§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Postmaster General, Whether complaints have reached him that on Friday, October 26, a letter was delivered by the post office letter carrier at No. 6, Mount Street, Ryde, addressed to John Robson, which had been previously opened in transit through the post office; and that the post office letter carrier, on being thereupon questioned, stated, in the presence of Mr. Fry, the tenant of the house No. 6, Mount Street, and 771 others, that he was instructed by Mr. Bright, the head clerk at the Ryde Post Office, to say, if any questions were asked about the letter, that it had been opened by the Postmaster, Mr. Brame; that Mr. Fry thereupon at once proceeded with the letter to the Ryde Post Office, and being unable to obtain an interview with the Postmaster, was informed by Mr. Bright, the head clerk, that the Postmaster had given orders that all letters for Robson were to be detained and opened, and that the letter in question had been opened by Mr. Brame; and, whether he will state the precise authority under which such letter was detained and opened, and if such detention and opening has taken place under his direction or with his knowledge or sanction?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)A complaint has been received from Mr. Fry that a letter addressed to John Rabson (not Robson) had been opened when it was delivered at No. 6, Mount Street, Ryde; but as Mr. Fry refused to let the officer who was instructed to investigate the complaint have the envelope, it has been impossible to ascertain what grounds there are for the allegation. If Mr. Fry will submit the envelope proper inquiry shall be made. Meantime, I am informed that no official authority or instructions have been given for letters addressed to Rabson to be detained and opened; that no such letters have been opened by the Postmaster, or any orders given by him to open them; and that Mr. Bright, the chief clerk, emphatically denies having told Mr. Fry, or instructed the postman to tell him, that orders to that effect had been given by the Postmaster, or that the Postmaster had opened the letter in question.