Chapter XXI: Appendix: B (1)

DOCUMENTS AND EXTRACTS ILLUSTRATING ASPECTS OF POSTAL HISTORY

(i) ANCIENT POSTS.

_Persia_ (_circa_ B. C. 500).

"In Darius's idea of government was included rapidity of communication. Regarding it as of the utmost importance that the orders of the Court should be speedily transmitted to the provincial Governors, and that their reports and those of the royal secretaries should be received without needless delay, he established along the lines of route already existing between the chief cities of the Empire, a number of post-houses, placed at regular intervals, according to the estimated capacity of a horse to gallop at his best speed without stopping. At each post-house were maintained, at the cost of the State, a number of couriers and several relays of horses. When a despatch was to be forwarded, it was taken to the first post-house along the route, where a courier received it, and immediately mounting on horseback, galloped with it to the next station. Here it was delivered to a new courier, who, mounted on a fresh horse, took it the next stage on its journey; and thus it passed from hand to hand till it reached its destination. According to Xenophon, the messengers travelled by night as well as by day; and the conveyance was so rapid that some even compared it to the flight of birds. Excellent inns or caravanserais were to be found at every station; bridges or ferries were established upon all the streams; guard-houses occurred here and there, and the whole route was kept secure from the brigands who infested the Empire. Ordinary travellers were glad to pursue so convenient a line of march; it does not appear, however, that they could obtain the use of post-horses, even when the Government was in no need of them.

"_Note._--It was not the distance a horse ridden gently could accomplish in the entire day, but the distance he could bear to be galloped once a day. From the account which Herodotus gives of the post-route between Sardis and Susa, we may gather that the Persians fixed this distance at about fourteen miles."--George Rawlinson, _The Five Great Monarchies of the Ancient Eastern World_, London, 1871, vol. iii. pp. 426-7.

_Roman Empire._

"The advantage of receiving the earliest intelligence, and of conveying their orders with celerity, induced the Emperors to establish throughout their extensive dominions the regular institution of posts. Houses were everywhere erected at the distance only of five or six miles; each of them was constantly provided with forty horses, and, by the help of these relays, it was easy to travel an hundred miles in a day along the Roman roads. The use of the posts was allowed to those who claimed it by an Imperial mandate; but though originally intended for the public service, it was sometimes indulged to the business or conveniency of private citizens (Pliny, though a favourite and a minister, made an apology for granting post-horses to his wife on the most urgent business)."--Edward Gibbon, _The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire_, London, ed. 1896, vol. i. p. 50.

_Arabia._

"The first traces of the Arabian postal arrangements date from about fifty years after the death of Mahomed. Calif Mdowija, who died in 679, is regarded as the founder of the Arabian posts. Kodama, a native of Bagdad, who died in 959, gives an account of the service in his work called _The Book of Taxes_. There were 930 postal stations on the six great highroads starting from Bagdad. At some stations there were relays of horses, but in Syria and Arabia the messengers rode on camels; and in Persia the letters were conveyed from station to station by messengers on foot. The postal service under the Califs was an independent branch of the administration, and in addition to the conveyance of despatches and travellers was added the supervision of all the authorities in outlying possessions. Of the two classes of superior postal officers, the _nowaqquium_ was the postmaster who received the postal packets and letters and attended to their conveyance, whereas the _farwaneqqyun_ was a kind of chief postmaster at the capital of a province, who controlled the work of the postmasters and made his own report on all the civil and military authorities to the central office in Bagdad. These reports were so valuable that Calif Abu Djafar Manssur is credited with the statement: 'My throne rests on four pillars, and my power on four men--a blameless kazi (judge), an energetic chief of police, an honest minister of finance, and a faithful postmaster who gives me reliable information on everything.' It has been said that the Roman _cursus publicus_, the _frumentarii_, the _agentes in rebus_, and the _curiosi_ served a similar purpose, but the Arabian arrangement was more systematic. In the Post Office of the Califs the letters and packets posted, as well as those received from other places, were entered in special lists, where their number and address had to be stated. This practice was observed in India till a few years ago, and it will thus be seen that the letter bill of the modern posts was in use already among the Egyptians in 270 B.C., and also among the Arabs. From the information that has been preserved, it is inferred that the Arabian posts did, to a certain extent, transmit private letters, but this was not done officially, and the couriers and postmasters conveyed such correspondence, along with the official despatches, on their own account."--I. G. J. Hamilton, _Outline of Postal History_, Calcutta, 1910, p. 4.

_Mexico_.

"Communication was maintained with the remotest parts of the country by means of couriers. Post-houses were established on the great roads, about two leagues distant from each other. The courier, bearing his despatches in the form of a hieroglyphical painting, ran with them to the first station, where they were taken by another messenger and carried forward to the next; and so on till they reached the capital. These couriers, trained from childhood, travelled with incredible swiftness--not four or five leagues an hour, as an old chronicler would make us believe, but with such speed that despatches were carried from one to two hundred miles a day. Fresh fish was frequently served at Montezuma's table in twenty-four hours from the time it had been taken in the Gulf of Mexico, two hundred miles from the capital. In this way intelligence of the movements of the royal armies was rapidly brought to Court; and the dress of the courier, denoting by its colour the nature of his tidings, spread joy or consternation in the towns through which he passed."--W. H. Prescott, _History of the Conquest of Mexico_, London, 1903, pp. 20, 21.

A similar system existed in Peru (W. H. Prescott, _History of the Conquest of Peru_, Philadelphia, 1874, vol. i. p. 69).

