THE POSTAGE-STAMP COLLECTOR'S POCKET

ALBUM.-Containing a complete Table of all the Postage Stamps issued by each Country, State, or City, with spaces arranged for their reception. The whole in a neat and portable form, with flap and elastic band, and a pocket for surplus stamps. Roan, 2; post free, 2/1; morocco or russia, 3/6; post free, 38; morocco or russia gilt, 4/; post free, 1/2. STAFFORD SMITH & SMITH, 13, George Street, Bath.

POSTAGE-STAMP ALBUMS for ONE SHILLING

EACH, strongly bound in Cloth, and ruled to contain over 1400 Stamps. Post free, one extra stamp. HENRY WHITTAKER, Winchester Terrace, Regent Road, Salford.

HE SHILLING ALBUM is a neat and serviceable Stamps. Post free for one stamp extra. R. W. PEGO, 11, Holles Street, Dublin.

POCKET ALBUM for CRESTS, ARMS, and MONO

GRAMS. Containing spaces arranged for 1200 varieties. Neatly bound, with pocket, flap, and elastic band. Roan, 2 post free, 2/1: morocco or russia, 3/6; post free, 3/8: morocco or russia gilt, 4/; post free, 4/2. STAFFORD SMITH & SMITH, 13, George Street, Bath."

Now Ready, New Edition, post 4to., Price Five Shillings.

POSTAGE-STAMP ALBUM, and CATA

Con

LOGUE of BRITISH and FOREIGN POSTAGE STAMPS. taining every information to guide the Collector, with a Full Account of all the Stamps of every Country. The Album, price 3/6, and Catalogue, price 2/6, can be had separately. London: B. BLAKE, 421, Strand.

POSTAGE-STAMP ALBUM TITLES.-Now Ready,

beautifully printed in Colours, a New and Complete Set of upwards of 130 Titles for Stamp Albums. Geographically arranged by Dr. J. E. GRAY, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S., etc., of the British Museum. Price 1/6; post free, 1/7. Specimen Sheet post free for two stamps. London: E. MARLBOROUGH & Co.; Bath: STAFFORD SMITH & SMITH, 13, George Street.

accurate description of the form, colour, date of issue, and value, of 1700 varieties. Price 1/; post free, 1/1. Bound in morocco leather, and interleaved for Collectors, 2; post free, 2/2. Address, Mr. BROWN, care of Mr. Passmore, Bookseller, 124, Cheapside, London. Priced List of unused and rare stamps, post free, 3d.

POSTAGE-STAMP ALBUM.

By JUSTIN LAL

Illustrated with Maps and Diagrams, and containing a full description of British, Colonial, and Foreign Stamps, with compartments arranged for the reception of each. Imperial oblong 8vo., cloth, clasp, 7/6; post free, 8/2. Bound in half-morocco, clasp, 10/: post free, 10/10. Bound in whole morocco, two clasps, gilt edges, 12/6; post free, 13/4. Bound in best morocco relief, two clasps, 21/; post free, 21/10. Handsomely bound in best morocco relief, two large clasps, 25/; post free, 25/10.

'For the benefit of Collectors, Mr. JUSTIN LALLIER has just issued an admirable Album, which will be in extensive demand as soon as its existence is known. It contains a description of every known variety of timbre poate, so that a partially obliterated stamp may easily be recog nis d; and on the page opposite the description are spaces for mounting the stamps described, so that any Collector may, at a glance, see all his deficiencies.-The Bookseller.

Bath: STAFFORD SMITH & SMITH, 13, George Street.

