(advertisement), 117, 119, 128;
(stamp), 117, 119, 121, 128
East India Company, 344
Elgin, Lord, 53
Evasion of postage, 16, 27, 48, 72, 254
Express companies, competition for second-class mail, 161;
delivery of parcels, 193, 195
Farm (of the posts), 13, 14, 15, 70, 80, 380
Fee letter, _see_ Letters
Finance, 35, 36
Finlay, Hugh, 37, 401
First-class mail matter, _see_ Mail matter, classification of
Fittings (for sorting), 284;
cost of, 293
Foot-messengers, 184, 221, 331, 378
Foreign letter office, 8, 12, 13
Foreign posts, _see_ Posts
Fourth-class mail matter, _see_ Mail matter, classification of
Foxcroft, Thomas, 66, 399
Frank, definition of, 27 note
Franking, 27, 49, 52, 114, 115, 116, 118, 138, 148, 403-11
Franklin, Benjamin, 39, 63, 64, 66, 148
Freeling, Sir Francis, 22, 137, 138
Freight trains, use of for second-class mail, 163
_Gazette, London_, 113, 114
_Gazette, Oxford_, 113, 114
General post, 248
General post delivery (London), 248
Germain, Lord George, 67
German-Austrian Postal Union, 1850, 213, 226, 236, 264
_Gesch[:a]ftspapiere_, 240
Gladstone, W. E., 126, 130
Goddard, William, 65
Gratuitous transit (of foreign mails), 268, 273, 275
Halfpenny Packet Post, 222
Hamilton, Andrew, 60, 62, 392-9
Hamilton, John, 64
Hand-stamping machines, 303
Handling, cost of, _see_ Cost of handling;
method of, 284
Hartington, Marquess of, 130
Heaton, Sir J. Henniker, 346
Heriot, John, 40
Hickes, James, 113
Hill, Matthew Davenport, 29
Hill, Sir Rowland, 23-30, 47, 72, 74, 84, 127, 220, 312, 323
Horse-posts, _see_ Posts
Howe, John, 43, 139
_Illustrated London News_, 129
Inland letter office, 10, 12
International Parcel Post, _see_ Parcel post
Jaccottey, P., 171
Joyce, H., 17
King's messengers, 1, 4, 6, 377
_Landbestellgeld_, 110
_Landkutschen_, 97
_Landporto_, 102
Laurier, Sir Wilfred, 147
L'Estrange, Roger, 112, 113
Letter rate, _see_ Rates of postage
Letters, definition of "single," "double," "treble," 336;
bye, 17;
cross-post, 17;
drop, 254;
fee, 51;
way, 18, 50;
average weight of, 33, 291, 308
Licences, issue of, by Post Office, 357
Licensing Act, 1662, 112, 117
Lichfield, Lord, 29
Local newspapers (protected), _see_ Newspapers (provincial)
Local penny posts, 250
Local rates, _see_ Rates of postage
_London Gazette_, 113, 114
London Penny Post, 183, 247, 342
London Threepenny Post, 252
London Twopenny Post, 252
Loss on certain branches of Post Office business, _see_ Deficit
Maberley, Colonel, 29, 184
Magazine Post to Canada, 346
Magazines, transmission by post, 150, 152, 154, 155, 159, 346
Mail-coach, introduction of, 21
Mail matter, classification of, 75, 152, 191, 244
Mail order business, 196
_Ma[^i]tres de poste_, 37, 39
Manley, John, 13, 383
_Maryland Journal_, 65
Master of the Posts, 2, 12
Menai Bridge, additional rate for, 339
Merchant Adventurers, 8
Merchant Companies, 8
_Mercurius Publicus_, 112
Military post routes, 40, 42, 43
Millerand, A., 92, 93
Monopoly, postal, 7, 9,13, 60, 80, 255, 259, 325, 330, 340, 358, 380-4
Monsell, W., 133
Muddiman, Henry, 112, 113
Mulock, Sir William, 57, 146, 147
Murray, Robert, 247
Neale, Thomas, 60, 62, 391-8
Net revenue, _see_ Revenue, net
New England colonies, 59
Newsbooks, 111, 112
Newsletters, 111
Newspaper rate, _see_ Rates of postage
Newspaper Stamps, Select Committee on, 1851, 122, 127
Newspaper supplements, 171, 172, 181
Newspapers, average weight of, 132, 142, 308;
