Irrespective of the quantity of circumlocution involved in the matter, there is the question of emolument to the Messengers employed. The Foreign Secretary found, on close examination, that these gentlemen were in the receipt of eight hundred a year each on an average. The amount had doubled itself in the course of twenty years, chiefly by means of the profit derived from the allowance for travelling‒economical railway and steam-boat fares being charged to the government as if they were the expensive old-fashioned fares. Thus the mileage _profit_ increased as the mileage _expenditure_ decreased. All these lumbering arrangements were swept away, and a fixed salary decided on, just as for government clerks, &c. Five hundred a year was the amount decided on, to be paid whether the Messenger were employed or unemployed, whether at home or abroad. It need hardly be said that by the introduction of railways the duties of these Messengers have been immensely simplified. ‘For many years they have scarcely if ever been called upon to travel on horseback; the communication with Constantinople, which was formerly carried on partly by that means, having for some time past been wholly kept up by railway and steam-vessel. In consequence of the accelerated rate of travelling by railway, they are rarely kept out of bed as formerly, for six, eight, ten, or even more nights; and even when they are travelling at night, they are almost always able to enjoy uninterrupted rest, instead of being obliged, as formerly, to be constantly on the alert, in order to stimulate the exertions of postillions and owner.’ The salary was subsequently settled by making the amount five hundred guineas instead of pounds. Important personages in their way are these foreign Messengers, sufficiently high in social position to comprise among their number (at the present time) an ‘honourable,’ a major, and six captains. Evidently the post is eagerly sought for when a vacancy occurs. One of those at present in the service has been a Messenger during the long period of thirty-five years: what a prodigious amount of travel he must have gone through! Good salaries are not the only attractions; several past Messengers have retired on pensions, pretty well wearied of knocking about Europe; while widows of Messengers receive allowances under exceptional circumstances.