Case Name: DUNLOP v. MUNROE
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1812-03-14
Citations: 7 Cranch 242
Docket Number: 
Parties: DUNLOP v. MUNROE.
Judges: Present....ML the Judges.
Reporter: United States Reports
Volume: 11
Pages: 242–270

Head Matter:
DUNLOP v. MUNROE.
Present....ML the Judges.
When the Issue is taken glee" the°' port-master not competent (ogive in eir'^Tofhls”3' distant.U3 When it is nh^e p past-Waster, for the ÍSfef'Sunts! the '"pleadings must be mude to *he case” to! his liability Msuiífrom his own neglect in the discharge” tooffice't,S ln bitier'to mafo; a.i>ost■fw^egtiganc'-, must appear std'by the nucnce of the negligence, ra*motbe' w-C ven that om> jrirtracrioni'11 frbm the postTstor snotS1 set'of wrjtt™ instnictions,
ERROR to the Circuit Court fur tiie district of Columbia, sitting'at Washington, in,an action wherein James and John Dunlop were Plaintiffs, and Thomas Munroe, the deputy post-master at Washington, was Defendant ' rteienu.uit.
The declaration after having, been several times .amended, contained nine counts.
L The first count was as follows — Thomas Munroe, late of .Washington county, gentleman, was attached to answer unto James Dunlop-¿nd John- Dunlop in a plea of trespass on the case, &c. whereupon the said James an¿. j0j,y1} by Francis S. -Key, their attorney complain, that whereas, by the laws of. the United States of America, relative to the post-office establishment of the United -States, and of the post-roads within the United States, it was enacted, that there should be established, ^16 sca^ °* the government of the United States, a general post-office, under the direction of a post-master !?eTierat> "¿fed that post-offices should be established; and that post-masters should be appointed by the said postni¿Ster general, at all such pláces as should-appear to hifio expedient, on the post-roads which then, wei;e, or might thereafter he established, and the carriage of the on all such post-roads provided for; and that every post-m aster, so appointed by the said post-master general, should keep an office, in which one or more persons should attend for the purpose of performing the duties thereof; and a post-road was directed to be established -Passamaquaddy, in the'district of Maine, to St. Mary’s, in Georgia, within the said United States; and í-hOjcity of Philadcl]>hia, in the State of Pennsylvania, antHhe city of Washington, in the district of Columbia, town of Petersburg, in the state of Virginia, were -places through which the said post-road was dirented by -law to pass. And whereas in pursuance of the said laws, a general'post-office was established at the seat of government of the' United States, under the direction of á post-master general, duly appointed and qualified, and a post-road established within the U. Slates from Passamaquaddy, in the district of Maine aforesaid, to St. Mary’s, in Georgia aforesaid ; ,and the said city of Philadelphia, and the, said city of Washington, and the said town of Petersburgh, were places through which the said road did pass, and post-offices .were, duty established at the said places, so as aforesaid on the said post-road, by.the said poist-inaster general; and post-masters by him duly appointed and qualified to attend to the duties of the said post-offices, and the carriage of the mail of theU. States'on the said post-roád provided.for by the said post-master, general agreeably to law: and the said Thomas Munroe was, bj; the,said post-master general, duly appointed and qualified the post-master at the said office, so as aforesaid established át the said city of Washington on the said post-road, and between the city of Philadelphia and the town of Petersburgh aforesaid, also on the said post-road, and as such was bound to attend to and perform all the duties, thereof, and to receive, make up, and distribute and forward the mails of the said United States, and all the. letters and packets contained therein which should arrive or come. to Ms said post-office, so by him kept.as aforesaid at the said city of Washington,, to all such places on the said post road to which the same were directed, and addressed ; and the said Thomas so being, as aforesaid, postmaster at the said post-office, so as aforesaid lawfully established at the said city of Washington, on the post-road so as aforesaid also lawfully established, and post-offices being, also, in like manner, lawfully established *£t the- said city of Philadelphia, and the said town of Petersburgh, on the said post road, and post-masters duly appointed and qualified,, and attending to the duties of the said post-offices, on. the thirtieth day of July, in the year eighteen hundred and six, the said James and John being' possessed of á large sum of money, to wit: the sum of two thousand dollars current money of the." United States of their own proper money, and being so possessed thereof, on .the same day and year, did enclose 'the same in bank notes by means of their agents in that particular, (a ¡certain1 Walker and Kennedy) in a letter sealed* and directed to the said James and John at Petersburgh, in Virginia aforesaid^ on the post-road aforesaid, and the said sum of, money, sb sealed and on- closed ip said letter so directed, did place in the post-office in the said city of Philadelphia, so as aforesaid established on. the said post-road,- tobe forwarded.oh said poet road, in the mail of the United States to the said town of Petersbugh on the post-road aforesaid, and the said letter, directed . as foreasid, and the money in bank notes as aforesaid, to the said amount, enclosed in the same, were- accordingly, by.-the said post-master at Philadelphia, apd from the office there established as aforesaid oh the said post road, sent on and forwarded in the mail of the U. States, on the day and year aforesaid5 •• and did afterwards, to wit: on the first day of August, in tire year aforesaid, .arrive at the post-office of the' said Thomas, postmaster, as aforesaid, in the said city, of Washington, on the said post-road, in the mail of the United States, on the route to the post-office at Peters-burgh aforesaid, op the post-road aforesaid, and was, Op-the day and year last mentioned, at the county of 'Washington aforesaid, receivéd by.the said Thomas lobe by him sent on and forwarded in the mail of the United States/on the said post-road, to the said James and John, at Petersburgb, to whom the same was directed and addressed ;■ yet the said Thomas, regardless of his said duty as postmaster, and wholly neglecting the same, did not send on the said letter, and the sum- of money contained and enclosed, in the same, to the said town of Petersbugh, on .the said postroád, in the mail of the United States, to the said James aiid John'to whom the •same w^s. directed, as it-was'his duty to do; but the •same letter and the said sum of money therein contained as aforesaid, were fraudulently and improperly secreted# withheld, and taken, in the said post-office, at the city of Washington- aforesaid, by the said Thomas, or some Other person employed by him, in his said office, so that the said J ames and John were prevented from receiving the same, and Ike same letter, and sum of money, have been tvholly lost to the said Plaintiffs,
3, The 3d count was like the first in every particular, except that it states that the Plaintiffs placed the letter, enclosing the money in the post-office at Philadelphia, tú be forwarded, o without delaying the same a single post** and that it was received by the Defendant at his office in Washington op. the 1st of August, Í806, to be by him sept on anil forwarded, without delaying the same a nn gle post, in the mail of the Uhited States,* &c,« yet the « said Thomas, regardless of his said doty- as poBt-ttins«ter, and wholly neglecting the same, .did not,-on the “first day of August in the year aforesaid, send o» thp « said letter and the sum of money contained and inCiás* «í ed in the same, to the town of Pétersburgh on the said « post-road, in the mail of tlie United States, wliidi. left “ the city of Washington on the said first day of AugMt, in «the year aforesaid, for Petersburgh aforesaid, as at was “ his'duty and in his power to.have done; but the same “ letter, and the said sum of money therein contained as “ aforesaid, were by the negligence, carelessness; and'mis- “ conduct of the said Thomas, in his said office aforesaid, “utterly, afterwards to them, the said James and.John, “lost; by -reason whereof the said James and John, the « sum of money so as aforesaid, contained and enclosed «in the said letter directed and addressed as aforesaid, « and the use and possession of the same, have entirely «lost; to the great damage,” &c.
