From the Richmond Daily State Journal, 11/29/1872, p. 2, c. 2

THE New York World should be better posted than to intimate that “Postmistress Van Lew” had been removed, or was likely to be, from her position in this city, on the grounds of “incompetency,” alleged or otherwise. The World, in endeavoring to make a point on Miss Anthony, lugs in Miss Van Lew, of this city, and says: “Nevertheless the unfortunate fact remains that that the business of the office in question (meaning the Richmond Postoffice) did not conduct itself with as much regularity as when under masculine supervision; and, even admitting this to be altogether the fault of the business and in nowise derogatory to the ability of the lady in charge thereof, it leads us to fear that our fair sisters will have to alter the machinery of government to suit their peculiar talents before its administration can be successfully placed in feminine hands.”

Now we would inform the World that the Postoffice in this city has never been efficiently managed than by Miss Van Lew. She has had difficulties to contend against that few men would have overcome more promptly, and has met all the duties and responsibilities resting upon her as bravely and resolutely as any “masculine” could have done. There is no thought of her removal in this quarter, or in any other that we know of, and we have it on the authority of some of the oldest residents and best citizens of Richmond, and those having no sympathy with her in the peculiar position which brought her the position of Postmistress, that the office has never been more efficiently and satisfactorily managed than under Miss Van Lew’s administration of it. It is about time for our Northern contemporaries to let the Richmond Postoffice alone.

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