TO COLLECTORS nd Road, Ardwick, Manchester, can sup

and OTHERS.-C. K. JONES,

ply you with Stamps cheaper than ever sold yet. Examples (Used Stamps): Spanish, 1850-1-2-3-4 and 6, at 1/3 each; old Luxemburg (with head), 6d. cach; Hong Kong, 4d. each; 8 c., 6d. each; 24 c., 9d, each; 48 c., 1/; 1. 1-15, 1-30 tha., Hanover, 1851, 2d. each; 6 kr., Thurn u. Taxis, 2d. each; Nova Scotia, 5 c., 2d. each; 8 e., 6d. each; 10 c., 6d. each; old Sachen, 1, 2, and 3, 3d. each; and 1, Brunsweig old, 2d. each; old Baden, 24. each; old Wurtemberg, 2d. each, Venezuela, 6d. each; Confederate States, 1/3 each, warranted genuine; Chili, 3d. each; Trinidad, 3d. each; Mauritius, 4d. each; Tuscany, 3d. each. Collections of 50, 1/6; 100, 4/; 200, 10/; 200, 26; 600, 80; all good copies and perfect. Unused 2, 3, and 5 rap., Helvetia, 8d. per dozen; 2 and 3 kr., Austrian, 1/3 per dozen; 10 and 30. Brazil, 3/ per dozen each;, Bergedorf, 9d. per dozen; Lubeck. 9d. per dozen;, Hamburg, 9d. per dozen; 5 r., Portuguese, 1/ per dozen; 10 r., 1/6; 1 and 3, envelope, American, 3d. each, or 2/6 per dozen; 4 Oldenburg, envelope, 3d. each, or 2/3 per dozen; 2-c., French, 4d. per dozen; penny, Prince Edward's Island, 4d. each, or 3/3 per dozen; and others too numerous to mention. Agents wanted, both in England and on the Continent. P.S.-Stamps bought and sold on commission to any amount. Also Stamps sent for approval on receipt of stamped envelope.

ST

Magnificent Collection of Postage Stamps. TAFFORD SMITH & SMITH have for Sale a magnificent Collection of British, Colonial, and Foreign Postage Stamps. Comprising nearly 1200 varieties. All beautiful specimens, and neatly arranged in a handsomely-bound morocco Album, Price fifty guineas. Carriage free to any part of the world.

Now Ready, Beautifully printed in Colours. TAFFORD SMITH & SMITH'S NEW and COMPLETE SET of POSTAGE-STAMP ALBUM TITLES. Comprising upwards of 130 Titles, geographically arranged by Dr. J. E. GRAY, F.B.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c., of the British Museum. Price 1/6; post free, 17. Specimen sheet post free for two stamps.

whom I mean), when I have dreamt of you, talk good sound sense; and much surprised I should have felt at the astounding fact, did one ever feel surprise in dreams;-the only faculty, as far as I have yet learned, of which one never seems to experience the sensation during sleep.

Moreover, penning my reminiscences at this distance of time, I cannot be always answerable for the recapitulation of my narrators' exact words; and consequently, once for all, I must request my courteous readers, to be persuaded, henceforward, that all seeming otherwise than sensible in my tale is to be laid to the charge of the postage stamps; and that all the sense, much or little, is to be set down to my account. With this fair understanding, then, we will proceed to the continuation of the narrative of the yellow Tuscan lion in

DOZE THE SECOND.-PART I.

'That man should tread this glorious earth,
Oblivious of his heavenly birth;
Barter all chance of proffered bliss,
For scenes of turmoil such as this !'

""CORPO di Bacco, man!" said the tempter,

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why do you stand in your own way? I tell you, you can get fortune, obtain your mistress, and enjoy revenge, all at one stroke; and you do nothing but rage like a baited bear, without the sense to know you are stronger than your tormentors, if you only choose to exert your strength."

"Fortune! love! revenge!" groaned the other; "the first I care not for, save as means of elevation to obtain the second; but the third I will have it, if I perish myself in its accomplishment."

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Tut, tut, my fine fellow," returned Filippo, "I engage you shall have it, without risk, too. Only hearken quietly to me, and be guided by my directions."

"And what am I to thank for your sudden care after my interest?" rejoined Lorenzo, not yet so blinded by passion as not to suspect some sinister motive for the other's interference in his affairs; "why do you force yourself upon me ? You can mean no good by your pretended sympathy: you come for no purpose other than to gloat

upon my disgrace. Begone, or I will hurl you down the stairs."