3. The 3d count was like the first in every respect, except that instead of averring that the Plaintiffs ivere possessed of a large sum of money, it avers that they were possessed of «certain property of great value, to. « wit: wf certain bank notes for the payment of money to «the amount of the value of two thousand dollars, cur«rent money of the United States, as their own property, «and enclosed the same bank notes,” &c. using the words « bank notes,” in lieu of the words “sum of money” in the residue of the count. It contains also an averment of a demand and refusal of the Defendant to deliver the letter and bank notos, whereby the same have been totally lost to the Plaintiffs, whereof the Defendant had notice.
4. The 4th count was like the first, except that it uses the terms « bank notes,” instead of « sum of money « in bank notesand instead of averring, that the letter and sum of money were “ fraudulently andimproper- “ ly secreted, withheld and taken, in the said post-office,” it avers that «the same letter and bank notes were, by « the negligence, carelessness, and misconduct of the said « Thomas in his said office, lost,” &c. — and avers a demand and refusal to deliver them, whereby they have been totally lost to the Plaintiffs, whereof the Defendant had notice, &c.
5. The. 5th count; varied from the others considerably in the recital, respcctin'gthe establishment of post-roads and post-offices ; but the principal difference consisted an averment, that the post-masters, appointed by the post-master general, were to perform their duties according to law, “ and, to the instructions of the post-mas* “ ter general relativé to their duty.” That the post-office at Washington was a distributing office,, and that it was the duty of the Defendant, according, to the instructions of. the post-master general then in force, to open the mail addressed “Southern,” and,to distribute and re-mail the letters and packets into proper mails before the departure of the mail; and on no account to delay them a single post, by which it was in his power to pend them in the regular course of the mail, it then’ avers, that the letter and post-notes were put into the post-office. at .Philadelphia on the 30th of July; and were from thence forwarded in the mail ron the 31st, and. arrived[at Washington on the 1st of August, and were in the usual manner deliveredand placed in the post-office at.Washihgton, kept by the Defendant, to be, by him, re-mailed, and sent on and forwarded in tjhe mail of the U. S. to Petersburgh, to the Plaintiffs; and wore delivered and placed in the usual and regular course of the mail at and in the post-office at Washington aforesaid, “ intime to he “ re-mailed and sent on, according to'the instruction and “ direction aforesaid of the post-master general afore. “said, in the same day of the arrival aforesaid, and by “ the same mail which thereafter, and on the same, day, “ departed from the post-office aforesaid, in the city of “, W ashingipn aforesaid, with letters for the town of “ Petersburg' aforesaid; by virtue of which premises it “was the diity of the Defendant on the said 1st day of “ August, in the year'1806, at,” &c. “ to have distributee ed, re-maiiedy and sent on, or caused to have been dis- “ tributed,” &c..“ the said letter, containing the said “'bank notes, to the town of Petersburg aforesaid, in “ the mail of the U. S. aforesaid, on the same 1st day of “ August, in the year aforesaid,, which it Was in the “ power of the Defendant to have done in the usual and. “ regular course of the business of his said office ; never- “ theless, the said. Defendant,' on the 1st day of August, “ in the year aforesaid, at the county aforesaid, regard- “ less of his duty as post-master as., aforesaid, did not “ sen,d on or forward,, or cause to be sent on or fort « warded, on the said first day, of August, in the. year «aforesaid, the said letter containing'the bank notes «aforesaid, to’ the town of Petersburgli aforesaid, in «the mail of the U. VS. aforesaid, which left the said, «city.of Washington on the said first day of August, “ and which ought to have received and.carried the said «letter, and bans notes enclosed therein, to the post- « office in the said town of Petersburg, but by reason of « his negligence and misconduct aforesaid, in his said of“fice on the said first day of August, the said letter, and «the said bank notes enclosed therein as aforesaid, have «been afterwards, utterly, and ever since, lost to the « Plaintiffs.”
6. The 6th count was like the Sth, excepting that it 'averred that the letter with the bank notes enclosed waj received.at the post-office in Washington,' on the 1st of August, « by Henry Whetcroft, then and there agent and «clerk of the Defendant, duly authorised to perform «the duties of the said office for the.Defendant, to be « re-mailed and sent on,” &c. « By virtue of which « premises, it was the duty of the said Defendant, post«master as aforesaid, by himself, his said agent, or «some other person, on fhe 1st day of August' afore- « said,, to have distributed, remailcd, and sent on the .« said letter,” &c.« in the mail of the U. S. on the same «1st day of August, which it was in the power of the « Defendant, by himself cr his said agent and clerk, to « have done,” &c. « Nevertheless, the said Defendant, « on the said 1st day of August,” « regardless of his « said duty as post-master as aforesaid, did not by him- “ self, or his said servant and clerk, or any other person, “ send on and forward, on the said 1st day of August, « the said letter,” &c. « But by reason of the negligence « and misconduct, aforesaid, in transacting the business of “ the said office on the said 1st day of August&c. « the “ said letter,” &c. have been afterwards utterly abd ever « since lost to them, the said Plaintiffs,” &c.
7. The 7th count was like the 6th, excepting that -ii averred that the letter, &c. were received at the post-office in Washington, by William Hewitt, another agent, servant or clerk of the Defendant.
8. The 8th count charged, that the letter, Ac. was duly, by the carrier of the mail* placed in the office of the Defendant ai Washington, on the 1st of August, 1806, in time to be re-mailed and sent on by the mail of same day, and that it was his duty, by himself or by, Maagents, or some of them, to have re-mailed and sent ft on accordingly by tlM inail, which he did hot do, or cause to be done but by reason of the negligence and misconduct aforesaid, in his said office, on the said first day of August, the letter, &c. have been afterwards utterly and ever since lost to the Plaintiff.
