AGRTCULtURAL MUSEUM 95 



L-late of the market from Orleanp to Maine, and gathers 

 in a fe vv hours, from the arrivals at every port, the course 

 of trade in Eirope : while commerce derives, from quick 

 and certain intelligence, a new and vigorous impulse. 



Behold yon group of eager politicians waiting the ari'i- 

 val of the mail! How frequently they enquire the time ! 

 A minute has elapsed since it should have arrived, and 

 their impatieiice has become ungovernable. The lively 

 interest excited by its delay discovers how much it con- 

 tributes to our interest or our happiness. The lover, 

 too, is indebted to this establishment for the favor of his 

 absentmistress. Her letter is brought him, the seal yet 

 moist, and even the kiss it contains has not lost its fra- 

 grance, althoug-h an hundred leagues have been passed 

 since her rosy lips impressed it. 



Benjamin Franklin was the first superintendant of this 

 department — Since the period of our revolution it has 

 been constantly advancing to perfection, under t!ie direc- 

 tion of a Pickering, a Habersham, and a Granger. 



The following table will give a tolerably correct idea 

 of the improvements in this department since 1793 ; and 

 while it shews that much was done under other superin 

 tendants, it also proves, that a great deak has been ac- 

 complished under the present Post-master General. It is 

 not surprising that there should be some interruptions ia 

 transporting the mail which runs five millions of miles in 

 file year. Nor is it matter of the least wonder, that, 

 among two thousand Post-masters, there should be some 

 inattentive or disobliging. But, in a business so exten- 

 sive, employing so many persons, and in which tlu least 

 f lilure excites so much sensibility, it is rather singular 

 that there is not a greater interruption and more cause 

 for compla'nt. And surely it is neitlier generous ncc 

 just, to ascribe, as is too frequently the car e, every failure 

 tQ the Postmaster General. I scorn that narrowness of 

 spirit that denies to merit its reward. The liberal mind 

 wid disdain to be influenced, by the spirit of party to 

 withhold the meed of honest and well deserved praise 

 ^om a public oliiccr In perfoniung the duiics of Post- 



