THE CITY OF MANCHESTER 205 



beneath the flagstones which form the frontage of the 

 shops m St. Ann's Place, and the last restmg-place 

 of this sorely-stricken postmaster now resounds with 

 the footsteps of wayfarers who throng the thorough- 

 fare between St. Ann's Street and King Street ; so that 

 John Willatt's sole visible memorial is the entry, No. 67, 

 in the parchment scroll deposited in the parish chest. 

 In 1860 came the appointment of Mr. Beaufort as 

 postmaster. He had been Surveyor of the posts in 

 those parts, and was in the flower of his age and of 

 great capacity. 



The postmastership of Manchester gave ample 

 scope for his particular kind of administrative ability. 

 He laboured assiduously for twenty- seven years, 

 taking over the telegraphs, organizing the parcel 

 post, building a new post-office, and extending the 

 deliveries ; though, strangely enough, he strongly 

 opposed for many years, on the ground of public 

 convenience, a city delivery in the evening, which is 

 now greatly valued. 



Besides the work of local organization, Mr. Beau- 

 fort took part in many departmental committees of 

 importance, and in the general preparations for the 

 parcel post he lent a vigorous hand. Indeed, he ren- 

 dered help of an indispensable kind, in undertaking 

 to draft sets of rules for the guidance of the several 

 classes of officers appointed to deal with postal 

 parcels. The result was an admirable example of 

 compact, yet lucid, compilation. 



Mr. Beaufort died at seven o'clock at night, on 



