his letter or parcel. 1a
In london, letters are delivered in
every section of the city six or eight
times day, and as frequently taken
from the receiving offices. Ii, there
fore, one has word to say TO frienl
five miles distant from him, he may cal
culate as certainly at what time that
word will reach his friend through the
post, as he could if he were to send it
by aspecial messenger. 10 accelerate
the delivery Of letters in distant parts
o. the metropolis, The post-men ussdto
be conveyed in long light vehicles to
the verge of their districts, so as 10 be
fresh for their work when they arriv-
ed. Each accelerater would carry a
dozen men with their bags; the men
belonging to The nearest walk standing
next 10 the door. ready 10 descend with
out occasionlng any stoppage. Now,
boys upon horseback, with their red
coats and large portmanteau, may be
seen at almost any time, hurrylng to
distant sections Of the city with theif
paper messages. Indeed, everything
connected with the postis conducted
with regularity and expedition which
are altogether surprising. Fhe sysL
tem is probably the mostperlect in the
world, and it is impossible to estimate
the benefit which, through it, has been
conferred upon the nation. ~
M.ppt.cr Mo,.ri,ro ;e - .