_China._

"From the city of Kanbulu[758] there are many roads leading to the different provinces, and upon each of these, that is to say, upon every great highroad, at the distance of twenty-five or thirty miles, accordingly as the towns happen to be situated, there are stations, with houses of accommodation for travellers, called _yamb_ or post-houses. These are large and handsome buildings, having several well-furnished apartments hung with silk, and provided with everything suitable to persons of rank. Even kings may be lodged at these stations in a becoming manner, as every article required may be obtained from the towns and strong places in the vicinity; and for some of them the Court makes regular provision. At each station four hundred good horses are kept in constant readiness, in order that all messengers going and coming upon the business of the grand khan, and all ambassadors, may have relays, and, leaving their jaded horses, be supplied with fresh ones.... When it is necessary that messengers should proceed with extraordinary despatch, as in the cases of giving information of disturbance in any part of the country, the rebellion of a chief or other important matter, they ride two hundred, or sometimes two hundred and fifty miles in the course of a day."--_Travels of Marco Polo the Venetian_, London, 1904, pp. 190 et seq.

(ii) _NUNCII_ AND _CURSORES_.

"The Royal _Nuncii et Cursores_ constituted a very important branch of the Royal Establishment, and the payments to them form a very large and important item in the Household and Wardrobe Accounts from the earliest period when those accounts exist.

"These Messengers were employed both in England and in foreign parts, and as well on affairs of State as what may be considered as the private and confidential business of the Crown and Royal Family and the individuals attached to or composing the Royal Court. These Messengers, so attached to the Court, became the foundation of the establishment, which about the time of Henry VIII, or somewhat earlier, assumed the form of the regular establishment of the Post; and the information connected with them is important, as showing that the institution was intimately connected with the person of the sovereign, and that, in the first instance, it was his convenience that was sought. Those servants who, by usage, were more particularly employed on State affairs, probably became those who are now specially termed the 'Queen's Messengers.'"--_Report from Secret Committee on the Post Office_ (_Commons_), 1844, Appx., p. 21.

(iii) WITHERINGS' SCHEME FOR THE REFORM OF THE POSTS, 1635.

A Proposition for setling of Staffets or pacquet posts betwixt
London and all parts of his Maiesties dominions, for the carrying
and recarrying of his subiects l[~r]es. The cleere proffitt whereof
to goe towards the payment of the Postm^{rs} of y^{e} Roades of
England, for w^{ch} his Ma^{tie} is now chardged w^{th} 3400_l._ p
a[~n]m.

In the first place, a certen office or compting house to be by his Ma^{tie} appointed w^{th}in the cittie of London, of purpose for carrying out & receiving in of all L[~r]es to be conveyed from y^{e} cittie of London into all p^{ts} w^{th}in his Ma^{ts} dominions & answers thereof retorned to the said Cittie of London, according as occasion shall serve.

Inprimis, for the Northerne and Scotland roade, All l[~r]es to be put into one Portmantle that shalbe directed to Edenburgh in Scotland, and for all places of the s^{d} roade, or neere the s^{d} roade, to be accordinglie put into y^{e} s^{d} Portmantle, w^{th} [p=]ticuler baggs directed to such Postm^{rs} as live upon the Road neere unto any Cittie or Towne Corporate.

_As for Example_--

One Bagge to be directed to Cambridge w^{th} such l[~r]es therein as shalbe directed to that place or neere thereunto; to take port for them as is now p[~d] to the Carriers, w^{ch} is Two pence a single l[~r]e, and so accordinglie as they shalbe in bignes. At Cambridge a footpost to be provided, w^{th} a knowne badge of his Ma^{ts} Armes, whome upon the markett daies is to goe to all Townes w^{th}in 6: 8: or 10 miles, there to receive & deliver all such l[~r]es as shalbe directed to those places. The l[~r]es that the s^{d} footpost shall then and there receive, hee is to bring them to the s^{d} Towne of Cambridge before the retorne of the Portmantle out of Scotland, w^{ch} is to retorne at a certen daie & houre, by w^{ch} meanes they maie be upon the verie instante comeing back of the s^{d} Portmantle, as before, put into a little bagge, w^{ch} s^{d} bagg is to be put into y^{e} s^{d} Portmantle as aforesaid. It is alwaies to be understood that upon the verie instant cominge of the Portmantle to Cambridge, the bagg of l[~r]es for that place & thereaboutes ymmediatly to be tooke out of the s^{d} Portmantle; the said Portmantle being presentlie to goe forwards, night and day, w^{th}out stay, to Huntingdon, w^{th} fresh horse & man. At w^{ch} place the like rule is to be observed as before at Cambridge, & so the s^{d} Portmantle is to goe from Stage to Stage, night & day, till it shall come to Edenburgh. The bags of l[~r]es to be left at all Stages as at Cambridge and Huntingdon, as before.

Only it is to be understood, that the further the l[~r]es shall goe, the port thereof is to be advanced, as to 3^{d}, 4^{d}, & 6^{d}, & to Scotland more. By this way of carrying and recarrying of l[~r]es, his Ma^{ts} subjects shall, once in 6 daies, receive answer from Edenburgh in Scotland, and so consequently from all p^{ts} betwixt London & Scotland.

The daie and howre of the comeing and going of the s^{d} Portmantle to and from London to be alwaies certaine. By w^{ch} meanes all Stages upon the Road will knowe at what certen howre the Portmantle is to come to y^{t} place.

It is truth it maie be alledged, that some Citties & Townes of noate will lye so farre from any of the mayne Roads of England, as Hull & other Townes of noate upon the Sea coasts, as that it wilbe impossible for a footman to carry and recarry the s^{d} l[~r]es w^{th}in such time as shalbe limitted: for remedie thereof a horse is to be provided for the s^{d} footpost, for the execu[=co]n of the s^{d} service w^{th} more expedi[=co]n.

The like rule is to be observed to Westchester & so to Ireland.

The like rule is to be observed to Oxford, Bristoll, & so to Ireland.

The like rule is to be observed to Worcester, Shrewesbury, and so to y^{e} Marches of Wales.

The like rule to be observed to Exceter, & so to Plymouth.

The like rule to be observed to Canterbury, & so to Dovo^{r}.

The like rule to be observed to Chelmesford, Colchester, and so to Harw^{ch}.

