Foot-prints of a letter carrier; or, a history of the world's correspondece

fices, Ancien

ablishing the different offices, and of buying or hiring the necessary horses or carriages, an

icult undertaking. Individuals at a distance, having little inclination and less opportunity for su

aders will observe, as we progress in this work, how it assumes at last one of the most important branches of a government. Indeed, this it wa

was used long before post-offices were established, implying a public establishment of letters, newspapers, &c. In the Roman Empire, couriers, on swift horses

their introduction. Some writers carry it back to the time of the Republic,-posts and post-offices, under the name of statores and station, having been then, it is said, established by the Senate. Whether this was the case or not, Suetonius assures us that Augustus substituted posts along the great roads of the Empire. At first, the despatche

sed for military purposes, imparting news of war, victory, &c. "Equi positi"-post-horses-were common even before the

ld post

gland to the f

of gods

sublime epics, makes u

sent his fearful mand

of gods

was understood to mean "to ride or travel with post-horses;" "with speed or despatch of post-horses

a government, and act in concert with other great agents

world presents a more extended view of such progress, in connection with the postal system, than does that of the United States. In the short space of ei

in which they flourished,-did less for her commercial interest, throughout all those periods, than has the United States in less than fifty years. Enterprise came forth under the light of liberty, and extended its operations to every department of trade, commerce, art, and science. England b

rs from to

ng a branch of the government, and, in

es which necessarily occur at elections have a tendency to retard, rather than advance, the postal system on its road to perfection. Indeed, it is not assuming too much if we say that civil liberty, practically speaking, partly consists in these changes; for opposition is an essential and vital element of such liberty, and opposition, with these possible changes, would have little or no meaning. If, however, they we

and, raised in the ages of superstition, astonished the world! Connect it with the arts, and nations are brought together by the mere stroke of the pen! Associate it with science, relig

of that age, long before Hermes substituted alphabetical signs. We follow it up, through sacred and profane history, to the exclusive royal messengers in Persia mentioned by Herodotus, and the grant of the

e as a fief, given to them by the Emperor Charles V., and they continued to hold it long after the different German States had become independent. Of course, like all such fiefs, (even those of Saxo

RECORDED R

d carried into operation, that of the posts and couriers, to facilitate the transportation of letters, was probably the most important. He caused post-houses to be built and messengers to be appointed in every province. There were one hundred and twenty provinces. Having calculated how far a good horse with a brisk rider could go in a day, without being spoiled, he had stables built in proportion, at equal distances from each other, and had them furnished wi

the last of the Persian kings, had it before he came to the crown. Xenophon notices the fact that this establishment subsisted still in his time, which perfectly agrees with what is related in the book of E

many ancient cities scattered over the land are imposing and grand, especially those of Persepolis. Next to the pyramids of Egypt and the colossal ruins of Thebes, they have attracted the attention of travellers, and, like them, still remain an enigma,-their history, dates, and objects being involved in th

had a public letter-post; though the conveyance of letters is as much a mat

rii, who went in charge of the public despatches; but they w

transmission of letters, &c. Under his reign, literature flourished, many salutary laws were established, and he so embellished Rome that he

r the conveyance of letters. Yet, when we take into consideration that trade and commerce were then in their infancy, simple messengers only were requir

by the Emperor Charlemagne,-a service which did not survive him. Thi

ade and commerce, and established to facilitate the conveyance of letters throughout the commercial world, origi

red constant communication with each other; and it became almost a necess

y justly be termed the dawn of our great commercial history. It was under this league the banking system, exchanges, and the principles of book-keeping, with double entries, and various other practices which facilitate and secure commercial intercourse, originated

example, but followed its precepts. It was under its dynasty the postal system was established and communications of post-routes opened with all the towns. In proportion as the reputation, opulence, and forces of the league subsequently changed to "The Hanseatic Confederacy" increased, there were few towns of note in Europe that were not associated with it. Thus, France furnished to the confederacy Rouen, St. Malo, Bordeaux, Bayonne, and Marseilles. Spain: Cadiz, Barce

of the laws of nations and the ethics of political economy. Mr. Oddy ascribes the downfall of the Hanse Confederacy to their becoming warlike, and preferring political importance to wealth obtained by their original modes. It is, however, probable that no system of policy, either commercial or political, however wise or moderate, could have prevented the wars in which the Hanseatic League were

fostering care and protection,-to encourage one without depressing the other; and to watch their reciprocal bearings, connection, and affinity, that the general interest may be promoted and the resources consolidated into a mass of strength adequate or superior to the power of their enem

their sumptuous mode of living. Some idea of their splendor may be formed from the following anecdote, recorded by Dr. Robinson in his "Historical Disquisitions," who relates that, in the year 1301, Joanna of Navarre, the wife of Philip the Fair, of France, having been some days in Bruges

power, wealth, and influence. The rise of Holland accelerated their decline; and the general attention which other nations began to pay to manufactures and com

id their towns to continue members of the confederacy. Upon this, the Teutonic Hanse Towns restricted the confederacy to Germany. About the middle of the seventeenth century the confederacy was almost wholly confined to the towns of Hamburg, Lubeck, and Bremen. They retained the appellation of the

aliatory measure, made it an espionage over his subjects through the medium of their correspondence, and also for the purpose of enriching himself by the profits of the enterpri

the fifteenth century-when it assumed a very different aspect-to give some account of the earlier history