Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-09

A pamphlet by NJ Emile LANDRY, an en-
ploye in the French post Office, recently pub
lished in Paris, gives some curious details about
the cabinet Noir," as the department for open
ing letters from suspected persons is called in
France. Letters were opened under Charles Y
and Louis Philippe, but under the second en-
pire the cabinet Noir" acquired an importance
previously unknown. The dishonOrable Office
Of head opener Of letters was occupied by a
man named Simonel, who from NJ. Lambry's
account seems 10 have been singularly well
fitted for the post he held AT first Simonel
only stopped letters in obedience TO list sent
TO him from the prefecture of police. These
letters were put in bag and forwarded 10 the
prefecture, where they were opened and read.
This proceeding was not illegal, as the project of
police had, like the home secretary with us, a
legal right to open any letters he thou CHIT ill.,.
But NJ. Simonel had not been long in office
when he was allowed TO go a step inrther and
to open and read letters himself on condition, ii
would seem, that he concealed the fact
of their having been tempered with from
those TO whom they were addressed SimonePs
way oil proceeding was as follows: When a
suspected letter fell into his hands, he inserted
the point OF very thin knife, specially made
for the purpose, under the seal then, bv dint
OF steady pressure, and thanks to the skill &C
CURED by long practice, he removed the seal
whole and without tearing the envelope The
letter read, and if necessary copied SimOnel
slightly warmed the bottom of the seal so as TO
melt the wax sufficiently 10 attach il again to
the paper BY this means he was enabled to
defy detection. When letters were fastened
with gum or wafer it was still easier TO open
them; Il few drops Of hot water were all that
was necessary. Foreign mail bags passing
through Paris were not respected any more
than letteis TO be delivered in France by the un-
scrupulous Simonel, who had armed bmscll
with collection of the seals Of every foreign
government. He was even provided with dit.
letent sorts of foreign string, in order 10 disam
suspicion. u was only in extreme cases, how
ever, that he went 50 far us to cut the string
WIN which mail bags from abroad
are fastened, as be generally contriy-
ca To strain It enough to allow him
70 open the bag aud take out the contents. No
IettSIs "eIe SAFE rom prying eyes, and even NJ.
YOURSELVES financial cOFrespOndence was read
by the lndeatigabe head 81 the "black cab
met who also was in The habit " Optning all
the empress letters 10 hef isieud. and submit
ting them 10 the imperial husband 4 ~ ge4gs
ago NJ Nandal the last director eeres4s IA ahe
post office under the empire, sas .aasnt,t .,.tsl
in The corps cgislatif with regard 10 sf,g ,,j.t
ence OH 1.-THE "cabinct noir," on when II tas,gs Al
Indignantly denied that any department Pc rts
opening Of letters existed at the hotel des nssfea
Five deputies were named at NJ. YaudaPs re-
quest 70 inspect the post office personally, and
certify TO the correctness OF his statement vi
course, when they come 10 make their inspec-
ton NJ. Vandall was careful to show them all
the departments of the post office, except the
cabinet nOr." NJ. Laundry aflrms that the
opening Of letters in Paris ceased with the sec.
ond empre-which may or may not be cor
rect.-PdH Mall GAZETTE,