The like rule to be observed to Newmarket, Bury, Norw^{ch}, and so to Yarmouth.

In the first place, it wilbe a great furtherance to the correspondency betwixt London & Scotland, & London & Ireland, and great help to Trades, & true affec[=co]n of his Ma^{ts} subiects betwixt theis kingdomes, which, for want of true correspondency of l[~r]es, is now destroyed, & a thing above all things observed by all other nations.

_As for Example_--

If anie of his M^{ats} subiects shall write to Madrill, in Spain, hee shall receive answer sooner & surer then hee shall out of Scotland or Ireland. The l[~r]es being now carried by carriers or footposts 16 or 18 miles a day, it is full two monthes before any answer can be received from Scotland or Ireland to London, w^{ch} by this Conveyance all l[~r]es shall goe 120 miles at y^{e} least in one day & night.

It will Secondlie be alledged, that it is a wrong to the Carriers that bring the said letters. To which is answered, a Carrier setts out from Westchester to London on the Mundaie, w^{ch} is 120 miles. The s^{d} Carrier is 8 daies upon the Road, and upon his cominge to London delivers his letters of advise for his relodinge to Westchester againe, and his forced to staie in London two daies at extraordinary charges before he can get his loding redy.

By this Conveyance l[~r]es wilbe fr[=o] Westchester to London in one day & night, so that the s^{d} Carriers loading wilbe made ready a weeke before the s^{d} Carriers shall come to London, and they no sooner come to London but maie be redy to depte againe.

The like will fall out in all other pts.

Besides, if at any time there should be occasion to write from anie of the coast Townes in England or Scotland to London, by this Conveyance l[~r]es wilbe brought ymmediatly: & from all such places there wilbe weekely advise to & from London.

_As for Example_--

Anie fight at Sea: any distress of his Ma^{ts} shipps, (w^{ch} Godd forbidd), anie wrong offered by any other nation to any of y^{e} Coaste of England, or anie of his Ma^{ts} forts: the Posts being punctually paid, the newes will come sooner then thought.

It wilbe, thirdlie, alledged that this service maie be [^p]tended by the Lo: Stanhope to be in his graunt of Post M^{r} of England. To w^{ch} is answered, neither the Lo: Stanhope, nor anie other that ever enjoyed the Postm^{s} place of England, had any benefitt of the carrying and recarrying of the subiects L[~r]es: beside, the profitt is to paie y^{e} Posts of the Road, w^{ch} next unto his Ma^{tie}, belong to y^{e} office of the s^{d} Lo: Stanhope, and upon determina[=co]n of any of the s^{d} Posts places, by death or otherwise, the Lo: Stanhope will make as much of them as hath heretofore bin made by this said advancement of all theire places.

The Lord Stanhope now enioying what either hee or any of his Predecesso^{s} hath ever heretofore done to this day.

(Indorsed by Sec. Coke)

"Proposition for Missive Letters."

--_Report from Secret Committee on the Post Office_ (_Commons_), 1844, Appx., pp. 55-6.

(iv) THE MONOPOLY AND THE GENERAL FARM OF THE POSTS.

No. 1.

"Whereas heretofore sundry wayes have bene devised to redresse the disorders among the postes of our realme in generall, and particularly to prevent the inconveniences, both to our owne service and the lawfull trade of the honest merchants, by prohibiting that no persons whatsoever should take upon them, publiquely or privately, to procure, gather up, receive ... any packets or letters to or from the countreys beyond the seas, except such our ordinarie posts and messengers for those parties, etc."--royal Proclamation, April 26th 1591.

No. 2.

"There has long been a constant trade betwixt London and Norwich in sundry sorts of stuffs and stockings made in Norwich and Norfolk, which trade has always been maintained by the merchants of Norwich employing their stocks in buying wares of the makers and sending them up weekly in carts by common carriers to London, whence they are dispersed into all parts of this kingdom, and also exported to foreign parts, in which intercourse of trade we always had our letters safely and speedily carried by our common carrier, by a horseman, not in manner of postage by change of horses, but as is usual by common carriers, and for little or no charge to us. Of late Mr. Witherings has intercepted our letters and molested our carriers, forbidding them to carry any of our letters otherwise than to go along with their carts, and no faster."--Petition to Privy Council, 1638; J. W. Hyde, _The Post in Grant and Farm_, London, 1894, p. 131.

No. 3.

" ... By a Proclamation dated about July 1635 his Majestie did expresse his pleasure, that _Thomas Witherings_ should have the carriage of the said letters who would settle it in a better and more speedy course; thereupon he undertook the said work, and for a long time, after his said undertaking, it cost him some weeks 20l. 30l. 40l. more than he received, to the great weakening and hazard of the ruine of his estate. It is verie true, that untill he had his patent of his Office granted unto him for his life, which was in the yeare 1637, he did in some places lay horses of his owne, in others he did make use of the ordinarie Post-horses, and because he desired quick dispatch, hee paid them for a guide and a horse to carrie the male 6d. _per_ mile, after not conceiving a guide necessarie he made only use of one horse, and paid 3d. _per_ mile.... for the other Posts, they have 3d. _per_ mile which is more than ordinarie pay. But the objection which seems to carrie the greatest shew, or colour of probabilitie with it is; That the P^{mrs} had formerly 4,000_l._ _per annum_ fee, onely for carrying his Majesties packets, that Witherings hath reduced this to 2,053l. _per annum_, and yet puts a greater burthen upon them by carrying his male; hath displaced many of them and received 4,000l. for Post places."--_Full and cleare answer to a false and scandalous Paper entituled: The humble Remonstrance of the grievances of all his Majesties Posts of England, together with Carriers, Waggoners, etc._, 1641, pp. 2, 3.

No. 4.

Reasons presented to the Committee for Postmasters why the office should not be farmed:--

(1) What is of public interest, if farmed, often becomes a great public grievance.

(2) The postmasters who have served faithfully and others who run best to Lynn, Yarmouth, etc., must be restrained and will complain as they did in 1642 to the late Parliament which ordered them redress.