, 9. Tffie 9th count was like the 8th, excepting that it averred that the mail which left Washington for Peters-burg on the 1st of August, (and which ought to have carried the Plaintifl’s letter, arrived safely at Peters-burg with all its letters,. &c. “but the said Defendant “ did unduly, improperly, and,' 'negligently delay, detain, “ and keep theletter-aforesaid, containing,” &c. “in bis “ said post-office until and after the departure of the mail “.aforesaid, which ought! as aforesaid, by the laws and “ post-master general’s instructions aforesaid, to have “carried and contained the same on the said first day “ of August j and the letter and bank notes aforosaid, “ so as' aforesaid unduly detained, the said Defendant « did delay, and keep in his said office for a long space “of time, to wit, until the departure of the mail, which “ thereafter, to wit, on the 3d day of August next fob “ lowing, left his said office for the town of Petersburgh « aforesaid, but which never did arrive at the post-of- « fice in the said town of Petersburgh, but was, toge- “ ther with the letters and packages contained therein, “ and with the letter and bank notes aforesaid' of the “ said Plaintiffs, thus improperly decayed and unduly “forwarded, wholly and entirely lost on its said route “ to the town of Petersburgh aforesaid, and before its « arrival at the said post-office in the said town of Pe- “ tersburgh $ by reason of which said undue, improper “ and unlawful delay and detention, negligence and misv conduct of the said Thomas Munroe in his said post- - office, the letter and bank notes contáined therein as “ aforesaid, have been then, arid ever since, utterly lost “ to the Plaintiffs.”
To these nine counts, there were eighteen pleas in bar.
1.. The 1st plea wad the. general issue of not guilty, pleaded to' all the counts.
2. The 2d plea was also pleaded to all the counts, and was, «that the said letter containing,” &e. « was «■ not brought to and delivered, nor in any manner given « in charge at the said post-oflice at Washington, in the « mail of the United States, which, on the 31st of July, «1806, left the post-oflice at Philadelphia, and which, « on the 1st of. August next ensuing,, arrived at the post- « office in Washington, in manner and form,”' Ac. and of this he puts himself on the country, and the Plaintiffs likewise.
3. The 3d plea was to the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th counts, and denied'that the letter, Ac. was received by the Defendant, in manner and form, Ac. Upon this.plea issue was joined.
4. The 4th plea was to the 1st and 3d counts, and denied that the letter, Ac. was fraudulently secreted, withheld and taken, by the Defendant, in manner and form,” Ac. Upon this pica also the P laintiffs joined issue.
5. ; The 5th plea was also to the 1st and 3d counts, and averred, that as to the Defendants having personally received the said letter, Ac. and as to his having fraudulently secreted, •withheld, and taken .the same, Ac. he was not guilty, and of this he put himself upon the country j and the Plaintiffs likewise. And as to the residue of the allegations, charges, and complaints of fraud and misconduct, in the two last mentioned counts of the said declaration above, supposed to have been committed in the said post-office at Washington by some .other person employed by the Defendant in the said office, he says that the Plaintiffs, their action aforesaid, to have, Ac. ought- not, because lie says, that at ,the time when, Ac. and always before and ever since, the Defendant, in pursuance of regulations and instructions, duly made and issued by the post-master general, took due precaution and exercised all reasonable care, diligence and circumspection, to cause all mails, letters and packets brought to the said office, to be duly sent on and forwarded according to the destination of the same, and to prevent all frauds and embezzlements in the said office, by selecting, appointing, and employing as clerks and assistants in the said office, and to attend in the said office at the regular hours directed by the post-master 'gener for the- purpose of performing the duties of the sanie, none but persons of competent skill and knowledge, of fair character, of known good repute for fidelity and honesty, and who, upon being 60. appointed and employed, and previous to 'entering upon the duties assigned them as aforesaid, or the execution of their trusts aforesaid, had, in pursuance of the act of Congress in such- case made and provided, pnd in obediencé to the express instructions of the post-master general, respectively taken and subscribed, before a magistrate, in, due manner and form, the oath prescribed by the said act of Congress, and also the. oath, in due manner and form, as directed by the post-master general aforesaid; that is to say, an oath to support the constitution of the United States, and had respectively transmitted to, and caused to be duly filed in the general post-office certificates, in due form, of the said oaths so taken and subscribed as aforesaid. Jlnd the said Defendant in fact says, that at the. time when, &c. and for a long time before and after, he had with dne precaution and circumspection, and with all reasonable ■ caí e and diligence, and in pursuance of regulations and instructions duly made and issued by the post-master general of the U. S. selected and duly appointed and employed, two persons of competent skilt and knowledge, of fair character and of known good repute for fidelity a>id honesty, that is to say, one Henry Whetcraft and one William Hewitt, as clerks and assistants in the said post-office, and to attend regularly, &c. for the purpose of performing the duties of the said office, and to whom, apd to no other person or persons, were, then and there entrusted, by the said Defendant, the duties of receiving ami opening the mails brought to the said office for distribution or delivery, and of receiving, distributing, re-mailing, and sending on, according to the proper destination of the same, all mails, letters, &e. there being then and there no other person or persons employed in the said office, to whom the Defendant had entrusted .any agency in the dirties of the said office, or who were suffered by the Defendant to inspect or handle any letters, newspapers, or other articles constituting a part of any mail brought, &c, they, the said H. W. and H. upon being appointed and employed as aforesaid, and previous to entering upon the duties, &c. having, in pursuance of the said of act of Congress, and in obedience to the instructions ánd directions of the post master, general aforesaid, respec, tively.and duly taken and subscribed the oaths aforesaid, and duly transmitted to and caused to be filed in the general post-office, certificates, in due form, of the said oaths respectively so taken and subscribed as aforesaid •, and the said Defendant says,, that if the said letter, &c. was in fact delivered and received, or in any manner given in charge at the said post-office, or was in fact fraudulently secreted, withheld, and taken by any perT son employed and entrusted b> the Defendant to attend in the said office, for the purpose of performing the duties of the same, then such fraudulent embezzlement-was without any participation or connivance whatsoever rf tty ,Defendant, and without any fraud, collusion, or other misdemeanor in office whatsoever, on the part of the Defendant, or by him done or permitted, but altogether without his consent or knowledge, and against his will, and this he is ready to verify, 6ic.
To tire latter part of this plea, there was a special demurrer and joinder. Because, 1. The plea is argumentative in this, that it states thal the Defendant has appointed competent and honest men to do the duties of the said office, and therefore infers that he himself is not liable for their negligenceand further, in this, that he states what acts lie did in relation to his office, and reasons from them in his exculpation. 2. Because the plea does not.confess and avoid, nor deny the allegations of the said counts or of any of them. 3. Because it does not state the nature and circumstances of error or mistake supposed to be made by his said clerks and assistants, so as to show that it did not proceed from a want of reasonable care and diligence. 4. Because the plea amounts to the general issue. 5. Because it docs not set forth any matter of law proper for the decision of the Court, but states facts proper to be given in evidence upon the general issue joined between the parties. 6. Because the plea tends to draw from the consideration of the jury to that of the Court, matters of evidence proper to he shewn only to the jury on the general issue ; and is immaterial, insufficient and informal.
