Chapter VII

Council of State to consider question of the Inland and Foreign Posts 216

Foreign Letter Office carried on for behoof of Witherings' son and nephew 217

Rival claimants for possession of the Posts, Inland and Foreign 218

Suggestions made by the Committee for the Management of the Posts--The Posts to be farmed and tenders called for 219

Tenders 222

Council of State let the Posts--Inland and Foreign--on farm to John Manley 223

Rival posts 224

The "first undertakers" for reducing the postage 225

Prideaux's agents murder a post-boy 228

The "first undertakers" drive Prideaux out of the field 229

Council furnish Manley with warrant to take possession of the Posts 231

His method of taking possession 232