(3) By farming, the pay of postmasters will be made so inconsiderable that they will grow careless.

(4) The expectations of the people now at this juncture so highly raised to hopes of ease and freedom, will be disappointed when they see new monopolies.

* * * * *

Suggestions for reducing the office into one channel, for easing the people, encouraging the postmasters and raising money for the public:--

1. To declare it unsafe for private persons to erect post stages without licence.

2. To chose faithful persons in all the roads and appoint a supervisor on each road.

3. To declare that you have appointed them postmasters and give power to their controller only to sign labels for speedy conveyance of mails and give them writs of assistance.

Signed by Robert Girdler and seven others.--_Calendar of State Papers_ (_Domestic Series_), 26th November, 1652.

No. 5.

Offers of the well-affected postmasters to the Posts' Committee....

The order of the Council in the case of the Inland Post Office being that it be improved to the greatest advantage either by farm or account, they conceive the advantages consist not so much in the advance of money, as the service and safety of the State, and beg to offer,

1. That persons of known integrity may be employed in all parts, and a sufficient salary allowed, as becomes a trust of that great concernment.

2. That a fit person be appointed for the control thereof, according to orders from the State, etc.

3. As righteousness exalteth a nation, it is hoped that after the expense of so much blood and treasure, the very things adjudged and condemned in others (viz. monopolies) will not now be practised, but that next to public safety, you will be tender of the people's just liberty; for both by the laws of God and man it is lawful for every man to employ himself in a lawful calling, especially in that to which he has been bred, and it is also lawful for divers men to employ themselves in one calling, otherwise there must be as many callings as men.

4. For avoiding of many inconveniencies that will follow in the farming of it, viz.

The persons depositing or obliging themselves for so much money a year, will not lay out themselves and their estates without expectation of profit, which must arise either out of the people's letters or postmasters' labour, besides the hazard to the Commonwealth; for notwithstanding the faithfulness of the postmasters yet if they will not do their work at their rates (which may prove an oppression too heavy, like that in Egypt) others shall.--_Calendar of State Papers_ (_Domestic Series_), May 1653.

No. 6.

"Petition of John Mann, Mayor, and 22 aldermen & inhabitants of Norwich:--

"Having much commerce with London we have always employed a faithful and careful messenger to carry letters, bills of exchange, etc., but he has lately been molested by John Manley whose agents have not only rifled and detained our letters and goods, but charged more than double price for small parcels of ware, which is a greater burden to many of us than the monthly assessment....

"Having bought our liberties at vast expense of blood and treasure, we hope not again to be troubled with distasteful monopolies but to have liberty to convey our letters freely."--_Calendar of State Papers_ (_Domestic Series_), 1653-4, p. 25.

No. 7.

"Also it hinders a man to be as civil as otherwise he would, or might be, in having, or returning an accompt to, or from his friend, many a man in these times being forced to set a greater value of 6d. or 3d. then of three times as much in former times, when money was more plentiful; and certainly any man but a Farmer wil confess it to be a strange imposition, that a man cannot have an accompt of the condition of his Wife or Family, without paying thrice as much as he need; & it seems as unreasonable for a man to be forced to pay 3d. for what may be done for a penny, (in relation to Letters) as for a man to be compelled to pay thrice as much for meat or any other commodity, as the price currant."--J. Hill, _A Penny Post_, London, 1659, p. 7.

No. 8.

1657, CAP. 30.

_Postage of England, Scotland, and Ireland settled._

"Whereas it hath been found by experience, That the Erection and Settling of one General Post Office, for the speedy Conveying, Carrying, and Re-carrying of Letters by Post, to and from all Places within England, Scotland and Ireland, and into several parts beyond the Seas, hath been, and is the best means, not only to maintain a certain and constant Intercourse of Trade and Commerce betwixt all the said Places, to the great benefit of the People of these Nations, but also to convey the Publique Despatches, and to discover and prevent many dangerous, and wicked Designs, which have been and are daily contrived against the Peace and Welfare of this Commonwealth, the Intellegence whereof cannot well be Communicated, but by Letter of Escript,

"Be it Enacted by His Highness the Lord Protector and the Parliament, And it is Enacted and Ordained by Authority thereof, That from henceforth there be one General Office, to be called and known by the name of the Post Office of England, and one Officer from time to time to be nominated, etc."--H. Scobell, _A Collection of Acts and Ordinances_, London, 1658, p. 511.

(v) EXTRACT FROM "THE PRESENT STATE OF LONDON,"

By Tho. de Laune, Gent., London, 1681.

_Of the Post-office._

This Office is now kept in Lumbard-street, formerly in Bishopsgate-street, the Profits of it are by Act of Parliament settled on his Royal Highness the Duke of York. But the King by Letters Patents, under the Great Seal of England, constitutes the Post-Master-General.

From this General Office, Letters and Packets are dispatched:

On Mondays--
To France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Flanders, Sweedland,
Denmark, Kent, and the Downs.
On Tuesdays--
To Holland, Germany, Sweedland, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland,
and all parts of England and Wales.
On Wednesdays--
To all parts of Kent, and the Downs.
On Thursdays--
To France, Spain, Italy, and all parts of England and Scotland.
On Fridays--
To Flanders, Germany, Italy, Sweedland, Denmark, Holland,
Kent, and the Downs.
On Saturdays--
All parts of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Letters are
returned from all parts of England and Scotland, certainly every
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; from Wales every Monday and
Friday; and from Kent and the Downs every day: But from other
parts more uncertainly, in regard of the Sea.

* * * * *

A Letter containing a whole sheet of Paper is convey'd 80 Miles for 2d. two sheets for 4d. and an Ounce of Letters for 8d. and so proportionably; a Letter containing a sheet is conveyed above 80 miles for 3d. two sheets for 6d. and every Ounce of Letters for 12d. A sheet is conveyed to Dublin for 6d. two for a shilling, and an Ounce of Letters for 12d.

