unwanted tabs, how to delete.

[blockie1]

All of my read messages appear in tabs across the top of the screen. How can I get rid of them permanently?

[DanRaisch]

Close them by clicking on the "x" in the top right of the tab. Or select the tab displaying the Inbox list and then right click on that tab and select "Close other tabs."

[blockie1]

Is there a way for them not to ever show?

[DanRaisch]

You can switch Thunderbird to open new messages in separate windows. Use menu path Tools->Options->Advanced->Reading & Display tab->"Open new messages in"->select "An existing message window".