whether in a stamped envelope or not; but to continue the practice, or receive money for so doing, subjects the party to a penalty of one hundred and fifty dollars. Newspapers and periodicals may be carried outside of the mail for sale or distribution to subscribers, but if they are put into a Post-office for delivery the postage must be paid thereon.

After a letter has passed from the mailing office the delivering of it cannot be delayed, or prevented by the alleged writer; but if the writer thereof requests the return of a letter placed in a Post-office which has not left in the mail, the Postmaster may deliver it, provided he is furnished with proper evidence that the party applying is the writer, and if the application is made before the stamp is cancelled it may be returned without canceling the stamp.

When a letter-carrier delivers a letter at a designated address, in the absence of any instructions to the Postmaster to the contrary, it is a legal delivery, and such letter cannot be remailed except it is prepaid anew; but parties may insure their letters being forwarded without additional charge, by advising the Postmaster in writing.

Printed matter, merchandise, and other third-class matter cannot be forwarded from the office to which it is addressed, unless the Postmaster is furnished with postage for such purpose. Neither can a Postmaster regard a request to return indorsed on such matter, except he is furnished with postage as above. A request to return written on such matter would subject the packages to letter postage.

The delivery of letters is not controlled by any statutory provision, but by the Rules and Regulations of the Post-office Department; and the object of the Department is to insure and facilitate such delivery to the person for whom they are intended. In the case of Money-Orders and Registered Letters, the parties applying for them, if not known, are required to prove their identity in the same manner as in banking institutions. Parties presenting drafts, checks, etc., who are not known, are required to prove their identity. Parties applying for advertised letters will be required to give place or places where they may be ex pecting correspondence.

To inclose any written matter in printed matter subjects the mailing party to a fine of five dollars unless the party addressed pays letter postage on the package.

Letters addressed to initials or fictitious names are not deliverable unless the address contains a designated place of delivery, thus: A letter addressed A. B., station G., New York, is not deliverable; but a letter addressed A. B., stating street and number, or a box number, is deliverable.

All packages mailed at less than letter rates of postage should

be wrapped so that their contents can be readily ascertained without destroying the wrapper.

Nothing whatever should be written on the contents, or on the covers of packages of third-class matter, but the address of destination, except to add in care of, etc.

To add the words "one newspaper," "printed matter," "from Richard Roe," or anything whatever, will subject such packages to letter postage. There is, however, no objection to a card printed or impressed on the wrapper, or to a mark on a newspaper calling attention to an article therein.

Samples may be marked in pencil or in ink, with letters or figures by which they may be distinguished in a descriptive letter mailed at letter rates of postage, such marking not conflicting with the spirit of the law, which intends that no additional information that could be conveyed in writing should accompany matter passing at less than letter rates; but to mark a price thereon does convey additional intelligence, and would subject a package so marked to letter postage.

Each Post-office box or drawer, in all Post-offices, is restricted to the use of one family, firm, or company. A person renting a Post-office box is entitled to have the letters of his family, firm, or company put into it. Letters addressed to his friends stopping temporarily with him may also be placed in the box, if directed to his care or to the number of the box.

In every case of loss by mail the Department should be immediately informed of all the circumstances connected with it, such as the name of the office in which the letter was posted and the date of mailing; whether by the writer himself or by another person; the names of the writer and the person addressed; the amount and a description of the enclosure; the office to which addressed; and whether registered or unregistered, with any other particulars that may aid in making a thorough investigation. Address communications on this subject, "Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Mail Depredations." Only letters or matter subject to letter postage can be registered. Packages of any description of mail matter may weigh not exceeding four pounds.

Packages of mutilated currency addressed to the Treasurer of the United States for redemption, may be registered free of charge for registry, but the postage thereon must be prepaid at letter rates.

Rates of Postage on Domestic Mail-Matter. MAILABLE matter is divided into three classes, viz:

1. Letters.

2. Regular printed matter.

8. Miscellaneous matter.

FIRST-CLASS.

On domestic letters not exceeding half an ounce, a single rate of three cents is uniformly established.

On letters, sealed packages, wholly or partly in writing, except book manuscript and corrected proofs passing between authors and publishers, and except local or drop letters, or United States postal cards; all printed matter so marked as to convey any other or further information than is conveyed by the original print, except the correction of mere typographical errors; all matter otherwise chargeable with letter postage, but which is so wrapped that it cannot be examined by Postmasters without destroying the wrapper; all packages containing matter not in itself chargeable with letter postage, but in which is inclosed or concealed any letter or memorandum chargeable with letter postage, or upon which is any writing; all matter to which no specific rate of postage is assigned; and manuscript for publication in newspapers or periodicals, three cents for each half ounce or frac tion thereof.

On local or drop letters, at offices where free delivery by carriers is established, two cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof.

On local or drop letters, at offices where free delivery by carriers is not established, one cent for each half ounce or fraction thereof. To inclose or conceal a letter, or other thing (except bills and receipts for subscription), in, or to write or print anything, after its publication, upon any newspaper, pamphlet, magazine, or other printed matter, is illegal, and subjects such printed matter, and the entire package of which it is a part, to letter postage, and also subjects the offender to a fine of five dollars for every such offense.