8. The jStli plea was to the said 4th and 9th counts, and • denied that, the letter was lost by the negligence, carelessness, or misconduct of the Defendant in his office — upon which the Plaintiffs joined issue.
7. The 7th plea was to the 1st and 3d counts, and stated that the bank notes mcntionéd in those two counts were notes of the bank of Virginia, “ which was a bank “ duly established under a charter from the government “ of the state of Virginia, and if .the same were in fact “ fraudulently taken, withheld and secreted by the Defendant, or. any person employed and entrusted in the “ said post-office at Washington, then, according to the “ form of the several statutes in force within the county “ of Washington aforesaid, every person so acting and “ doing,, became guilty of a felonious embezzlement of “ the samé letter and bank notes, and liable to suffer «‘the pains arid penalties of felony, and ought.to have “been prosecuted for. such crime accordinglyj yet the « Defendant in fact saifcli, that no criminal prosecution « whatsoever has been commenced, nor any conviction “ had against any person or persons whatsoever, in the “ said two counts of the said .declaration, supposed to “ be guilty as aforesaid, and this he is ready to verify,” &c,
To this plea íbero wras a general demurrer and joinder.
8. The 8th plea was to the 6th count, and denied that the'letter, &c. were Received by Henry Whetcroft at the post-office in Washington, in manner and form, &c. upon which issue was joined.
9. The 9th plea was.to the 7th count,'and denied that the letter was received by William Hewitt at the post-office, &c. in manner and form, &c. upon which issue wras alsojoincd.
10. The 10th plea was to the 9th count, and averred that the Defendant did not unduly, improperly, and negligently, delay, detain and keep in the post-office at' Washington, nor any where else, the said letter, &c. in manner and form, &c, upon this plea also the Plaintiff’s joined issued
11. The 11th plea was to the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th counts, and averred that the loss of the letter, &c. was not caused or produced by reason of the same not hávi»g been re-mailed an^l sent Ort, at; and- from the said post-office at Washington, on the same day of the sup.jxosed arrival of the said letter and bank potes at the said post-office, to wit, on the 1st day of August, 1806, and by the same mail which, after the said supposed arrival, and on the same day departed from the said post-. office at Washington, , with letters for the'said town of Petersburg!!, arid by thfe said letter' and bank notes being delayed by the1 said Thomas in the post-office .at-Washington, until the departure of the next succeed^ ing mail of the 3d of August, in manner and form, &c. Issue was also joined upon this plea.
12. The 12th plea was to the 9th.count, and was precisely like the 11th plea..'
13. The 13th plea w'as to the.2d, Mil, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th counts and stated that the Defendant, as. to his having received the letter, &c. ,and having wilfully and negligently omitted to forward arid send on the same, in the mail, according to the .proper destination of the. same 5 and as to his having unduly kept and detained the saíne in hi's office, and as to liis having disregarded the duties of his said office, and .as to the negligence and misconduct in office imputed to him the Defendant, he is not guilty; and of this he puts himself upon the country, and the Plaintiffs likewise.
And as to the residue of .the allegations, charges and complaints of negligence and misconduct .in the several counts last aforesaid ab.ove supposed to be committed and suffered in the said- post-office at Washington, the Defendant (protesting that he lias in all things demeaned. himself, in liis said office of post-master, as a good and faithful officer of the United States, and that he has always exercised all practicable care and diligence to' have the business and duties of the said office, regularly, duly and faithfully transacted, performed and executed) says that at the time when, &c, lie took due precaution, &c. by selecting arid appointing proper person^, &c. &c. (as in the 5th plea) and if the . said letter, &c. were delivered at his office at Washington, and. if the same w ere, by .reason of any casual negligence, misconduct, inadvertance, oversight, error or mistake of any person or persons so employed and entrusted in.the said not in fact duly re-mailed, fórwarded and sent on, &c., suplí the delivery of the said letter, &c. at the said office at Washington was entirely unknown to the Defendant, and every such misconduct, &c. was likewise entirely unknown to the Defendant, and was not caused or produced by any ihisdemeanor in office of the Defendant, nor willingly or knowingly suffered or permitted by him, but was caused and produced by'the casual, inadvertent and unintentional mistake, error and oversight of some person or persons so appointed, &c., and. altogether without the consent or knowledge of the Defendant, and against his will. Jlnd. sothe Defendant says that he, took due precaution and used all reasonable care, diligence and circumspection to cause the said supposed letter, &c. (if ever in fact delivered and given in charge of the said post-office) to be duly sent oh and forwarded, &c.; and this lie is ready to yerify, &c.
Do the latter part of this plea, as pleaded to the 5ih and Qth counts, the Plaintiffs, by way of replication, (protesting that the Defendant did not use due care in selectihg proper persons, &c,.; and that the loss of the letter, &c. did not happen without the knowledge, consent and authority of the Defendant) say, &c. that the letter, &c. regularly arrived at the post-office of the Defendant on tlie 1st of August, 1806, and were received by him, and ought to have been sent on or caused to have been‘sent on by him on tliat day in the mail, &c. which regularly arrived at Petersburg!), and that he did not do so; and did not use due care and diligence in re-mailing and forwarding the same,' and did delay and detain the same unduly, negligently and improperly, 7vhereby the same have been lost, &c. "without this, that the loss of the said letter, &c. was caused or produced by a,.y act without the control, knowledge or authority of the Defendant in his office, and which, by using due and reasonable diligence in his said office, lie could not have prevented. And this they are ready to Verify, &c.
To this, replication the Defendant demurred.
To the latter part of the 13th plea, as pleaded to the 2d, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th counts, the Plaintiffs demurred.
14. The 14th plea was to the same counts, and was the same in substance as the 13th; and the Plaintiffs demurred to it as a plea to the 2d, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th counts, and replied to.it as a plea to-the 5th and 9th counts, to which replication the Defendant demurred.
15. The 15th plea was to the same counts as the 13th plea, and was like it, except that it averred that if there was any error or omission, &c. it was without the Defendant’s knowledge and consent, and without any fraud, or wilful, or gross negligence of any person by' him employed.
To this plea were the' same replication and demurrer as to the 13th.
16. The 16th plea was to the 2d, 4th, 5th, 6tb, 7th, 8th and 9th counts, and, after protesting as in the 13th píea, and admitting that the letter, &c. were not duly pemailed and sent on by the mail of the 1st of August as it ought to have been, avers that it was sent on by the next mail,-which left Washington on the 3d of August, and after departing from the post-office at Washington, and being entirely without the'eare and custody of the Defendant, and of every person employed in his post-office, were taken and embezzled, by some person or persons as yet undiscovered and unknown, and so lost to the Plaintiffs without any participation, oOnnivanCé, procurment, consent, or knowledge of the Defendant, or óf any person employed or entrusted in his post-office.
