Chapter I: Front Matter

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THE HISTORY OF THE POST OFFICE

From Its Establishment Down to 1836

by

HERBERT JOYCE, C.B. Of the Post Office

London Richard Bentley & Son, New Burlington Street Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen 1893

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

Introduction--Master of the Posts--Posts centred in the Sovereign--
Instructions for their Regulation--Travelling Post--Object of the Post
Office Monopoly Page 1

CHAPTER II

The Post through the County of Kent--This Post put under the care of De
Quester--Stanhope of Harrington, as Master of the Posts, asserts his
Rights--Vacillating Decisions of the Privy Council--Sir John Coke--Thomas
Witherings 8

CHAPTER III

Decadence of the Posts--Witherings's Plan--Introduction of Postage--
Concessions to the common Carrier--Post-haste--Witherings appointed
Master of the Inland as well as the Foreign Posts--His Dismissal--Philip
Burlamachi--Dissensions between the Lords and Commons--Edmund
Prideaux appointed Witherings's Successor 15

CHAPTER IV

Prideaux's Activity--Unauthorised Post set up to Scotland--System of
Farming--Prideaux ceases to be Master of the Posts--Secretary Thurloe--
The Posts become the Subject of Parliamentary Enactment--Rates of
Postage--Letters circulate through London--The Travelling Post not a
Source of Revenue--Clement Oxenbridge 24

CHAPTER V

Frequent Change of Farmers--Tediousness of the Course of Post--Existence
of the Posts not a matter of common Knowledge--Dockwra's Penny
Post--Introduction of Postmarks--Penny Post incorporated into the
General Post--Dockwra's Dismissal 33

CHAPTER VI

Posts regarded as Vehicles for the Propagation of Treason--Wildman--
Cotton and Frankland--Post Office Establishment--Revenue--Building in
Lombard Street--Dispersion of Letters--Salaries and Wages--Newspapers--
Drink and Feast Money--Post-horses--Quartering of Soldiers--
Postmasters' Emoluments--Scotland--Ireland--Bye-letters--Illicit
Traffic--Treasury Control--Post Offices grouped together and let out to
farm--Stephen Bigg--Expresses--Flying Packets--State of the Roads--
Progress of the Penny Post--Appointment of Secretary and Solicitor--
Purchase of Premises in Lombard Street 43