No one is eligible for an appointment who has been dismissed the Civil Service. No one is eligible who is connected, directly or indirectly, with the management of an inn or public-house. Sorters, stampers, or railway messengers must not be under 5ft. 3in. high in their stockings. All officers appointed to the London Office must pass a medical examination before the medical officer of the Department. A special examination after probation is required from those appointed to the travelling post-offices. In the country, candidates must provide a medical certificate to the effect that they enjoy good health. Sorters and letter-carriers may be promoted to clerkships. Persons of either sex are eligible for appointment in provincial offices. Letter-carriers are provided with uniforms. Post-office officials are assisted, at the rate of about 20 per cent. in payment of premiums for life assurance. They are also entitled to superannuation allowance, according to their length of service. Clerks in the General Post-Office are allowed a month's, and sorters, letter-carriers, &c., a fortnight's, leave of absence each year. Clerks, sorters, &c. in the provinces are allowed leave of absence for a fortnight in each year. Postmasters in the country and officers in the General Post-Offices must give security to the Postmaster-General for the faithful discharge of their duties, in amounts calculated according to the responsible nature of the appointment. A guarantee office[212] or two sureties are taken. The clerks, &c. in the country offices are required to give security in the same manner to the postmasters who may have appointed them. After the preliminary examinations have been passed successfully, each new officer, before commencing duty, is required to make a declaration before a magistrate, to the effect that he will not open, or delay, or cause or suffer to be delayed, any letter or packet to which he may have access. He is then put on _probation_ for a term of six months, after which period, if able to perform all the duties required of him, he receives a permanent appointment. Promotion from class to class in the Post-Office is now, as a rule, regulated by seniority of service--a much more satisfactory arrangement to the whole body of officers than the system of promotion by merit which it has just superseded. Heads of departments, postmasters, and all other officers employed in the Post-Office, are prohibited by law, under heavy penalties, from voting or interfering in elections for members of parliament. No officer of the Post-Office can be _compelled_ to serve as mayor, sheriff, common councilman, or in any public office, either corporate or parochial; nor can he be compelled to serve as a juror or in the militia. FOOTNOTES: [210] This examination is for third-class clerks only. Vacancies are filled up in the first and second classes from the third without any further examination.