16 
President Lincoln, that grand American, who was once postmaster 
of a small place, and not as Benjamin Franklin was, postmaster 
general. Holland in his admirable life of Lincoln says: “ About 
this time Mr. Lincoln was appointed postmaster by President 
Jackson. The office was too insignificant to be considered 
politically ; and it was given to the young man because everybody 
liked him, and because he was the only man willing to make out 
the returns. He was exceedingly pleased with the appointment, 
because it gave him a chance to read every newspaper that was 
taken in the vicinity. He had never been able to get half the 
newspapers he wanted before, and the office gave him the prospect 
of a continual feast. Not wishing to be tied to the office, as it 
gave him no revenue that would reward him for the confinement, 
he made a post office of his hat. Whenever he went out, the letters 
were placed in his hat. When an anxious looker for a letter found 
the postmaster, he found his office; and the public officer, taking 
off his hat, looked over his mail wherever the public might find . 
him. He kept the office until it was discontinued or removed to 
Petersburgh.” 
I mentioned just now that in the year 1799 Keswick was estab- 
lished as a Bye Letter office. I was puzzled to know what this 
meant. I applied to the editor of the Blackfriars Magazine for 
information, which he obligingly supplied, as follows. (I may here 
inform you that the “Blackfriars” is an admirably conducted 
monthly magazine, published by officers of the General Post Office, 
and having the sanction of the Secretary.) Mr. H. J. Green said; 
“A bye letter office was a kind of sub-office that had no direct com- 
munication with head quarters. Originally all the post towns (which 
were, of course, comparatively few in number) were on the main 
roads, and any small town that lay ef the main road, and which 
from its position would be a good means of communication between 
two post-towns, would be called a dye /etter office.” 
From this I gather that previous to 1799 Keswick received all 
its correspondence from the Penrith office only, and that all letters 
were sent to that office. But when it was established as a Bye Letter 