To this, plea as pleaded to the 2d, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th counts the Plaintiffs demurred; and as pleaded to the 8th and 9th counts they replied in substance that by reasonable care and diligence the letter, &c. might have been sent on by the .maií of the 1st of August, and. was not, and that the loss happened thereby .; and concluded to the country..
To this replication the Defendant demurred.
17. The 17th plea was to the 2d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9thvC0imts, and was like the 16th pica, in all respects, except that it concluded with the following - traverse, viz.: « without this, that the loss of the said «letter and bank notes aforesaid was caused or pro- « dnced by. reason of the same not having been ■re'-mail- « ed and sent, on, as aforesaid, in the mail of the 1st of « August, as afor< said, according to the post-master « general’s instructions as aforesaid, instead of having “ beert delayed for the next succeeding'mail of. the 3d « of the same Augustus aforesaid, and re-mailed and « sent on in that mail as aforesaid.’’
On this pica as pleaded tb the 9th count, ilie.PIaintiff took issue upon the traverse, and demurred to the. plea as pleaded to all the other counts.
18.. The -18th plea was to the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th. counts, and, after protesting, as in the 13th plea, averred,.that according to the duly established regulations of the post-office, and the.instructions of the postmaster general in the "declaration mentioned, and then in full force, .all letters, &c. put info the post-office at Philadelphia directed to Petersburgh, ought to have been put up in a sepárate and distinct mail, directed to Petersburgh,'which mail ought-to have been sent on, through the several intermediate post-offices, from Philadelphia tó Petersburgh, and which, according to the regulations and instructions aforesaid could not have been properly opened either at the post-office in Washington, nor at any other intermediate post-office on the route from Philadelphia to Petersburgh. for -any purpose whatever; and no such letters, See. ought, according to the said regulations and instructions, to have been put up and sent on in any mail, Which, according to Hie direction of the same, and the said regulations and instructions, could have been properly opened at the- post-office in Washington to be there distributed and re-mailed previous to being sent on and forwai’dcd to Petersburgh; and that the letter, Sec. opght not to have been put up and sent on from the post-office at, Philadelphia in any mail to be opened, distributed and re-mailed at the post-office at Washington, but in a separate and distinct mail, directed to. Petersburgh, and to be, 'sent on through tfte post-bffice at Washington, without being there opened, distributed or rc-majled. Whereas the said letter, &c. was not, &c. but itogether with all the other letters sent by the same post, and directed and destined for Petersburgh, was contrary to the said regulations, See. sent on from Philadelphia in a mail which, according to the direction of the same, and the said regulations, Sec. was to be opened at the post-office in Washington for the purpose of being distributed and re-mailed, See.; and the Defendant says that if the said letter, &c. had been put up in a distinct and separate mail directed to Petersburg!), it would - have been duly sent on in the mail of the first of August* and so jhe delay was occasioned by the erroneous and irregular manner in which the letter was put up and sent on from Philadelphia, and not by the negligence, carelessness or misconduct of the Defendant in his office: «'without this that the said letter was' put and forwarded in the mail .at and from Philadelphia, and de£t livered at the said post-office in Washington in anj “ other manner than as aforesaid, and this he is ready “ to verify,” &c.
To this plea, as pleaded, to the 5th count, the Plaintiffs demurred; and as pleaded to the other-counts,-they replied} and (after protesting that the post-master at Philadelphia was not bound to send on the letter in a separate mail directed to Petersburgh, &c. and protesting that the loss of the letter or the delay, &c. was not occasioned by the supposed'erroneous manner in which it ivas put up and sent on from Philadelphia) for replication said, that the letter, &c. was put up and forwarded by the post-master at Philadelphia, according to the said instructions of the post-master general, in ¿ mail addressed “ Southern,” containing the letters addressed to places in Virginia,' and was' thereafter duly and regularly placed in the post-office in Washington on the 1st of August to be re-mailed and sent on in the mail of that day, and that the* delay and loss were not occasioned by any error or irregularity in the manner in which it. was put up and sent on from. Philadelphia, but was occasioned, by the want of due and .reasonable care and diligence in the performance of the,duties of the post-office at Washington on the'first of August; and concluded to the country.
To this replication the Defendant demurred.
All the demurrers were decided by the Court belo>v in favor of the Plaintiffs.
Upon the trial of the issues of fact the Plaintiffs took seven bills of exception.
1. The first bill of exception stated that the Plaintiffs offered evidence to the jury that the Defendant was deputy post-master at the city of Washington from the 1st of January, 1806, until the time of trial, and had under his management and direction the affairs and business of the post-office at that places and the Plaintiffs produced and read to the jury the printed instructions of tlie post-master general of the United States ,: and proved by a witness that those were the instructions delivered Jo the Defendant for his government in the duties of his office as deputy post-master in the city of Washington. The.Plaintiffs further produced to the jury evidence that they had §2,000 in bank notes in the hands of Walker and Kennedy, merchants at Philadelphia, and that that sum of money, in bank notes, was enclosed in a sealed letter and directed to the Plaintiffs, at Petersburgh in Virginia, the place of their residence, and put into the post-office at Philadelphia, and was by the post-master at that place forwarded in the mail addressed to the state of Virginia on the 31st of July, 1806^ That it arrived in due course of post at the post-office in the city of Washington under the care and management of the Defendant. That it was the duty of the office at Washington, as á distributing office, to open the said mail so addressed, and to forward to Petersburgh in Virginia the said letter according to its address. That the said letter wa3 lost and never arrived at the post-office in Petersburgh nor came to the hands of the Plaintiffs, and that the same was demanded of the Defendant, who denied he was liable for it. It was admitted that the course of conveying the mail from Philadelphia to Petersburgh is as follows: tile Virginia mail, tied with a string and wrapt in papers, is, with many other mails similarly secured, enclosed in a locked portmanteau, and sent by stage to the city of Washington, distant 144 miles. No person or post-office between Philadelphia and Washington is legally autho rized to open the mail addressed to Virginia; but the portmanteau is unlocked and opened at the Baltimore post-office, and the various mails are there taken out of the portmanteau, in order to select the Baltimore mail. When, the mail arrives at the post-office in Washington the mail, addressed to Virginia is opened in said office as a distributing office, and the letters addressed to Petersburgh assorted, tied and wrapped as aforesaid, and put into a mail addressed to the post-office at Peters-burg!]. The said Petersburgh mail so tied and wrapped is, with, many other inails, put into the portmanteau, which is locked and opened on the route only at Fredericksburgh and Richmond. But the said Petersburgh mail, wrapped in paper and tied with a string as aforesaid, though it may properly be taken out of the portmanteau witli the other mails at Fredericksburgh and Richmond as aforesaid, cannot be legally opened at any office between Washington and Petersburgh. Whereupon the Plaintiffs’ counsel prayed the Court to instruct the jury, that if they should find the above facts to he true the Pláintiffs were entitled to recover in this cáse on their 3d count, unless the Defendant should prove the said letter to have been forwarded from his office in the time and manner prescribed by law and the said instructions of the post-master general, which opinion the Court refused to erive.
