r for the value of every pound,
contained in such parcel or package over and above the ordinary rate of
carriage, not exceeding 100 miles, 1d.; 100 to 150 miles, 1-1/2d.; 150
to 200 miles, 2d.; 200 to 250 miles, 2-1/2d.; exceeding 250 miles, 3d.

[Illustration: [_By permission of "Bath Chronicle."_

THE WHITE HART COACHING INN, BATH.]

Few people now bear in mind the great robbery of registered letters from
the Hatton Garden Branch Post Office, London, in November, 1881, which
was effected with skill and daring, and yet with simplicity as to
method. At 5.0 p.m. on the eventful day the members of the staff were
busily engaged, when, lo! the gas suddenly went out, and the office,
which was full of people at the time, was left in darkness. The lady
supervisor obtained matches, went to the basement and there found that
the gas had been turned off at the meter. When the gas had been turned
on again and lighted, it was discovered that the registered letter bag,
which had already been made up and was awaiting the call of the
collecting postman, was missing. The bag contained 40 registered
letters, and their value was estimated at from L80,000 to L100,000. In
the many years which have elapsed since the great robbery no clue to the
perpetrators of the daring deed has been discovered. No further attempts
at such robberies took place for some time, but in the year 1888 several
daring burglaries took place at post offices in London. The Smithfield
Branch Post Office was the first broken into, the thieves staying in the
office from Saturday night to Sunday night. During that interval they
removed the safe from under the counter, placed it in the Chief
Officer's enclosure, broke it open and rifled the contents. Cash and
stamps to the value of about L180 were stolen. In the autumn of the same
year the Aldgate B.O. was burgled--a Saturday night being chosen for the
exploit. The manner in which the burglary was effected leaves little
doubt that the depredation was committed by the same gang of thieves.
The safe was broken open, but in this case it was left under the
counter, where it stood, and was there rifled of its contents. The
interior of the office, including a part of the counter under which the
safe stood, was fully visible from the outside, the woodwork in front of
the office having been kept low for the purpose, and it was marvellous
that the thieves were not detected, as a poor woman had just been
murdered by "Jack the Ripp