The International Postal Bureau ai Berne has lately issued a statistical report concerning the operations of the International Postal Union in the year 1879. It deals only with the postal intercommunication of the 25 chief countries belonging to the Union. The figures are colossal, and we know that they have much in creased during the two years and a half which have passed since. The total number of letters, &c., carried amounted in round numbers to S2BO | millions, o£ which 4.900 millions were ] letters and post cards, being about an average of 13 \ millions daily. The other objects carried included news papers and other printed matter, jDatterns, &c. Europe, the smallest quarter of the globe, was credited with 5624 millions of postal objects ; America comes next with 2366 millions; Asia had 205 millions; Australia 73 millions; and Africa is last with 12 millions. Reckoning the total population of the earth at 1400 millions, these figures would give an average of 5"9 postages per head, of -which 3-5 would be letters and post cards, and 2-1 printed matter, &c. England is set down for 1587 million postages ; G-ermany is next with 1200 millions. But, in the matter of post cards, Germany comes first with 123 millions; while England had only 114« millions. The average postage of letters and post-cards per head of population give 3G3 for Switzerland, IG'B for the Low Countries, and 15!) for Germany. It is not surprising to find that the lowest grades ju the scale oi' postal communications arc occupied by Scrvia, Turkey, and Bulgaria.
PRAYER FOR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.