2. The 2d bill of exceptions stated the same facts, and that thereupon the Plaintiffs’ counsel prayed the Court to instruct the jury that if they should find those facts to be true, then the Plaintiffs were entitled to recover in this case upon their 4th and 5th counts, unless the Plaintiff should prove the said letter to have been forwarded from his office in reasonable time, and in the manner prescribed by law and the instructions of the post-master general; which instruction the Court re-? fused to give.
3. The 3d bill of exception stated, that, in addition to the above facts, the Plaintiffs offered evidence, under the issues joined on the 6th and 10th pleas, to prove that the letter and bank notes were lost by the negligence and carelessness of Henry Whetcroft and William Hewitt sworn clerks and assistants employed by the Defendant in his said post-office •, and also certain acts of omission, undue delay and'detention of the Said letter. and bank notes by-such clerks and assistants of the Defondant;.to the competency of which evidenee to supr port the issues joined on the 6th and 1 Óth pleas on the part of Plain tiffs, the Defendant objected; and the Court', was of opiuion- that under those issues such evidence was incompetent, and refused, to suffer -the - same to be given to the jury under those issues; and instructed the. jury that, the Defendant was not liable - under those issues for any acts or-omissions, of his said clerks and assistants: 'to which refusal and opinion the Plain- ■ tiffs excepted.
4. - The 4-th bill of-exceptions stated that the Plaintiffs offered evidence of the facts stated' in their 5th' and 8th counts, and moved the Court to instruct the jury that if they should believe from the evidence that -the letter Snd batik notes'were duly delivered into the-DefendanPs post-office,-then it was incumbent on-the -Defendant to prove that the same were duly forwarded. And -if the jury should further believe that .the -same were not so forwarded and had become lost, then it was incumbent on the 'Defendant to prove that the same were not -lost fey any undue negligence or unreasonable detention of himself or any person employed by him in his office; which instruction the Court’ refused to givte; but instructed them that if the jury should believe from the evidence that the letter and bank notes were duly delivered into'the Defendant’s office, then it was incumbent, on thc'Defendaiit to {move that the same were duly forwarded; and if the jury should further believe-that the same, were so delivered and were, not so. forwarded, and had become .lost in consequence thereof; then it was incumbent on the Defendant to "prove that the same •were'1 not lost by any undue negligence and unreasonable detention of himself or any other person employed by him ip his office. To -which refusal the Plaintiffs excepted.
5. The sth bill of exceptions stated, in addition -to-the.facts before stated, that the Plaintiffs offered in evidence-a copy of a. post-bill from Philadelphia, of the Sdkt of July, 1806, (shewing that-a. letter whose postage-was. one dollar and 20 cents, corresponding with the postage- upon the. letter in question, was Charged in tlu?,-pog< b'ill from Philadelphia to the state of Virginia,) and offered to prove that the post-bill, of which it was a copy,' was received at the Defendants post-office with letters in the-mail from Philadelphia. And the Defendant offered evidence to prove that it never was the custom, until after the. report oftheloss of the letter and bank-notes in-question, for the actual contents of the mails, sent to the said office fox* distribution, to he compared with the contents noted in the accompanying post-bills , ex? eept that it was customary to examixxe the column of paid letters in order- to see whether as many paid letters, and of the samé amount of postage, came on in.the mail; that this was done because the deputy post-master had to account to the, post-master general for all letters sent on from his office and marked paid; whether origb nally put into his office, or coming there in mails foi: distribution $ and according to the routine of office, any deficiency, appearing <>n the arrival of the mail, in the amount of postage marked in his post-bill as « paid,” would be chargeable to him j that in no other respect was any- attention paid, or notice taken, whether the actual contents of the mail, as to any letters not marked .« paid,” ’ corresponded, or not, with the post-bill. That if, by accident, any variance between the post-bill and the actual contents of the mail received for distribution, wás discovered, it woxild never be noted in the office, inasmuch as the printed forms, furnished to the Defendant and.other deputy post-masters, from the post-master general for the account of mailsjfc?- distribution, contained no column for noting letters either over-charged, or under-charged* or miss-sent, sxxch as are to be found in the form furnished for account of mails for delivery, and marlccclNo. 1, in the schedule annexed to the instructions of 1804.
/Whereupon, the Plaintiffs prayed the Couxl to instruct the jury that if they believed from the evidence, that the copy of the post-bill produced, was a true copy of the post-hill sent on from Philadelphia to the Washington post-office, and that the sainé was received with lctiers in the mail from Philadelphia at the Defendants office, then the jury ought to presume that the-letters accompanying the said post-bill coi’responded therewith, unless the Defendant should prove the contrary; which instruction the Court refused to give as prayed; but instructed the jury that it is competent for them, from those circumstances, so to presume; and to decide up~ on the force of such presumption from all the circumstances proved in the case; to which refusal and jnstruction the Plaintiffs excepted.
6. The 6th exception was to the refusal of the Court to suffer a witness to be asked whether the printed general instructions from the post-master general given to the deputy post-masters in 18Q4, superseded those before given to thepo8t-master in Philadelphia in 1800; both instructions having been produced and read in evidence to the jury.
7. The 7th bill of exceptions stated that the Plaintiffs offered evidence to .« prove the several allegations in the « said declaration; and further offered in evidence the “several printed instructions of the post-master gen- « eral (thereto annexed) and also the depositions (there«to annexed and which tended to prove the delivery of «the letter and bank notes into the post-office at Phila«delphia, and their arrival at the post-officp in Washington.) And the Defendant offered evidence to prove «that .Petersburgh, ever since the 1st of November, «1804, was a distributing post-office as established by «the said instructions; that after the said instructions «it was the practice of post-offices, (except that of « Philadelphia) in which letters were deposited fob Pe «tersburgh, to put the same up in a. separate mail ad- •« dressed to Petersbugh, and not in the yirginia state «mail. That the Philadelphia post-office, since the « said 1st of August, 1806, and not before, has adopted «the same practice; That the.Virginia state mail above « mentioned contained the letters directed to t'm several « post-offices in-Virginia, except Norfolk; and Richmond, « and also the letters directed to the states of Ohio ai;d « Kentucky; and that before the letters for Petersbugh «•¡contained in the said mail could be distributed and «re-mailed, it was necessary to assort and distribute the « whole contents of the said mail. ■
“The Plaintiffs then moved the Court to instruct theju«ry, that if they-should believe from the evidence, that the «letter and thc'baiik notes in the declaration mentioned, « were put, at the post office in Philadelphia, in a bun-«die superscribed « Virginia state mails,” and that it * had been, since the year 1800, and was the practice, '< in the said Philadelphia post-office during the months “ of July and August, 1806, to send letters for deliveiw “ at'Petersbugh, Virginia, in that manner; and that all “letters in the Virginia state mail, for Petersburgh, “ Virginia, brought to the Defendant’s office, had been “ usually re-mailed, distributed, and sent on from the “post-office kept by the Defendant, to Petersburgh “ aforesaid; and should be further of opinion that the “ said letter,. containing the said bank notes, was deli- “ vered in the said bundle superscribed “ Virginia state “ mail,” on the first day of August, 1806, in the said “ office of the Defendant, and in due time to be re-mailed, “ distributed and sent on by the Dfendant on the .first “day of August, 1806, from his aforesaid oflice, In, a “ bundle addressed to Petersburgh, Virginia, then it was “ the duty of the said Defendant to have re-mailed, dis- “ tributad» and sent on the said letter by the mail which “ left the Washington post-office on the said first day “of August, 1806; and if they further believe that this “ was not so done, or caused to be done by the said De- “ fendant, that it is incumbent on the Defendant to make “out a just, reasonable and sufficient excuse for the “ omission.” which instruction the Court-refused to give as prayed; and the Plaintiffs excepted."