This Conveyance by Post is done in so short a time, by night as well as by day, that every 24 hours, the Post goes 120 Miles, and in five days, an answer of a Letter may be had from a Place 300 Miles distant from the Writer.

Moreover, if any Gentlemen desire to ride Post, to any Principal Town of England, Post Horses are always in readiness, (taking no Horse without the consent of his owner) which in other Kings Reigns was not duly observed; and only 3d. is demanded for every English Mile, and for every Stage to the Post-Boy, 4d. For conducting.

Besides this Excellent convenience of conveying Letters, and Men on Horse-back, there is of late such an admirable commodiousness, both for Men and Women of better rank, to travel from London, and to almost all the Villages near this great City, that the like hath not been known in the World, and that is by Stage-Coaches, wherein one may be transported to any place, sheltred from foul Weather, and foul ways, free from endamaging ones Health or Body by hard jogging, or over violent motion; and this not only at a low price, as about a shilling for every five Miles, but with such velocity and speed, as that the Posts in some Foreign Countries, make not more Miles in a day; for the Stage-Coaches, called Flying-Coaches, make forty or fifty Miles in a day, as from London to Oxford or Cambridge, and that in the space of twelve hours, not counting the time for Dining, setting forth not too early, nor coming in too late.

* * * * *

The several Rates that now are and have been taken for the Carriage of Letters, Pacquets, and Parcels, to or from any of His Majesties Dominions, to or from any other parts or places beyond the Seas, are as followeth, that is to say,

s. d.
Morlaix, St. Maloes, Caen, Newhaven, and places of like {Single 0 6
distance, Carriage paid to Rouen {Double 1 0
{Treble 1 6
{Ounce 1 6

Hamburgh, Colen, Frankfort, Carriage paid to Antwerp, is {Single 0 8
{Double 1 4
{Treble 2 0
{Ounce 2 0

Venice, Geneva, Legorn, Rome, Naples, Messina, and all {Single 0 9
otherparts of Italy by way of Venice, Franct pro Mantua {Double 1 6
{Treble 2 3
{Ounce 2 8

Marseilles, Smirna, Constantinople, Aleppo, and all parts {Single 1 0
of Turky, Carriage paid to Marseilles {Double 2 0
{3/4 Ounce 2 9
{Ounce 2 8

And for Letters brought from the same places to England {Single 0 8
{Double 1 4
{Treble 2 0
{Ounce 2 0

The Carriage of Letters brought into England, from Calice, {Single 0 4
Diep, Bulloign, Abbeville, Amiens, St. Omers, Montrel {Double 0 8
{Treble 1 0
{Ounce 1 0

Rouen {Single 0 6
{Double 1 0
{Treble 1 6
{Ounce 1 6

Genoua, Legorn, Rome, and other parts of Italy by way of {Single 1 0
Lyons, Franct pro Lyons {Double 2 0
{3/4 Ounce 2 9
{Ounce 3 9
The Carriage of Letters Outwards--

To Bourdeaux, Rochel, Nants, Orleans, Bayon, Tours, and {Single 0 9
places of like distance, Carriage paid to Paris {Double 1 6
{Treble 2 3
{Ounce 2 0

Letters brought from the same places into England {Single 1 0
{Double 2 0
{3/4 Ounce 3 0
{Ounce 4 0
The Carriage of Letters Outwards--

To Norembourgh, Bremen, Dantzick, Lubeck, Lipswick, and {Single 1 0
other places of like distance, Carriage paid to Hamburgh {Double 2 0
{3/4 Ounce 3 0
{Ounce 4 0

Paris {Single 0 9
{Double 1 6
{Treble 2 3
{Ounce 2 0

Dunkirk, Ostend, Lisle, Ipers, Cambray, Ghent, Bruxels, {Single 0 8
Bruges, Antwerp, and all other parts of Flanders. {Double 1 4
Sluce, Flushing, Middleburgh, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Delph, {Treble 2 0
Hague, and all other parts of Holland and Zealand. {Ounce 2 0

All Merchants Accounts, not exceeding a Sheet, Bills of Exchange, Invoices, Bills of Lading, shall be allowed without rate in the price of the Letters, and also the Covers of the Letters not exceeding a Sheet, to Marseilles, Venice, or Legorn, towards Turkie.

* * * * *

The said Office is managed by a Deputy, and other Officers to the Number of seventy seven persons; who give their actual attendance respectively, in the dispatch of the business.

Upon this Grand Office, depends one hundred eighty two Deputy-Post-Masters in England and Scotland; most of which keep Regular Offices in their Stages, and Sub-Post-Masters in their Branches; and also in Ireland, another General Office for that Kingdom, which is kept in Dublin, consisting of Eighteen like Officers, and Forty-five Deputy-Post-Masters.

The Present Post-Master-General, keeps constantly, for the transport of the said Letters and Pacquets;

{France, two Pacquet-Boats.
Between England and {Flanders, two Pacquet-Boats.
{Holland, three Pacquet-Boats.
{Ireland, three Pacquet-Boats.
And at Deal, two Pacquet-Boats for the Downs.

All which Officers, Post-Masters, Pacquet-Boats, are maintained at his own proper Charge.

And as the Master-piece of all those good regulations, established by the present Post-Master-General, for the better Government of the said Office, he hath annexed and appropriated the Market-Towns of England, so well to their Respective Post-Stages, that there is no considerable Market-Town, but hath an easie and certain Conveyance for the Letters thereof, to and from the said Grand Office, in the due course of the Males every Post.

Though the Number of Letters Missive in England, were not at all Considerable in our Ancestors days, yet it is now so prodigiously great, (since the meanest People have Generally learned to write) that this Office is Farmed for above 40, rather 50,000_l_. a Year.

(vi) THE CROSS POSTS.[759]

No. 1 (_a_).

To the R^{t}. Hon^{ble}. Sidney L^{d}. Godolphin Lord High Trearer of England.

