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ON THE POST-OFFICE

and the support of the public, for some time enjoyed the profits of the post-office thus established under her auspices, and with various success long maintained her ground against the competition of the farmers of posts, who took their rise soon after the year 1576, when Henry III. established royal messengers upon principles similar to those of the university.

Lewis Hornigk informs us that in Germany posts were established by the Count de Taxis at his own expense; in consideration of which service the Emperor Matthias granted to him and his heirs the office of postmaster-general to be held in fief under himself and his successors.

Our present limits scarcely allow us, in concluding this branch of our subject, to glance at the celerity with which the Eastern couriers, especially those of the Tartar dynasty, continued to carry on the correspondence of extended empires. To Marco Polo, son and nephew of the enterprising Venetian brothers, Nicolo and Mattheo Polo, we are indebted for the following curious account of the Tartar post of the thirteenth century:—Marco, who on his arrival at Cumbalu (the modern Pekin), became a great favourite with the emperor or khan, tells us, that "throughout the whole empire there are inns established at proper distances, where the khan's ambassadors or messengers are sure to find fresh horses, provisions, and lodgings; and

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