The act of congress of March 2(3,1799, Vol. 4<, p. 505? establishes a general post-office at the scat cf government of the United States, under flic direction of a postmaster general; and enacts, that he shall establish post-offices, and appoint post-masters • at all such places as shall appear to him expedient, on the post-roads that are or may be established by law. And that he shall, give the post-masters instructions relative to their’duty ; and shall obtain from them thejr accounts and vouchers, &c. once in three months &c. That all persons employed in thecare of the mail shall fake an oath faithfully to perform the duties required of them, and abstain from every thing forbidden by the laws in relation to the establishment of the post-office, and post-roads within the United States. That every post-master shall keep an office in which one or more persons shall attend at such hours ks the post-master general shall diréct, for the purpose of performing the duties thereof, and allletters brought to any post-office hfllf
an hour before the time of making up the mail of sucli office, shall be forwarded therein; except at such post-offices where, in the opinion of the post-master general, - it -requires more time for making ffp the mail, and which he shall accordingly prescribe r but this shall in-no case exceed one hour.
TJiat if any person employed in any of the departments .of the general post-office shall secrete, embezzle, or destroy any letter with which he shall be entrusted, or which shall have come to his possessionand-intended to be conveyed by post, containing any barl’k note, &c. he shall, on conviction, be publicly whipped not exceeding forty stripes, and be imprisoned not exceeding ten-.yéars. '
That the. post-master general be authorized to allow to. the post-masters, respectively, such commission on the monies arising from the'.postages, or shall be adequate to their, respective services and expenses; not exceeding, &c.
The instructions of the post-master general, issued in pursuance of this .act, to- the post-masters in 1804, required that every person employed in a'post-office as assistant or clerk should take the oath, and send a certificate thereof to the general post-office. That every' post-pdas ter should be responsible “for the care and ffdeli“ty of.every person so employed.” That “the post“masters• at distributing offices arelo distribute and “ re-mail all letters and packages before-the departure « of the mail, and onno account delay them a single post.”
. The* verdict and judgment of the Court below being for'the Defendant, the Plaintiffs brought their writ of error.
F. S. Key and C. Lee, for the Plaintiffs in error.
The 3d bill of exceptions brings into view the ques tipu, whether the negligence of the Defendant’s clerks can be given in evidence to prove an allegation of negligence of the Defendant himself; which necessarily involves the question whether the Defendant is liable fox the negligence of his clerks. This bill of exccjv. tiofis arose upon the issues joined on the 6th and 10th pleas. The 6fh plea was, that the letter was not lost by the negligence or misconduct of the Defendant in his office — and the ipth was, that the Defendant had not negligently or improperly delayed or detained the letter in the office»
The law in respect to the liability of, the post-matter general is admitted to be the same here as it'is stated in Ld. le Despencer’sK case, (Cowp. 754.) to be in England. But the opinion of lord Mansfield, in that case, dearly shows that the action lies in the present case. In the case of Brucker v. Fromont, 6 T. R. 659, it is decided that a declaration which charges tiie Defendant wjjfch negligence, is supported by prquf of the negligence of his servant. Where the negligence is in a post-office, it is scarcely possible, in any case, for a Plaintiff to know exactly to which of the persons, employed in the office^ the negligence is to be attributed* If as the Court below decided, the Defendant is liable for the negligence of his clefks, it seems to' be immaterial whether the declaration state the neglect to be on the part of the Defendant or of his clerks ; or state it in the alternative. A collector of the revenue is liable for his deputies, although they are sworn officers. Yet the secretary of the treasury iá not liable for the collectors: So the marshal is liable for his deputies, who are also sworn officers, arid who give bond for the faithful discharge of their duty. Why should there be a difference in the case of a post-master ?
The 4th exception is, that the Court refused to instruct the jury, that proof of negligence and loss raised a presumption that the loss was á consequence of the negligence, unless the contrary be shown. Or, in other words, the Court below decided, that proof of negligence and loss did not throw the burden of proof on tile defendant, to show that the loss was not a consequence of the negligence. To oblige the Plaintiffs to prove, that the loss was a consequence of that negligence, was to impose upon them an impossibility in the nature of things.
The 5th exception is to the refusal of the Court to instruct the jury, that they ought to infer that flip^on- tents of the mail from Philadelphia corresponded with the post-bill when it was received at the Washington office, unless the Defendant should prove the contrary.
What 5, jury may infer from facts proved, is a question of law for the Court to decide. And wliat a jury may thus infer, they are hound in law to infer, unless the contrary be proved. The Court, therefore, ought not to have left the matter entirely to the jury, but to have given the instruction.as prayed.
Presumptions are inferences of law. Thus from long possession, the Court will instruct the jury that they ought to presume a deed. So from evidence of payment of the last ten years rent, the jury ought'to presume all the former rents were paid. So in trover, from evidence of a demand and refusal, the jury ought to presume á conversion. So, if stolen goods are found in possession of a man, the jury .ought to presume that he stole them, unless the contrary be shewn.
The 7th exception raises the question whether the Defendant was not bound to re-mail and send on the letter, according to law, and the instructions of the postmaster general, although the mail arrived at his office in an irregular maiiner.
Upon this point the 5th section of the post-office law, (ml. 4, p. 507,) and the instructions, are decisive. These instructions being given in conformity with the law, become part thereof, and are equally binding.
Jones and Moksell, contra.
All the questions in this case are resolved into, one, viz. On which side was the burden of proof in certain stages of the trial. All the exceptions aré grounded upon the idea, that it was only nécessary for the Plaintiffs to show negligence in the office, ánd a loss of the letter, without showing that the loss was a consequence of the negligence.