May it please y^r. Lo^{pp}.

My Lord Grandville and seaverall Gentlemen of Cornwell having represented to Us that by reason of the Post Road passing along the South Coast of Cornwell seaverel Inland Towns are under great disadvantages in their Correspondence paying two pence p^r Letter over & above the Common Postage being serv'd only by a By Post; We did give directions to Our Deputys of Exeter, Plym^o, and Lanceston to meet and Consult what Method might be proper to serve those parts more conveniently, and at as Easie an Expence to Her Ma^{tie}. as might be, and to Report to Us their Opinion of that Matter with an Estimate of the Charge; which they accordingly did, and have proposed a Scheme of that Matter how 'tis to be performed with the Charge of each Stage, which amounts according to their Computation to about [L]260 p^{r} Ann a Sum more considerable than We at first apprehended; but We doubt the Charge Her Ma^{tie}. will be put to will Scarce be recompenced by the increase of Letters upon Settling such a Stage, especially when We consider the great Number of Letters for that Country which pass Frank: If Y^{r} Lo^{pp}. shall think fitting a Post be Settled for the Midland Towns, as well as for the South Coast, We shall upon y^{r} Directions endeavour to do it with the best Husbandry We can, and as We hope to the Satisfaction of the Country, and shall lay before Y^{r}. Lo^{pp}. an Establishm^t. to be approved by Y^{r}. Lo^{pp}.

We have indeed found by Experience in other Places, That where We have made the Correspondence more Easie and Cheap, the Number of Letters has been thereby much increased; and therefore do believe such a Settlement may be attended with the like effect in those Parts. All which is humbly Submitted to y^{r}. Lo^{pp}.

R.C. T.F.

GEN^{L}. POST OFFICE,
22^{d}. _Novemb^{r_}. 1703.

No. 1 (_b_).

After my hearty Comendations, Whereas my very good Lord John Lord Grandville and seaveral Gentlemen of Cornwall have Represented to you, That by reason of the Post Road passing along the South Coast of Cornwall, Seaveral Inland Towns are under great disadvantages in their Correspondence; Whereupon you have proposed to Me the Settlement of a New Post for the Midland Towns, as well as for the South Coast, the better to Serve those parts, the Charge whereof will Amount to Two hundred and Sixty pounds p. Ann I approve of what you have proposed, And do hereby Authorize and Require you to Settle and Establish such a Post accordingly. But you are at twelve months End to Represent to Me or the Lord High Treasurer or Commiss^{rs}. of the Treasury then being, how far such a Post doth answer the Expence Her Ma^{tie}. is at in Settling the Same. And for so doing this shall be y^{r}. Warrant. Whitehall Treary Chambers the 7th December 1703.

GODOLPHIN.

To my very loving Friends
S^{r}. Rob^{t}. Cotton Kn^{t}. and
S^{r}. Thom^{s}. Frankland Bar^{t}.
Her Ma^{ties}. Post-M^{r}. Gen^{l}.

No. 2.

S^{r}. Robert Cotton Kn^{t}. and Sir Thomas Frankland Baronet Her
M^{ties}. Post Master Gen^{l}. in the Kingdoms of England Scotland
and Ireland and in all Her M^{aties} other Dominions Territorys and
Isles thereunto belonging in Europe Affrica and America.

To all People to whom this shall come Greeting know ye, that whereas the County of Lincoln has not hitherto been Served so well with the Correspondence by Letters as other parts of the Nation, several Towns therein not having had the Convenience of a Post at all, and others having been obleig'd to pay an extraordinary Tax above the Common Postage, We have thought it proper to appoint Mr. Richard Bigg of Winslow in the County of Buckingham Gentleman, and Mr. Richard Dixon of Bourn in the County of Lincoln Gentleman (having receiv'd good Testimony of the fidelity and Loyalty of both and each of them to Her Ma^{tie}. and reposing great trust & confidence in the knowledge Care and Ability of them both) to be our lawfull and Sufficient Deputys with full Power and Authority to Erect Settle and Establish Posts in such Towns of the said County for the Carrying and Conveying the Letters as well those called the London Letters as the By Letters of the said County, as shall be judged most proper for Her Ma^{ties}. Service, and the improvem^{t}. of the Correspondence of the said County and to Agree and Contract with such Persons as the said Richard Bigg and Richard Dixon or either of them shall think fitt to Agree and Contract with for performing the Riding part through such Stages as shall be Erected by them or for keeping Letter Offices in any Towns of the said County, And do by these presents Depute Constitute Authorise and Appoint the said Rich^{d}. Bigg and Richard Dixon to be our Lawfull and Sufficient Deputys in manner and form aforesaid from the tenth day of August next ensuing the date hereof during such time as We or the Postmaster Gen^{l}, for the time being shall think fit under such Conditions payments and Instructions to be faithfully observ'd perform'd and done by the said Rich^{d}. Bigg and Richard Dixon their Deputys and Servants as they shall from time to time receive from the Gen^{l}. Post Office in London in writing Subscribed by Us our Deputy or Deputys in the Post Office, in Witness whereof We the said S^{r}. Robert Cotton and Sir Thomas Frankland have hereunto sett our hands & Caused the Seal of the said Office in such Cases used to be affixed this fourth day of August 1705.

R.C. T.F.

No. 3.

To y^{e} Rt. Honble y^{e} Lords Com^{rs}. of his Majestys Treary.

May it please your L.sps--

A Proposall having some time since been made to your Lordsps That a Cross Post might be settled between Bristol & Shrewsbury, you were pleased to refer y^{e} same to Us to Consider of it & Report Our opinions thereupon w^{ch} Wee did accordingly and acquainted yo^{r} Lordsps Wee did hope Wee should find some persons who would at their Owne Cost and Charges undertake to Settle a Cross Post, upon such terms as his Majesty would not be a loser and the people receive the benefit they proposed.