cost of transmission, 175, 176;
franking of, 148;
free transmission of, 51, 56, 57, 139, 140, 142, 143, 144;
"class," 124, 125;
political, 167, 168;
provincial (protected), 142, 146, 150, 151, 166, 169, 177;
transient, 137, 152
Nicholas, Sir Edward, 113
North German Union, 108, 213, 214, 228, 257
_Nuncii_, 1, 2, 377
Old Age Pensions, payment of, 357
Open post, 222, 320 note
Oxenbridge, Clement, 13
_Oxford Gazette_, 113, 114
Pacific mails, 75
Packet post, _see_ Post for the packet
Packet postage, 339
Page, W. J., 49, 52
Palmer, John, 20
Paper duty, 117, 119
_Papiers d'affaires_, 93, 239
Parcel Post, international, 185, 204, 206, 277;
local, 207, 208;
loss on, 190, 219, 295, 334
Parcel Post Act, 1882, 188, 288
Parcel rate, _see_ Rates of postage
Parcels, cost of transportation, 188, 218, 219, 311, 321, 325, 331;
average weight of, 33, 190, 216, 325
Paris, University of, 78, 79
_Parliamentary Intelligencer_, 112
Parnell, Sir Henry, 24
Pattern Post, _see_ Rates of postage (samples)
Penalty frank, 192
Penny Post (London), 183, 247, 342
Penny posts (local), 250
Penny postage, uniform, introduction of, 23
Penrose Overstreet Commission, 156, 157
Periodicals, transmission by post, 150, 152, 154, 155, 159
Pitt, William, 21, 344
Political newspapers, 167, 168
_Poor Man's Guardian_, 120
Popish Plot, 14
Post Office Acts--
1657, 13;
1660, 14, 337, 341;
1711, 15, 229, 248, 337, 343;
1730, 249, 251;
1763, 17;
1764, 115;
1765, 20, 250, 338;
1784, 21, 338;
1794, 251;
1795, 230;
1796, 338;
1797, 22;
1799, 344;
1801, 22, 230, 251, 338;
1802, 116;
1805, 22, 230, 252, 338;
1812, 22, 230, 339;
1814, 344;
1815, 345;
1836, 122;
1837, 339, 347;
1838, 288;
1839, 231;
1840, 231;
1853, 128;
1855, 128;
1870, 131, 221;
1882, 188;
1893, 288;
1908, 131
Post Office revenue, _see_ Revenue, net
Postage, origin of term, 2, 6;
prepayment of, 27, 238, 251;
rates of, _see_ Rates of postage
Postage, uniform, _see_ Uniform postage
Postage stamps, introduction of, 27
Postal monopoly, _see_ Monopoly
Postal traffic, growth of, in United Kingdom, 32
Postal Union Convention, 1874, 270
_Post-boten_, 97
Post-boys, 16, 20, 22
Postcards, 241;
average weight of, 308
Post-couriers, 9, 39, 41, 49, 51, 52, 79, 81, 99, 374, 376
Post for the packet, 5, 8, 378
Post-horses, 2, 4, 5, 6, 20, 374-7, 381, 385
Postmasters, 5, 7, 9, 18, 49, 51, 66, 71, 114, 192, 254, 342, 387, 390,
397, 404, 406, 410
Post-riders, 4, 5, 20, 22, 67
Post-roads, 14, 17
Post-stages, 2, 20, 38, 79, 99, 374-7
Posts, 2;
cross-posts, 14, 17, 22, 70, 388;
extraordinary, 3, 6;
foreign, 8, 340;
horse, 2, 22, 37, 61, 65, 79, 99, 350;
military, 40, 43, 98;
ministerial, 67;
municipal, 6;
ordinary, 3;
parliamentary, 67;
regular, 2, 6;
temporary, 3, 6;
thorough, 4, 5;
Thurn and Taxis, 108, 350;
travelling, 3-6, 79;
university, 6, 78
Povey, Charles, 250
Power stamping machines, 303
Prepayment of postage, 27, 238, 251
Press, restrictions upon, 112, 117, 119, 122, 126, 166, 167, 180
Prideaux, Edmund, 11
Prince Edward Island, posts in, 52
Profit, Post Office, _see_ Revenue, net
Prospectuses, transmission by post, 170, 172, 225
Provincial newspapers, _see_ Newspapers
Provost, Sir George, 42
De Quester, Matthew, 7, 340
Railway Clearing Committee, 189
Railway companies, remuneration of, for conveyance of mails, 186, 288
Railway rates, basis of, 321, 322, 323
Randolph, Thomas, 3
Rates of Postage--
ENGLAND.