We admit that the Defendant is liable for any loss happening by his own hegligenee — but we deny that he is liable for that of his clerks. The act of Congress requires that the Defendant should employ clerks, and that they should be sworn, and imposes specific penalties upon each person employed in the office for his own misconduct. They are all public officers, and liable to be charged ex delictu officii. The post-master is only bound to use due care and circumspection in selecting proper clerks. He is not like, a common carrier, who receives hire in proportion to the risk, and the value of the article. He has only a compensation for his trouble in the office. The liability of a master arises from his supposed assent, arising from the fact that the servant is employed for the benefit of the master. But here the clerk does not act for the post-master, but for the public. The servant must be employed in the business of the master and for his benefit, or the latter will not be liable.
Johnson, J. It has never been attempted to assimilate him to a common carrier. He has nothing to do with the carrying of the mail.
Jones. It is decided in England, that the post-master general in England is not liable for his deputies. Lane v. Cotton. 1 Ld. Ray. 647. 1 Salk. 17.
The instructions from our post-master general to the post-masters, that they should be liable for their deputies or clerk, &c. only means that they shall be liable in accounting with him officially for the revenue. He could not make them liable to individuals.
In the case of Rowning v. Goodchild, 2 W. Bl. 906. 3 Wils. 443, the principal question was, whether the post-master was bound to send out the letters to the inhabitants ,• but a question incidentally arose whether the action, which was brought against the deputy post-master, should not have been brought against the post-master general. The Court, however, was of opinion, that in all cases, deputies are answerable for their own personal misfeasance, such as detaining the letter in question. And in that case the deputies were made, by act of parliament, ex necessitate rei, substantive officers, and their duty pointed out as such.
But if the Defendant was liable for the default of his clerks, vet the declaration ought to have shown, Whether the Defendant was called upon to account for his own negligence, or that of his 'clerks. The case of • Brucker v. Fromont, 6 T. R. 659, was reluctantly der eided upon, the authority of Turbeville v. Stampe, Ld, Ray. 264,.hut which does not support the case of Brucker v. Fromont, which is evidently" against principle \ and at all events is confined to the case, of master and servant. In the. following cases, a discrimination is made in the declaration between the act of the. master, and. that of his servants. Turner. v. Hawkins, 1 Bos. & Pull. 472. Ogle v. Barnes, 8 T. R. 188. Savignac v. Roome, 6 T. R. 125.
Presumptions arising from circumstantial evidenc-e are always to be left to the jury. Such "a positive' infe» vence as will justify the Court in directing the jury» that they ought to make it, can arise only from sqme solemn act. In the present case therte was other evidence, allowing that no such inference could be drawn as the Plaintiffs liad supposed ; and therefore the Court .did right to "leave the whole to the jury.
The 7th exception required the Court to say, that" the Defendant was bound to send on the letter on the 1st of August, or to show a reasonable texrusq for not sending it on, although-the mail was made up in ari irregular manner in Philadelphia. The idea of reasonable diligence is- excluded — and it supposes the Defendant bound at all events to send the letter on by that mail, or to give a sufficient excuse for noc doing so, although he sent it by the next mail, and although the loss was not the consequence of not sending it on the 1st of August.
The Defendant was not hound to show that he sent it on; it would be impossible in the.course of the business of the office to prove the sending on of every particular letter. Sworn officers are presumed to have done their duty, until the contrary is proved. 3 East. Williams v. E. I. Company.
March 14th....
All the Judges being present,

Opinion:
Johnson, J.
delivered, the opinion of the Court as follows :
it is necéssary +o dissipate the cloud of pleading in Which this case is enveloped, in order to form a distinct idea of the questions intended to be brought to the view of the Couii, below.
The object is to charge the post-master with the loss of money sent by mail; and the points, which the exceptions are intended to make; are, how far he is liable for his own act or neglect,, how. far for the acts or neglect of .his'- assistants, and what evidence shall be sufficient to support the Plaintiff's action.
, But unfortunately, as not unfrequently happens in this complex and injudicious mode of conducting a suit, with all the clerical skill displayed by counsel in multiplying their counts and pointing their bills of exceptions, the principal questions are really, at last, not brought to the view of this Court.
On the first and second exception it is unnecessary to make any remark, as they are admitted to apply to counts which the evidence did not support and have bepn, in fact, abandoned.
The third, exception is intended to raise the question how far a post-master is liable for the neglect of his assistants; but, connected witli the pleadings, it presents-another and a very different question, to wit, whether, whén tíie issue is taken upon the neglect of the postmaster himself, it is competent to give in evidence, neglect in the assistant acting under him. Now the distinction between the relation of a post-master to his sworn assistant acting under him, and between master and servant generally, has long been settled; and although the latter relation might sanction the admission of such evidence', we are unanimously, of ,opinion that, if it is intended to charge a post-master, for the negligence of his assistants, the pleadings must be made up according to the case; and his liability then will only result from, his own neglect in not properly superintending the. discharge of their duties in his office.
: In the fourth exception, the only difference between the opinion prayed for and that given, is, that the Court require the loss to be a, consequence of not forwardipg the letter described in the declaration. Now, in justice to the correctness of the. Plaintiffs' counsel, this Court hope that they meant nothing more than what the Court conceded; for, certainly, if the loss was not a consequence of the state of things made out in the evidence, they were not entitled to recover.
On the fifth exception it is only necessary to remark, that if the Court below erred at all, it was in conceding too much to the prayer of the Plaintiff. An entry on the post-bill is by no means conclusive evidence of the transmission of a letter, for, it may still never have been put into the mail, or may have been stolen in its passage.
The sixth exception is equally untenable. _ The instructions of the post-master general spoke for themselves. If the one superseded or rescinded the other, the evidence was to.,be sought for by .comparing them together.
And the seventh exception affords the Court an opportunity to remark how much more conducive to the purposes of justice it would be to substitute special ver dicts, and demurrers to evidence, for the tedious and embarrassing practice of the Court from which this case comes up.- It is a fact that this bill of exceptions claims a right of rerovery without stating any loss or damage whatever. The opinion prayed for was, that if the jury believed the various facts therein detailed, then it is incumbent on the Defendant to. make out a just, reasonable and sufficient excuse for omitting to forward the letter described. But, unless an individual has sustained some loss or damage by an omission of that kind, why should the post-master be held to make out a defence ? Each bill of exceptions must be considered as presenting a distinct, substantive case; and it is on the evidence stated in itself alone that the Court'is to decide. We cannot go beyond it and collect other facts which must have neen in the mind of the party, and the insertion of which in this bill of exceptions could alone have sanctioned the opinion as prayed for.
Upon the whole, the judgment below must be affirmed.