The Establishing such a Cross Roade would undoubtedly be of great Use to Trade & Convenience to y^{e} People and appeares to be very much desired by the several Countrys thro' w^{ch} it wou'd pass; but as at present it might become loss to y^{e} Revenue Wee think it Our Duety to lay y^{e} whole state of the Case before Yo^{r} Lorsps to receive yo^{r} further Directions and have hereunto annexed a scheme both of the Charge & loss that may accrew to the Office thereby.

Wee must observe to yo^{r} Lordsps That Lond^{o}. (from y^{e} establishing of a post Office) having been esteemed the Center all letters passing thro' one Road to an other thro' Lond^{o}. have been constantly taxed with a double post first to Lond^{o}. y^{n} to y^{e} places where to they were directed, but the settling of this Cross Post w^{ch} will Cause a direct Intercourse between y^{e} West Bristol & Chester Roades, all lres, passing that way can only be Charged w^{th} a single Post according to y^{e} distance of one place from an other; but y^{n} it ought to be considered on the other hand That the passing thro' Lond^{o}. is both tedious and Chargeable, and a more Speedy Conveyance would in all probability produce of an encrease of y^{e} n^{o}. of letters besides the bringing such into y^{e} Office as are now Conveyed by Carryers; for where ever there are any Townes w^{ch} have Comerce one w^{th} an other so as to occasion a Cons^{t}. Intercourse by Carryer or Tradesmen Wee do find it a General Practice to Convey at y^{e} same time a Considerable No. of lres as pticularly between Bristol & Worcester & Worcester & Shrewsbury; where there are two persons that make it their business to Colect & disperse letters and make a Considerable advantage by it. That if y^{e} settling this Roade should have y^{t} good effect to suppress all these By Posts (as in all probability it will) notwithstanding at present there will be some Loss the Revenue in time may be Improved by it; and Wee do find that the Cross Road set up 3 yeares & 1/2 since Between E[=xon][760] & Bristol doth now produce about 255l. p. annum neat proffit, but in regard this is altogether new Wee can not possibly be so much Masters of it as to know w^{t}. terms to propose to any undertakers that may be equall between the King and them and therefore if yo^{r} Lordsps do agree to the Proposal Wee are of opinion it may be most proper to be set up and managed for his Majesty and Carryed on as far as Chester....

(vii) THE EARLY POSTS IN NORTH AMERICA.[761]

No. 1 (_a_).

To the Right Honble the Lords Comrs. of his Majesty's Treas'y.

Thomas Neale Esq^{re}. humbly sheweth

That their sacred Majesty's by their letters pattents bearing date the 17th day of February 1692 granted to the said Thomas Neale a power of settling Post Offices in North America to be executed by a person to be nominated by the said Thomas Neale and Deputed by the Postmaster Generall of England and thereby directed that accounts shall be kept of the Charge and produce of the said Post Offices, and transmitted to the Right Honble the Lord Treasurer or Lds. Comissioners of the Treasury for the time being.

That in pursuance of this Grant Andrew Hamilton Esq^{re}. was nominated and Deputed to erect Post Offices, who hath at Thomas Neales great Charge settled 'em 700 miles in Length, upon the Continent of America and kept true accounts of the Expences and proffits thereof, which acc^{ts}. sworne to by the said Deputy Postmaster before the Governor of New Yorke are now humbly laid before your Lordshipps and an abstract of it for yor. Lordspps. ease.

That the said Deputy Postmaster is come over to give your Lordshipps Information of all matters relating to that subject which your Lordshipps shall think fit to enquire of, and hath proposed the Method contained in the Memoriall annexed as of absolute necessity in his opinion to support the Post, which proves a great service to the Crowne as well as advantage to his Majesty's subjects residing in those Colliny's and Trading thither.

All which is humbly submitted to your
Lordshipps Judgment & direction.
THO: NEALE.

No. 1 (_b_).

To the Right Honourable the Lords Com^rs, of his Majesty's
Treasury.

The Memoriall of Andrew Hamilton Esqr. Deputed by the Postmr.
Generall of England, to mannage the Post Office in North America,
humbly offered.

The Post Office in North America produces these good Effects.

It encreases Trade and Correspondence betwixt the Colonys there.

It affords Merchts. more frequent opertunitys of Corresponding with Europe.

It contributes much towards putting the Kings subjects in security in time of Warr by ye. frequent Conveyance of Intelligence when allarms happen, for want of wch. many familys have been cutt off before the settling of the Post.

And it readily conveys Court Packets from the Colony, where they are delivered to those whither they are addressed without any expence to the Crowne, or said Coliny, besides many other advantages.

But not withstanding these Publick and private benefits arising by it and the unspeakable Loss to those Collonys and England should the Post fall Yet the Undertaker besides a Considerable sume he hath been out of pocket already (above the Produce in carrying it on) must still be in disburse for support of it or must let it fall.

To prevent which it is humbly offered that a postage upon all letters as well those that come from beyond sea to North America as what go's from Colony to Colony may be ascertained by an act of Parliament in England.

That no Masters of ships or sailers bound to America shall receive any letters but at the Post Office to be appointed for that purpose.

That in like manner no Masters of shipps shall receive letters in America that are directed to Europe or from one part of America to another but from the respective Post Offices in the ports where they load or from whence they saile which said Post Offices shall put the letters in a Maile and take a Receipt of the Master that he shall deliver them in to the first Post Office where he shall arive free of charge, for which he shall be allowed in America a penny a letter for his Care excepting such letters as concerne the ship or cargoe which the freightors or owners if they think fit may commit to the care or charge of the Master or friend.

Excepting also such letters of Merchants as may Contain Bulky accounts which no Master is intended to be hindered of carrying as also excepting such letters which the agents or proprietary governments may send to the Respective Governors whose agents they are. It being only hereby intended that the bulke of letters w^{ch} hitherto have gone very loosely, to the great Loss of Merchants may for the future be conveyed in Mailes to prevent frauds or inconveniencys which have often hitherto happened.