"Well," sneered the ruffian, "you ought to be quite au fait in that sort of exploit, as you have experienced that unceremonious sort of exit in propria persona. Keep yourself cool, now. You are looking just as you must have done when you lay sprawlingHands off, I say, I am stronger than you; and were I not, I have a knife, and no man ever attacks me without getting a dig of it sooner or later. Keep off, or it will be the worse for you. What you will have it, then!"--Lorenzo had rushed at the ruffian, goaded by his insulting taunts; but his strength, at once infuriated and weakened by passion, was no match for the calculating coolness of his villainous antagonist, whose object it evidently was to excite him to the utmost verge of desperation, without any personal quarrel with himself. He contrived, then, sparing the exertion of active violence, to overpower the young artist and place him in a chair, where he lay exhausted by his own vehemence, and somewhat soothed by the caresses of poor little Carlo, whom his rooted terror of his uncle had not deterred from springing to the assistance of his beloved protector.

'Filippo left them to themselves awhile, and, lighting a cigar, sat smoking at the window, till his victim appearing somewhat calmed, he again approached him, and the boy speedily beat a retreat to his distant

corner.

"Come, now, my man, why quarrel with your friends? You do not seem to be possessed of too many. I mean nought but good towards you; and, if you inquire why, I am free to own, because I expect to gain greatly by making common cause with you. I repeat that I engage to put you in the way of attaining all three of the seemingly unattainable objects of your aspirations; but you must put yourself under my guidance, heart and hand-not body and soul; folks are too wide awake to avow that sort of bargain now-a-days-not that I see any difference but in words: it seems to me to come to the same thing."

'Alas for poor Lorenzo! the tempter uttered but the naked truth. What is the

simple interpretation of the legends of the foul fiend's victories in the dark ages, where the miserable victims are represented as signing with their blood a bond of fealty, in purchase of love, gold, or power?-boons out of which the crafty demon so often deluded his votary, who found, too late, his promises were only "a mockery and a snare!" What are these apparent fictions but

6.66
"The simple actions of an o'er true tale.
Obscur'd by dark tradition's misty veil"?

In sober fact there may be no visible Mephistopheles at the elbow, but how frequently the poor dupe abandons himself, now to the suggestions of his own evil thoughts, and anon to the selfish guidance of a villainous adviser, barters his innocence for greed, lulls for awhile his dormant conscience, and awakes-how terrible an awaking!-to the stings of disappointment and remorse!

To return to my narrative: all the specious reasonings and persuasions of Filippo might possibly have been ineffectual, had he not bethought himself of the incident of the bracelet, and its valuc, known hitherto to himself alone, as a means for developing the mystery connected with the birth of the artist-foundling.

'Eagerly did the youth listen to as much of the recital as Filippo chose to favour him with; suffering Lorenzo to believe by implication that both the Marquis and his fosterparents had all along been aware of all the circumstances.

"The plan the details of which you will have hereafter he had been thus far unsuccessful in inducing Lorenzo to adopt, was neither more nor less than a night attack on the palace of the Marchese, the abstraction of the costly plate and jewelry well known to be contained therein, and the forcible abduction of Adine, who was to be conveyed to the neighbouring sanctuary of Vallombrosa; and there an accommodating priest would be ready to rivet the chains of matrimony too securely for the possibility of severance, even by the great influence of the old noble. Filippo plausibly endeavoured to persuade his companion that the family of the Marchese would be easily induced to

hush up the affair for the sake of the honour of the heiress.

The communication of Filippo, nevertheless, had a contrary effect from what he had intended, Lorenzo immediately declaring he would boldly apply to the Marquis for the restoration of his property. At first, Filippo fancied he had made a false move, and was not without some misgivings as to the effect of his tardy acknowledgment of the truth. Reflection, however, reassured him as to the futility of his dupe's application, which he knew he had private means of forestalling or neutralising, so as to induce disbelief in his own confession. The consequent refusal of the Marquis to give up the ornament, he shrewdly conjectured would but serve to add fuel to the impassioned young artist's resentment, and only in the upshot bind him. more closely to a participation in his own nefarious projects.'

