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his should have been done is not perhaps remarkable； but it did seem remarkable to me that everybody regarded such appointments as a good deedas a deed so exceptionably good as to be worthy of great praise。 I do not allude to these selections on account of the political view shown by the Presidents in making them； but on account of the political virtue； in order that the nature of political virtue in the States may be understood。 It had never occurred to any one to whom I spoke on the subject； that a President in the bestowing of such places was bound to look for efficient work in return for the public money which was to be paid。 Before I end this chapter I must insert a few details respecting the post…office of the States； which； though they may not be specially interesting to the general reader； will give some idea of the extent of the department。 The total number of post…offices in the States on June 30th； 1861； was 28；586。 With us the number in England； Scotland； and Ireland； at the same period； was about 11；400。 The population served may be regarded as nearly the same。 Our lowest salary is 3l。 per annum。 In the States the remuneration is often much lower。 It consist in a commission on the letters； and is sometimes less than ten shillings。 The difficulty of obtaining persons to hold these offices； and the amount of work which must thereby be thrown on what is called the 〃appointment branch；〃 may be judged by the fact that 9235 of these offices were filled up by new nominations during the last year。 When the patronage is of such a nature it is difficult to say which give most trouble； the places which nobody wishes to have； or those which everybody wishes to have。 The total amount of postage on European letters； i。e。 letters passing between the States and Europe； in the last year； as to which accounts were kept between Washington and the European post…offices； was 275；000l。 Of this over 150；000l。 was on letters for the United Kingdom； and 130；000l。 was on letters carried by the Cunard packets。 According to the accounts kept by the Washington office； the letters passing from the States to Europe and from Europe to the States are very nearly equal in number； about 101 going to Europe for every 100 received from Europe。 But the number of newspapers sent from the States is more than double the number received in the States from Europe。 On June 30th； 1861； mails were carried through the then loyal States of the Union over 140；400 miles daily。 Up to 31st May preceding； at which time the government mails were running all through the united States； 96；000 miles were covered in those States which had then virtually seceded； and which in the following month were taken out from the post…office accountsmaking a total of 236；400 miles daily。 Of this mileage something less than one…third is effected by railways； at an average cost of about six pence a mile。 Our total mileage per day is 151；000 miles； of which 43；823 are done by railway； at a cost of about seven pence half…penny per mile。 As far as I could learn； the servants of the post…office are less liberally paid in the States than with us； excepting as regards two classes。 The first of these is that class which is paid by weekly wages； such as letter…carriers and porters。 Their remuneration is of course ruled by the rate of ordinary wages in the country； and as ordinary wages are higher in the States than with us； such men are paid accordingly。 The other class is that of postmasters at second… rate towns。 They receive the same compensation as those at the largest townsunless indeed there be other compensations than those written in the books at Washington。 A postmaster is paid a certain commission on letters； till it amounts to 400l。 per annum： all above that going back to the government。 So also out of the fees paid for boxes at the window he receives any amount forthcoming not exceeding 400l。 a year； making in all a maximum of 800l。 The postmaster of New York can get no more； but any moderately large town will give as much； and in this way an amount of patronage is provided which in a political view is really valuable。 But with all this the people have made their way； because they have been intelligent； industrious； and in earnest。 And as the people have made their way； so has the post…office。 The number of its offices； the mileage it covers； its extraordinary cheapness； the rapidity with which it has been developed； are all proofs of great things done； and it is by no means standing still even in these evil days of war。 Improvements are even now on foot； copied in a great measure from ourselves。 Hitherto the American office has not taken upon itself the task of returning to their writers undelivered and undeliverable letters。 This it is now going to do。 It is； as I have said； shaking off from itself that terrible incubus； the franking privilege。 And the expediency of introducing a money…order office into the States； connected with the post…office as it is with us； is even now under consideration。 Such an accommodation is much needed in the country； but I doubt whether the present moment； looking at the fiscal state of the country； is well adapted for establishing it。 I was much struck by the great extravagance in small things manifested by the post…office through the States； and have reason to believe that the same remark would be equally true with regard to other public establishments。 They use needless forms without end making millions of entries which no one is ever expected to regard。 Their expenditure in stationery might I think be reduced by one… half； and the labor might be saved which is now wasted in the abuse of that useless stationery。 Their mail bags are made in a costly manner； and are often large beyond all proportion or necessity。 I could greatly lengthen this list if I were addressing myself solely to post…office people； but as I am not doing so； I will close these semi…official remarks with an assurance to my colleagues in post… office work on the other side of the water that I greatly respect what they have done； and trust that before long they may have renewed opportunities for the prosecution of their good work。
CHAPTER XIV。 AMERICAN HOTELS。
I find it impossible to resist the subject of inns。 As I have gone on with my journey； I have gone on with my book； and have spoken here and there of American hotels as I have encountered them。 But in the States the hotels are so large an institution； having so much closer and wider a bearing on social life than they do in any other country； that I feel myself bound to treat them in a separate chapter as a great national arrangement in themselves。 They are quite as much thought of in the nation as the legislature； or judicature； or literature of the country； and any falling off in them； or any improvement in the accommodation given； would strike the community as forcibly as any change in the Constitution or alteration in the franchise。 Moreover； I consider myself as qualified to write a chapter on hotelsnot only on the hotels of America； but on hotels generally。 I have myself been much too frequently a sojourner at hotels。 I think I know what a hotel should be； and what it should not