[153] For fuller information on this head, see Appendix, to the Postmaster-General's _First Report_, pp. 71-4. The following forms part of a later Document (_Ninth Report_, 1862-3), and is interesting enough to be quoted entire: "Owing to the successful measures which the Department has adopted by means of bonds, frequent supervision, and care in the selection of persons admitted into the service, and afterwards promoted therein, very few losses have occurred, of late years at least, through defalcation. More than twenty years ago, however, a postmaster who owed the office 2,000_l._ but who had given security for only a part of that sum, absconded, leaving an unpaid debt of upwards of 1,000_l._ The recovery of the debt had long been considered hopeless, but a short time ago a letter was unexpectedly received from the postmaster's son enclosing a remittance in payment of part of his father's debt, and expressing a hope that after a time he should be able to pay the remainder--a hope which was soon realized, every farthing of the debt having now been discharged, in a manner most creditable to the gentleman concerned." CHAPTER II. ON THE CIRCULATION OF LETTERS. In order to give the reader a proper idea of the channel through which ordinary correspondence flows--the circulation of letters in the Post-Office system--it will be necessary to devote a long chapter to the subject. We therefore propose to post an imaginary letter in the metropolis for a village in the far away North, following it from its place of posting till we finally see it deposited in the hands of the person to whom it is addressed. THE GENERAL POST-OFFICE.