than they do of the principle conveyed in this line from Virgil,—
“Animus lucis contemtor.”[21]
The English post-office, to a certain extent, is a political one; but there is one feature in it which differs materially from our own, and it is one that reflects the highest credit on the English government; and that is, a man is not discharged from office simply on political grounds, but is retained as long as he attends to his business and conducts himself properly. The reward of merit and long service is, when incapable of attending to his duties, a pension from his government. With these remarks, elicited by contrasting the two systems, we annex the following synopsis of the London postal arrangements:—
(From the London “Postal Guide” for 1864.)
The London district comprises all places within a circle of twelve miles from the general post-office, including Cheshunt, Hampton, Hampton Court, and Sunbury, and the post towns of Barnet, Waltham Cross, Romford, Bromley, Croydon, Kingston, and Hounslow. It is divided into ten postal districts, each of which is treated, in many respects, as a separate post town. The following are the names of the districts, with their abbreviations, viz.:—
| Northern | N. | Southwestern | S.W. |
| Northeastern | N.E. | Eastern | E. |
| Northwestern | N.W. | Eastern Central | E.C. |
| Southern | S. | Western | W. |
| Southeastern | S.E. | Western Central | W.C. |
By adding the initials of the postal districts to the addresses of letters for London and its neighborhood, the public will much facilitate the arrangements of the post-office.
The district initials for every important street or place are given in the street list.
TOWN DELIVERIES.
The portion of each district within about three miles of the general post-office is designated the town delivery, and the remainder the suburban delivery.