NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



419 



Post-Office whether the vessel had arrived, and, if she had, the reason 

 why the packet had not been duly delivered. I was told, in reply, that 

 " all was as it should be," and that no claim could be made upon the 

 supposition of any mischance, until three or four months had elapsed, 

 and that, ere then, I should doubtless find that the letter was perfectly 

 safe. A week or two afterwards a messenger desired that I would go 

 to the Post-Office, where the packet in question was delivered to me in 

 all due form, with a declaration upon it, signed by the Post-master of 

 Rio Grande, stating that the Gentleman to whom it was addressed was 

 out of town, and that, for this reason, the letter was returned by the 

 first conveyance. Now, to illustrate the case, it must be remarked, that 

 my friend, at that very time, was a lodger with the Postmaster himself, 

 who was acquainted with all the circumstances of his absence, and knew 

 that it would terminate in a few days. Yet as a person in office, 

 according to Brazilian ideas, this punctilious man had exactly complied 

 with his duty, and done right in returning the documents. Dissatis- 

 faction on my part was useless, for the person to whom it was addressed 

 either could not, or would not, understand that there was any cause for 

 complaint, when I received the letter back again in the same secure state 

 in which it had been sent. 



When the Mail arrives at the place of its destination, the letters 

 are numbered, and a list of their addresses made out, and stuck up in 

 some conspicuous place, under the care of a sentinel. The letters them- 

 selves are delivered to any one who, after reading the list, pronounces 

 the number at the Office and will pay the postage. Hence arises 

 another abuse, obliging a merchant, who has an extensive correspondence, 

 to hire one of the Clerks of the Office to secure and to deliver all letters 

 addressed to his house. This might easily be amended, if it were not a 

 rule here never to alter, so long as possible to avoid it, any practice 

 which brings in fees to a servant of the crown, or suits the caprice of a 

 great man. Under the influence of such maxims, foreigners ought to 

 live quietly, and be content to pay highest for that which is avowedly 

 the most marketable commodity in the place, the support of a man in 

 office, 3 G 2 



