anada charge.

Under the long and able administration of Mr. Stayner, extending from
the year 1824 to 1851, postal accommodation was greatly extended
throughout Upper and Lower Canada.

In 1827 there were 101 post offices and 2368 miles of established post
route. The annual transportation of the mail was 455,000 miles. The
estimated number of letters passing through the post in the year was
340,000; the estimated number of papers, 400,000.

In the year 1832 the Duke of Richmond, then Postmaster General, proposed
a re-modification of the post office throughout British North America.
An Act was prepared with this object, but the attempt to pass it through
the several Legislatures failed, and of all the plans that had been
contemplated only two were carried into effect, namely, the
establishment of an Accountant's Office and the appointment of Local
Inspectors.

The attention of the Legislature of Upper Canada was, about this time,
frequently turned to the post office, which still continued under the
Imperial control. Committees were appointed and reports made, in which
the transfer of the management of the department to the Colonial
Government was strongly urged.

In the year 1837 a joint address from the Legislative Council and
Assembly was adopted, praying that the revenue produced by the post
office in the Colonies should no longer be remitted to England. This
address was referred to the Lords of the Treasury, and by them referred
to Lord Durham, on the ground that some general measure was required to
carry its prayer into effect. Nothing, however, was done until some
years afterwards towards the accomplishment of this end.

A large and steady increase continued to take place yearly in the
business and revenue of the post office. In 1838 there were 380 post
offices, and 5486 miles of established post route. The annual
transportation of the mail was 1,345,000 miles; the estimated number of
letters carried, 1,000,000; the estimated number of newspapers,
1,250,000; and the gross revenue, $146,000.

The following extract from the Quebec <i>Mercury</i>, published on the 18th
July, 1829, conveys some idea of the postal communication with England
at that period:--

"No later advices have been received from Europe since our
last. Some further extracts from the London papers, to 31st
May inclusive, brought to New York by the 'Corinthian,' will
be found in another part of this number."

The fo