Mail activity keeps counting incoming emails

Question

I just upgraded  my system to Mavericks
Every time I check the mail ,
Mail is showing incoming phantom emails in the activity window.
The number is growing by 2 every time I check even if nothing is arriving
When I quit Mail and launch it back,
it goes back to 2 and then it adds up
4, 6, 8 and so on.
Where to stop it counting?

Answer 1

Please read this answer till the end  before doing anything: there are two options.
It's a little tricky: I don't know your computer expertise , so please do a backup before doing it
In case something goes wrong because you missed a step, you can always go back as it was before
or if you don't feel it's right for you don't do it.
1st option
If you have all "troubled account" emails still on Gmail  server, you could simply delete the account in Apple Mail
and recreate it as POP, brand new and your problems are solved.
Quit Apple Mail
Delete the file
DefaultCounts in
/Users/yourname/Library/Mail/V2/MailData/DefaultCounts
and restart Apple Mail
2nd option
If you don't have or you are not sure of having all your emails on Gmail server because you deleted some or all when you downloaded it
I would suggest you to move all your "troubled account" emails still on your computer to two  folders (IN and Sent)
You can create those  in Apple Mail
ON MY MAC.
You have to do this because when you delete an account it will delete all emails there are there
You have to move both"troubled account" Inbox gmail and "troubled account" Sent gmail, in this case
and  then you set up the new POP account. If you don't know how, here is Setup Pop
Quit Apple Mail
Delete the file
DefaultCounts in
/Users/yourname/Library/Mail/V2/MailData/DefaultCounts
and restart Apple Mail
I hope this can help