_Letters_, 1635, 9;
1649, 11;
1657, 13, 336;
1660, 14, 337;
1711, 15, 337;
1765, 20, 338;
1784, 21, 338;
1797, 1801, 1805, 22, 338;
1812, 22, 339;
1840, 23, 339;
1865, 31, 339;
1871, 31, 340;
1885, 1897, 32, 340;
1915, 36, 340
_Newspapers_, 1836, 122;
1853, 1855, 128;
1870, 181;
1915, 135
_Book Post_, 1847, 220;
1853, 1866,
1870, 221;
1897, 222;
1915, 223
_Parcels_,1883, 187;
1915, 190
_Samples_, 1753, 1795, 1805, 1812, 230;
1837, 1863, 231;
1864, 1870, 232;
1887, 1897, 234;
1915, 235
_Commercial Papers_, 1660, 238;
1847, 239
_Local Rates_, 1680, 247;
1730, 249;
1794, 1801, 251;
1805, 252
CANADA.
_Letters_ (First-class Mail), 1765, 38;
1842, 49-52;
1851, 55;
1867, 56;
1889, 1898, 57
_Newspapers_ (Second-class Mail), 1840, 136;
1844, 140;
1867, 141;
1882, 143;
1898, 145;
1903, 147
_Book Post_ (Third-class Mail), 245
_Fourth-class Mail_, 245
_Parcels_, 1914, 856
_Local Rates_, 1867, 1889, 254;
1898, 255
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
_Letters_ (First-class Mail), 1693, 61;
1711, 1765, 63;
1775, 66;
1777, 68;
1780, 1781, 1782, 69;
1792, 1814, 71;
1845, 73;
1851, 1863, 75;
1883, 1885, 76
_Newspapers_ (Second-class Mail), 1792, 149;
1794, 1825, 150;
1845, 1847, 1851, 151;
1863, 1872, 152;
1879, 153
_Book Post_ (Third-class Mail), 76, 245
_Fourth-class Mail_, 76, 245
_Parcels_, 1913, 201; 1914, 202
FRANCE.
_Letters_, 1576, 1627, 1676, 80;
1703, 1759, 81;
1791, 82;
1827, 83;
1849, 85;
1850, 1854, 1871, 88;
1876, 1878, 90;
1906, 94;
1910, 1917, 96
_Newspapers_, 1791, 1795, 1799, 165;
1827, 1850, 166;
1856, 167;
1878, 1895, 1908, 169
_Book Post_,1791, 1856, 223;
1878, 224;
1909, 225
_Parcels_, 1881, 205; 1897, 206
_Samples_,1791, 1856, 235;
1871, 1873, 1875, 236
_Papiers d'Affaires_, 1856, 1871, 1875, 240
_Local Rates_, 1653, 255; 1759, 1878, 256
GERMANY.
_Letters_, 1712, 1762, 100;
1766, 1770,
1822, 101;
1824, 102;
1844, 104;
1848, 105;
1850, 106; 1860, 1861, 107;
1868, 1871, 1900, 109
_Newspapers_, 1821, 1848, 174;
1899, 178
_Book Post_, 1712, 1821, 1824, 225;
1850, 226;
1856, 227;
1871, 1874, 228;
1890, 229
_Parcels_, 1699, 1713, 210;
1762, 1766, 211;
1770, 1805, 1811, 1824, 212;
1842, 1850, 1857, 1867, 213;
1874, 214-15
_Samples_, 1825, 1850, 236;
1860, 1863, 1871, 237;
1875, 1914, 238
_Gesch[:a]ftspapiere_, 1900, 241
_Local Rates_, 1852, 256;
1860, 1865, 1867, 257;
1875, 258;
1900, 261
INTERNATIONAL.