That the said Master shall under a Penalty be obliged to call at the respective post offices where he shall load for the Maile and if none be ready to be sent that he bring with him a Certificate for his Justification that he called.

The method at present used to get letters transported to America is this--

The Masters bound thither put up bags in Coffee houses wherein the letters are put and for which one penny a letter is usually paid and 2d. if it exceeds a single letter.

This is Lyable to several abuses.

First any one under pretence that he wants to have his letters up again may come to those bags and take out other mens letters and thereby discover the secrets of Merchants and tis in their power intirely to w^{th}draw them.

2^{dly.} Severall Masters upon their arrivall often keep up letters till they have disposed of their Loading and are ready to saile again, and then Drop them to the great hurt of those that are concerned, which inconveniencys would be prevented if letters were delivered from the Post Offices in Mailes and likewise delivered by them in Mailes into the Post Office where they arrive. Offices may be erected in London and other sea Port Townes in England that Trade with America and so they may be in Ireland and the same penny a letter which is paid into the Coffee houses would support such offices in England and Ireland to receive such letters.

Such offices will be a great convenience to lodge such letters as may concerne his Majestys affairs in America.

If Masters were obliged to receive letters to and from America from the Post Office only, in Mailes and delivered them so at the first post office they arrive at; there would be saved to the King a penny a letter, which now Masters of shipps and passengers Receive, for every American letter they deliver at the respective Offices and whereas now many letters are delivered by Masters and passengers themselves to the persons concerned, all those letters would then be brought into the Post Office to the encrease of that Revenue.

That it be provided that the Post and his horse shall go fferry ffree.

That the rates following may be set upon letters--

To or from Europe or to the West Indies to North America six pence p. single letter 12d. p. double 18d. for a packet if a packet contain nothing but Invoices, accts. Gazetts &ca. to be accounted but as a single letter.

Upon Inland letters as followes--

d.
Where the distance from New Yorke to Boston is within 80
miles the postage 6
Where the distance exceeds 80 miles and within 150 9
Postage to and from Boston to New Yorke being 300 miles 12
To and from Boston to Jersey 370 miles 18
To and from Boston to Philadelphia 390 miles 20
To and from Boston to Annapolis in Maryland 550 miles 36
To and from Boston to James Towne in Virginia 680 miles 42
To and from New Yorke to Annapolis 250 miles 24
To and from New Yorke to James Towne 380 miles and many
broad and dangerous Bays and Rivers to be Ferryed over 30

If it be objected y^{t}. there is no reason to grant a postage upon forrensic letters where the Postmaster is at no charge of Conveyance,

It is answered first that it remidies the evills that letters are subject to by the present Method of Conveyance.

2^{dly}. It encreases the Revenue of the Post Office in England.

3^{dly}. That those Colonys having but little Correspondence with an other if the Reale Expence of Conveying letters from Coliny to Colony were charged upon Inland letters it would discourage all Correspondence.

Exa: The Charge of a letter from New Yorke to Boston at present is after y^{e} rate of 12d. a letter and considering the fewness of y^{m}. and the extraordinary charge and trouble of keeping up the Post in time of Wintor taking it one Post with an other a single letter would not be Carryed for 5^{d}.

The Charges of settling a Post throughout Virginia and Maryland will cost at least 500^{d}. p. ann. & 100 letters in a year will not come from those Collonys to the neighbouring Colonys their Correspondence being chiefly w^{th}. Europe. All which is humbly submitted by

May it please your Lordshipps
Your Lordpps most obedient servant
AND: HAMILTON.

I humbly beg leave of your Lordspps to add y^{t}. w^{n}. his Majesty shall at any time be inclinable to take this Post Office under his Immediate direction I humbly make a proffer to make a Surrendor of y^{e}. pattent upon payment of 5000^{d} or 1000^{d}. p. ann. for life for the remaining Tearme of y^{e}. Pattent.

THO: NEALE.

A Calculation what Charge will carry ye Post from Newcastle in Pensilvania to James City in Virginia about 400 Miles.

There being a great many broad & dangerous rivers to be Crossed makes it difficult to procure men to Ryde ye Stages and will cost at least to carry ye Post from Newcastle through Maryland to James City in Virginia 300_l._ P Ann. I Reckon yt in 2 or 3 yeares & may be less this Charge will be defrayed by what may Arise by Postage upon letters. The Post from Newcastle to New England now at last defraying att last its own Charge there will remain only ye Sallery to be allowed to ye Deputy Postmaster Generall which by ye Increase of ye Post will in 2 yeares more in probobility alsoe be defrayed.

As I have laid ye first foundation of ye American Post soe if ye King think fitt to continue me on this trust I will take upon me ye managem^{t} of ye whole from Piscatway 70 Miles eastward of Boston to James City in Virginia w^{ch} is 800 & odd miles for 300_l._ p Annum and will keep exact Accts. of ye produce.

Soe yt 1200_l._ will in all probability be ye utmost Charge ye King will be att to bring ye American Post to support it Self vizt. 600_l._ for two yeares Carrying it through Maryland & Virginia and 600_l._ more for 2 yeares salery to ye Manager or Deputy Postmaster Gen^{ll} and will thereafter bring in A Revenue All which is most humbly Submitted.

AND: HAMILTON,
Dep^{t} Postm^{r} of North America.

_Aprill 26th 99_

No. 1 (_c_).

COCK PIT TREASURY CHAMBERS.

The L^{ds}. Com^{rs}. of his Majties Treary are pleased to refer this petition and ye account annexed to S^{r}. Robt. Cotton Kn^{t}. & S^{r}. Tho. Frankland Barr^{t}. his Majties Postm^{rs}. Generall who are desired to examine ye particulars and report to their Lopps a true state thereof together w^{th}. their opinion what is fit to be done therein.

W^{M} LOWNDES.

The account annex'd to y^{e} petition makes y^{e} charges of Erecting