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cards, as well as stamped envelopes and wrappers, were issued to facilitate the means of communication, and, in short, the postal service was organized in a satisfactory manner.

A convention concerning the interchange of telegrams was concluded in 1874 with the United States, and put into execution in the following year.

The Government desiring to develop the postal system beyond the Empire, established in 1875 a service of mail-boats between Japan, Shanghai, and the neighbouring Chinese ports. In 1876 Japanese post-offices were established in China and Corea.

In 1877 the Government joined the Universal Postal Union, and this connection being advantageous to international relations, gave Japan great facilities for postal communications with foreign countries.

In 1878 the Japanese delegates to the Universal Postal Congress at Paris signed the Convention of the Universal Postal Union, drawn up at that congress, and enforced in April of the following year.

An arrangement concerning interchange of the parcel post was concluded in 1879 with the Postal Administration of Hongkong, and put into execution the following year.

In 1882 all parts of the Empire were united by the postal routes, and the post-offices increased to a number hitherto unknown. The postal regulations, although altered several times, became more and more inefficient to meet the changed circumstances, and were replaced the same year by a new postal law, abolishing special charges, and establishing a uniform rate.

In 1883 the Postal Administration, in order to simplify the work of extension, modified the control of local services. The entire country was divided into Postal Districts, in each of which a branch of the Central Administration was established, charged with the control of the local services formerly confided to the Governors of the Departments.

In 1885 reply paid postcards were issued. The same year the delegates sent to the Postal Congress at Lisbon signed the additional Convention concluded at the Congress, which was put into force in April of the following year.

In 1886, with a view to still further ameliorating the supervision of the service, the branch offices of the Administration established in the postal districts were changed to Departmental Directorships of the posts, to which the Administration hand over to a great extent the administrative duties of the posts in their neighbourhood.

The fusion of posts and telegraphs was advantageous to the extension of the system, and advisable for economic reasons,