The International Exhibition - Writing Room; Telegraph Office; Smoking Room; Post Office; Police Office, 1862. In the centre of the Letter-writing Room are tables, and every requisite for writing letters, and postage-stamps may also be obtained at the counters...The English smoking-room...has an American bar, where, of course, you may obtain any of the American "sensation" drinks...or any of the innumerable varieties of slings, juleps, cobblers, cocktails, and smashes...The usefulness of the post and money-order office is proved by the fact that no less than 211,500 letters, &c, chiefly foreign, passed through it before August 1. Postage-stamps are sold here, letters registered, and letters, books, and newspapers received (and distributed over the exhibition), and transmitted...The Police Office...The division consists of upwards of 500 men...By stationing detectives at the various entrances the professional pickpockets have been deterred from entering, and when one has attempted to force his way or slink in he has been very summarily ejected. A remarkably small number of thefts are actually known to have occurred. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.