The event justified his anticipations. The old noble, in a written communication to that effect, seemed to have been induced utterly to ignore the rights of Lorenzo, and at the same time coupled his negation with a friendly admonition to quit the society of his mendacious accomplice, and turn his great talents to account on other soil than that of Tuscany. A handsome amount of money was enclosed in the packet, which Lorenzo dashed to the ground; and Filippo, who had managed to get wind of the time the parcel might be sent, furtively consigned the same to his own pockets. Adine had considerately added a small note to Carlo, containing the recovered stamp; and this act of kindness, and the very sight of her handwriting, might have disposed Lorenzo to a better course, had not Bernardo contrived to forward the missive by one of his uncle's retainers, who entertained an old grudge against the artist, on account of his active resentment for some act of insolence. This man's vulgar mind had eagerly seized so favourable an opportunity of retaliation, and he had consequently been one of the foremost in the throng of his persecutors, the memorable morn of his ignominious expulsion from the palazzo of the Marchese.

'The sight of this menial rekindled his sleeping rage; and nothing but the abject

THE POST BEFORE RAILWAYS. PREVIOUS to 1784, the mail-bags of the post office were carried by postboys on horseback, at an average rate, including stoppages, of from three to four miles an hour. Of these postboys and their doings we have some curious accounts. Mr. Palmer, of Bath, who originated some considerable reforms in this department of the post office, says of them in his report, when introducing his schemes to Mr. Pitt: The mails are generally intrusted to some idle boy without character, mounted on a worn-out hack, and who, so far from being able to defend himself, or escape from a robber, is more likely to be in league with him.' This testimony, though it might not be unbiassed, seems in the main to have been true. Anybody might rob a postboy, and that by the simplest contrivance. Letters of any great value were so seldom sent by these means that the booty was often found worthless. The French mail on its outward-bound passage via Dover was more than once stopped and rifled before it had got clear of London. A string stretched across a street in the borough through which the mail would pass, has been known to throw the postboy from his horse, who, without more ado, would coolly retrace his steps, emptyhanded, to the chief office, and report the loss of his bags. About this time, it was a frequent complaint of the officers of the post office that the runners did a considerable business for themselves, to the great detriment of the public revenue. Post-letters were frequently found upon them, when

they would urge in extenuation of the fraud, that they had no wages from their masters -the proprietors who farmed the mails. One high official complains grievously that the gentry 'doe give much money to the

riders [for services rendered, no doubt], whereby they be very subject to get in liquor, which stopes the males.' We have seen upon what a slender thread the arrival or non-arrival of the mails really hung, and that to stope the males' was by no means a difficult task. Nor did the speed at which they travelled form any obstacle. From old records we learn that when Mr. Harley (afterwards Lord Oxford) complained that an express to him had been delayed, the postmasters-general (two were required in those days) replied, that it had travelled one hundred and thirty-six miles in thirty-six hours, which,' added they, 'is the usual rate of expresses."

In Scotland, about the same time, this work was done even slower, and accomplished with greater hardships. The postboys walked all distances under twenty miles; longer distances required that the person should be mounted, though no relays of horses were allowed, however long and tedious the journey might be. Many years later, the English order of 'post' and 'express' would appear to have been reversed, 'expresses' travelling the slowest. Campbell, the poet, relates a story which shows how things were managed in his younger days in the Highlands. Near Inverary, we regained a spot of comparative civilisation, and came up with the postboy, whose horse was quietly grazing at some distance, whilst Red Jacket himself was immersed in play with other lads. "You rascal," I said to him, "are you the postboy, and thus spending your time?" Nae, nae, sir," he answered, "I'm no the post; and then, as if ashamed of his connection with it, added, "I'm only an express!"""

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Thirty years before Mr. Palmer submitted his plans for appropriating some of the coaches to post-office uses, we learn that 'flying' coaches were started. The first was established by a number of Manchester merchants, to run between that place and the metropolis. These coaches earned their appellation by an increase of speed of about