Extracts.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 67, 14 November 1844, Page 4

Extracts.

The Genlral PostsOfFiCe.—The public are not generally aware of the extent of the different departments under the controulof the Postmaster General, and of the extraordinary amount of business performed daily in the establishment at St. Martin'sle'grand. The following statistics, compiled from authorised documents, will give some idea of its importance :—lt comprises 12 distinct departments, namely, the seotetary's, surveyor's, mail-coach, solicitor's, receiver-general's, accountant-general's, money order, inland and foreign, letter-carrier's, ship, dead and returned, and two penny post offioes. There are employed in the department of the secretary 29 officers j in the surveyor's 24; in the solicitor's 4; in the rec- ivei-general's 15; in the accountant* general's 30 ; in the money order office, 74; in the inland and foreign office, 179 ; in the letter-car-rier's office, 373 ; in the ship letter office, 7; in the dead and returned letter office, 21 ; in the two penny post department, about 500 including letter carrier?. The number of letters inwards and outwards passing through the office daily is estimated at opwards of 100,000 ; and o? newspapers nearly the same number. Upwards of 400 persons are on duty every night and morning in the newspaper and letter offices, and every letter in transitu through the General Post Office alone passes through twelve different and distinct processes before it reaches the person to whom it is directed. Nearly 1,000 bags'are brought by the mails in the morning, and the same number are despatched eveiy night. All registered letters are entered into a book when posted ; specified at full length on the bills of the post masters; entered again iu the London office; signed for by the letter carrier before they are committed to bis charge, and accounted for as duly delivered by bis returning to the office the docket received with them, upon which the names of the parties they were addressed to must be fully inscribed. Money -oiders are granted and paid at 818 post offices in England and Wales, at 213-in Scotland, and 327 in Ireland. There are in Eng. land and Wales 960 deputy postmasters. Bags are received by mid-day mails from 138 of the most important towns in the empire, to which others are despatched from the Post office every morning. Since the coronation of her Majesty the Queen, 1838, the mails have not beeu detained more than twice, and then the pressure of publio business caused the delay. The number of persons employed in the establishment, and the quantity of duty performed therein, is twelve times greater than it was a century ago. Amputatton Performed during Mesmeric Sleep.—The Wolverhampton Chronicle contains the following extraordinary statement, for tbe ac* curracy of which it vouches :—John Marrion, aged 42,- residing in Can lane, Sedgley, reoeived an extensive injury of the middle finger in January last, and became a patient of Messrs. Thompson and Dunn. It has been since treated by these gentlemen in the usual manner, but the nature of the injory rendered amputation necessary. With a view to test mesmeric sleep, Marrion consented to the proposal to place himself under the treatment of Dr. Owens, and on Sunday week, for the first time he was mesmerised. The patient was after* wards daily mesmerised, and the case created intense interest in the public mind, more particularly among medical men, who attended in number* everyday to mark Dr. Owens'progress. On Saturday the operation was performed, and Mr. Dunn's room was thronged with medical and other gentlemen, to witness the event. The patient on being brought into the room, appeared rather flushed ; but Dr. Owens addressed him in a lively and frieudly manner, and he took his seat evidently quite composed. In two m inutes and and a half a deep sleep was produced, but the doctor kept his position some time looger. Dr. Mannix then telt the patient's pulse, which beat 100 per minute. Some questions were put to him while in this state by Dr. Owens,and language being excited, he said be felt very comfortable. "Proceed with the operation," said the doctor, and iu one minute Mr. Dunn hid performed it very neatly. The cutting the flaps and the dividing of the bone by the nippers was watched with breathless scrutiny by all present, but not a muscle quivered, nor did a sigh escape, nor any single thing occur to betray the slightest sensa« tion. During the dressing the arm the hand was suspended over the table in a cataleptic state, without any further support. Two uiinutes after tbe operation Dr. Mannix felt the man's pulse, it was still 100. Dr. Owen then exoited laughter, and the patient laughed happily, evidently quite uncord •eious of the relief he had undergone. Sometime elapsed, during which he continued sleeping, and on bting questioned in that state he was not at all aware of what had been done. Being awoke (which was done instantaneously by Dr, Owen's touching the organ of firmness, which seemed to act almost miraoulously), and finding bis arm in a sling he ejaou* lated—" Thank the Lord for that!" In reply to questions, he said he had not felt it. Every gentleman present signed the minutes, whioh were noted by Mr. Gatis, during the operation, when a liberal subscription was raised for the man, and Dr. Owen was warmly congratulated. The great essential to our happiness is the resolution to perform our duty to God as well as we are able ; and when this resolution is deeply infixed, every action and every pursuit brings satisfaction to the mind.