 NTSCELLANE1U us.

To Postmasfers and .Haa Contractors. PosT 0FEieE DEnARrmENr.

 JutY igth. fs3l.
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 July lzth, 1851

 Genlea.ca-Hfithin the lasstwoyearS. the condition of this Department has i'm proved. Inmapy parts of the country, mail routes have been extended; stage accommodations have been added the frequency of trips has been increased; :; and Oh many of the leading routes, greater celerity has been given to the transportation Of tlie mail and to the expedition of tle traveller. On the routes most important to the intercourse of the country, and especially to its mer- eandle interests, greater improvements have been secured in the more rapid transmission of tbe mail. Two years since, the contracts then ;noperation involved an expenseofmore than d hundred thousand dollars q year, I beyond the amount. Of the current re- venue of the Department. At pre- sent, it's current revenue does not vary materially from the current expendl- ture. These results could not have been produced by any efforts on my part, had they not received the energetic coop eratlon of pestmastefs and Contractors. That much of the success which has attended those efforts, is duo to the Yi- glance and fidelity which have charae- terized most of you, is deeply felt and acknowledged.

 Ihe nunher of persons employed in the various branches of this Depart mant, experiencing postmastcrs and tAeir assistants, contractors and their va 'lous agents, is upwards of thirty thous- aaa' Among these, it is scarcely to be l Presumed that every individual would prove entirely faithful to his trust; and recent deVelopements have shown, that errors exist among them which call for correction. Nor can it be expected, .nat in community embracing an ex- I te'lslve nation, every individual should pe so lar governed by the dictates oi so10f s and integrity, as to preclude all naaoalent practices; but as it is the aa'y oi every good citizen to discoun- ea'i'ce them, il is especially incumbent upon every agent of this Dcpartment .oexerelse all possible vigilance in de slLeuns and preventing them, wherever uley are found to bear upon its inter ss's' Your particular attention is there '0'u called to the following points.

 N's 1ne duty of every postmaster te tb,. eafeiai in locking the mail; to sec ma;,, a"a Il Is secured; and to regard the ss, @@'i Key as sacred deposit. The mos na essils,ye depredations ever committed hp hp,a ~ sae mail, have been perpetratce t6e IeaAs Iar {, ai 1ifnproPerpcssons obtaining unaas m aey. It should be carefully secured uads. .l iock; and no person, who is no nerm;.' tue oath Of office, should ever be ea'.'.ed or kaa | to have access to it, or to us, t6a Ssep the key. That disregard fo

 nj ss'ely of the mail which will per out an, postmaster to lose key, is with that rp sp0logy. It is equally importan yo,,.a,' examine well the bags in whicl

 adb'1ee adfba b' the mail for transportation

 seenro pc . sure that they arc whole an,

 ,he ne.4. < When new ones are needed

 tioa on ,'u'as,er ,h should make the requisi

 forw,rsa' a'e Department, and when thos

 malll, l,e ss sesfe, are not returned with tn

 tAs roato at should send an inquiry alon

 V ascertain the postmaster b