dead letters

DEAD LETTERS. Those which remain in the post-office, uncalled for. By the 
Act of March 8, 1825, 3 Story. L. U. S. 1993, it is enacted, by Sec. 26, 
"That the postmasters shall, respectively, publish, at the expiration of 
every three months, or oftener, when the postmaster general shall so direct, 
in one of the newspapers published at, or nearest, the place of his 
residence, for three successive weeks, a list of all the letters remaining 
in their respective offices; or instead thereof, shall make out a number of 
such lists, and cause them to be posted at such public places, in their 
vicinity, as shall appear to them best adapted for the information of the 
parties concerned; and, at the expiration of the next three months, shall 
send such of the said letters as then remain on hand, as dead letters, to 
the general post office where the same shall be opened and inspected; and if 
any valuable papers, or matters of consequence, shall be found therein, it 
shall be the duty of the postmaster general to return such letter to the 
writer thereof, or cause a descriptive list thereof to be inserted in one of 
the newspapers published at the place most convenient to the supposed 
residence of the owner, if within the United States; and such letter, and 
the contents, shall be preserved, to be delivered to the person to whom the 
same shall be addressed, upon payment of the postage, and the expense of 
publication. And if such letter contain money, the postmaster general may 
appropriate it to the use of the department, keeping an account thereof, and 
the amount shall be paid by the department to the claimant as soon as he 
shall be found." 
     3. And by the Act of July 2, 1836, 4 Sharsaw. Cont. of Story, L. U. S. 
2474, it is enacted by Sec. 35 that advertisements of letters remaining in 
the post-offices, may, under the direction of the postmaster general, be 
made in more than one newspaper: provided, that the whole cost of 
advertising shall not exceed four cents for each letter.