Preface.
This tale is founded chiefly on facts furnished by the
Postmaster-General's Annual Reports, and gathered, during personal
intercourse and investigation, at the General Post-Office of London and
its Branches.
It is intended to illustrate--not by any means to exhaust--the subject
of postal work, communication, and incident throughout the Kingdom.
I have to render my grateful acknowledgments to SIR ARTHUR BLACKWOOD;
his private secretary, CHARLES EDEN, ESQUIRE; and those other officers
of the various Departments who have most kindly afforded me every
facility for investigation, and assisted me to much of the information
used in the construction of the tale.
If it does not greatly enlighten, I hope that it will at all events
interest and amuse the reader.