A business card printed or impressed on the wrapper or envelope of any printed matter, or a simple mark designed to call attention to any article in such printed matter, does not subject it to letter postage.

SECOND-CLASS.

Mailable matter of this class embraces all newspapers and periodicals, exclusively in print, and regularly issued at stated periods from office of publication, without addition by writing, and addressed to regular subscribers.

A regular subscriber is a person who has actually paid, or undertaken to pay, a subscription price for a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, or for whom such payment has been made or undertaken to be made by some other person. But, in the latter case, such payment must have been made or undertaken with the previous consent or at the previous request of the person to whom such newspaper, magazine, or periodical is sent,

and the subscription must be for not less than three months. A person to whom any such publication is sent without his consent or request, is not a "regular subscriber" within the meaning of the law, and if there be no evidence of prepayment on the package, double transient rates of postage must be rated up and collected on delivery.

1. On all newspapers and periodical publications, issued weekly or oftener, two cents a pound or fraction thereof.

2. Or all newspapers and periodical publications, issued less frequently than once a week, three cents a pound or fraction thereof.

3. On newspapers (excepting weeklies), whether regular or transient, and without regard to weight or frequency of issue,

one cent each.

4. On periodicals (other than newspapers), whether regular or transient, not exceeding two ounces in weight, one cent each.

5. On periodicals (other than newspapers), whether regular or transient, exceeding two ounces in weight, two cents each.

6. Circulars, unsealed, one cent each. These rates to be prepaid by postage stamps.

7. Weekly newspapers (excepted above) to regular subscribers, two cents per pound, to be weighed in bulk, and prepaid at the office of mailing.

8. Weekly newspapers to transient parties one cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof, to be prepaid by postage stamps. Newspapers and periodicals, one copy to each actual subscriber residing within the county where the same are printed, in whole or in part, and published, except at letter-carrier offices, or when mailed to a letter-carrier office, are sent free. When sent at letter-carrier office, the regular rates apply.

Bona fide subscribers to county newspapers can receive the same free of postage if they reside in the county in which the paper is printed, in whole or in part, and published, even if the office to which the paper is sent is without the county, provided it is the office at which they regularly receive their mail-matter.

Publications issued without disclosing the office of publication, or containing a fictitious statement thereof, or issued for gratuitous distribution, must not be forwarded unless prepaid at the mailing office at the rate for third-class matter; that they may be addressed to persons residing in the county with the office where they are mailed, or printed and published, makes no difference.

THIRD-CLASS.

By act of July 12, 1876, pamphlets, occasional publications, transient newspapers, magazines, books, periodicals, hand-bills, posters, sheet music (printed), prospectuses, maps, proof-sheets, corrected proof-sheets, and regular publications designed primarily for advertising purposes or free circulation, or for circulation at nominal

rates, are subject to postage at the rate of one cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof; and printed cards and blanks, lithographs, prints, chromo-lithographs, engravings, photographs, and stereoscopic views, book manuscripts, unsealed circulars, seeds, cuttings, roots, and scions, bulbs, flexible patterns, samples of ores, metals, minerals, and merchandise, sample cards, photographic paper, letter envelopes, postal envelopes, and wrappers, unprinted cards, plain and ornamental paper, card-board, and other flexible material, and all other mailable matter of the third-class not herein enumerated, one cent for each ounce or fraction thereof.

All packages of matter of the third-class must be so wrapped or enveloped, with open sides or ends, that their contents may be readily and thoroughly examined by Postmasters without destroying the wrappers; but seeds, and other articles liable, from their form or nature, to loss or damage unless specially protected, may be inclosed in unsealed bags or boxes which can readily be opened for examination of the contents and reclosed; or sealed bags, made of material sufficiently transparent to show the contents clearly, without opening, may be used for such matter.

No writing will be permitted upon articles of this class, or their wrappers, or envelopes, except the address of destination. Any other writing in or upon any package or article of this class will subject it to letter rates of postage.

Matter of the third-class inclosed in sealed envelopes notched at the ends or side, or with the corners cut off, cannot be mailed except at letter postage rates.

Matter of the second and third classes, containing any writing whatever, except the address, will be charged with letter postage. There is no objection to a business card printed or impressed on the wrapper or envelope of any third-class matter, or a simple mark designed to call attention to any article in printed matter, or the correction of a mere typographical error.

Postal Cards.

The object of the Postal Card is to facilitate letter correspondence and provide for the transmission through the mails, at a reduced rate of postage, short communications, either printed or written in pencil or ink. They may therefore be used for orders, invitations, notices, receipts, acknowledgments, price-lists, and other requirements of business and social life; and the matter desired to be conveyed may be either in writing or in print, or partially in both.

They are regarded by Postmasters the same as sealed letters, and not as printed matter, except that in no case will unclaimed cards be returned to the writers or sent to the Dead Letter Office. If not delivered within sixty days from the time of receipt they will be burned by Postmasters.