Commentary for Shabbat 37:4

ת"ר לא ישכיר אדם כליו לנכרי בע"ש בד' ובה' מותר כיוצא בו אין משלחין איגרות ביד נכרי בע"ש בד' ובה' מותר אמרו עליו על ר' יוסי הכהן ואמרי לה על ר' יוסי החסיד שלא נמצא כתב ידו ביד נכרי מעולם

Similarly, letters may not be sent by a Gentile on the eve of Sabbath, [but] on Wednesday or Thursday it is permitted. It was related of R. Jose the priest-others say, of R. Jose the Pious-that his handwriting was never found in a Gentile's hand.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He never sent a letter by a Gentile lest he might take it to its destination on Sabbath. This was a measure of ultra stringency. ');">⁷</span> Our Rabbis taught: Letters may not be sent by Gentiles on the eve of Sabbath unless a fee is stipulated.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Once the fee is stipulated the Gentile works for himself, to earn it, and not for the Jew. ');">⁸</span>

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