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435
Her Majesty's Mails
·
William Lewins
284
Undoubtedly,
the
first
thing
which
will
strike
an
observer
placed
in
circumstances
like
ours,
is,
that
the
Post-Office
is
eminently
a
democratic
establishment,
conducted
on
the
most
improved
fraternité
et
égalité
principles.
The
same
sort
of
variety
that
marks
society,
here
marks
its
letters;
envelopes
of
all
shades
and
sizes;
handwriting
of
all
imaginable
kinds,
written
in
all
shades
of
ink,
with
every
description
of
pen;
names
the
oddest,
and
names
the
most
ordinary,
and
patronymics
to
which
no
possible
exception
can
be
taken.
Then
to
notice
the
seals.
Here
is
one
envelope
stamped
with
the
escutcheoned
signet
of
an
earl;
another
where
the
wax
has
yielded
submissively
to
the
initials
of
plain
John
Brown;
and
yet
another,
plastered
with
cobbler's
wax,
with
an
impression
that
makes
no
figure
in
Burke
or
Debrett,
but
which,
indeed,
bears
many
evidences
of
having
been
manufactured
with
hob-nails.
Then
to
think
that
Queen
Victoria,
and
John
Brown,
and
the
cobbler
aforesaid,
must
each
find
the
inevitable
Queen's
head,
without
which
no
letter
of
high
or
low
degree
can
pass
unquestioned!
Here
they
are--these
letters--mingling
for
a
few
hours
at
any
rate
in
silent
but
common
fellowship,
tossed
about
in
company,
belaboured
with
the
self-same
knocks
on
the
head,
sent
to
their
destination
locked
in
loving
embrace,
and
sometimes,
as
in
the
case
of
the
cobbler's,
exceedingly
difficult
to
part.
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