Sir,--There is much force in Mr. Watherston's argument that circular sending should be encouraged, not only on account of the profit to the Post Office, but also because circular sending involves the consumption of type, paper, ink, gum, and gives employment to many worthy workpeople.

For my part, I could never quite understand the prejudice against burglars. An unarrested burglar gives employment to innumerable telegraph clerks, police officers, railway officials, and possibly also to surgeons, coroners, undertakers, and monumental masons. As soon as he is in custody the services of a whole army of solicitors, barristers, Judges, grand and petty jurymen, reporters, governors of gaols, and prison warders are called into requisition. Really the burglar does more good than harm.

The fact that the Post Office derives rather more profit from an unpaid homeward-bound circular than from a prepaid circular on its outward journey is just one of those ridiculously specious arguments which it is wiser to treat with silent contempt.

I am your obedient servant,

W.S. GILBERT