_Letters_, 1874, 270;
1906, 275
_Parcels_, 1880, 1886, 280;
1897, 281;
1906, 282
Rates, international transit, _see_ Transit rates
Redirection (of letters, etc.), 283, note 2
Reform Act, 1832, 119
Revenue, net, 16, 22, 31, 35, 58, 63, 71, 76, 80, 83, 87, 89, 91, 94, 99,
100, 104, 105, 109, 253, 314, 353, 355, 358;
theoretical character of, 362, 363
Rice, Spring, 122
Richelieu, 80
Riders in post, 4, 5, 20, 22, 67
Rural delivery, 89, 110, 161, 314 note, 331, 332;
free, 161
Sample rate, _see_ Rates of postage
Savings Bank, Post Office, 33, 357
_Schriftentaxe_, 225, 240
Second-class Mail, _see_ Mail matter, classification of;
Congressional Commission on, 1907, 156;
1912, 158;
deficit, 147, 155, 158, 162;
use of freight trains for, 163
Select Committee on Postage, Report of, 1838, 30;
on Newspaper Stamps, 1851, 122, 127
Seven Years' War, 81, 100, 211
Ship Letter Office, 344
Ship letters, 339, 342
Single letter, definition of, 336
Smith, Adam, 329, 330
Sorting frames, 285
_Stafetti_, 8, 378
Staff, 33-5;
cost of, 289, 301, 306
Stage coach, 20, 250 note, 385
Stamp duty (on newspapers), 117, 119, 121, 128
Stamping machines, 303
Stamps, postage, introduction of, 27
Stanhope, Lord, 7, 341, 380
State control of Post Office, 328
Stayner, T. A., 138
Stephan, H. von, 241, 266
Supplemental services, 33, 109, 357
Supplements (newspaper), 132, 171, 172, 181
Surveyors (post office), 20, 21
Sutherland, Daniel, 43
Taxes on knowledge, 126, 142
Taxis, J. von, 350
Telegraphs, Post Office, 33, 358
Telephones, Post Office, 33, 358
Temporary uniform fourpenny rate. 30 note
Third-class Mail Matter, _see_ Mail matter, classification of
Thirty Years' War, 209, 353
Thorough Post, 4, 5
Threepenny Post (London), 252
Thurn and Taxis Posts, 108, 350
_Times_ newspaper, 121, 129
Trade journals, transmission by post, 132, 147, 159
Transient newspapers, 137, 152
Transit, gratuitous, 268, 273, 275
Transit rates, international, 267, 270, 271, 273, 275, 279, 281
Travelling Post, 3-6, 79
Treble letter, definition of, 336
Tuke, Brian, 2, 3
Tupper, Sir Charles, 57
Twopenny Post (London), 252
Uniform postage, 23, 26, 28, 54, 72, 75, 85, 108, 312, 323
_Union g['e]n['e]rale des Postes_, 269
_Union postale universelle_, 269, note 3
Universal penny postage, 276, 348
Universal Postal Union, 224, 229
University posts, 6, 78
Urgent parcels, special fee for, 215
Wages (of postmasters), 3, 5
Wages, Post Office, 34, 297
Walkley, A. B., 275 note
Wanamaker, J., 77, 154, 155, 192
Ward, Edmund, 137, 139
Ward, Sir J. G., 276
Warwick, Earl of, 11
Way letter, 18, 50
Way Office, 49, 50
Weighing of mails (United States), 156, 157
Wells, H. G., 134
West, Robert, 398
Williamson, Joseph, 113
Witherings, Thomas, 8, 9, 12, 378, 381
Yearly express, 40
Zone rates, 177, 199, 201, 202, 215, 356
* * * * *
_Printed in Great Britain by_
UNWIN BROTHERS, LIMITED, THE GRESHAM PRESS, WOKING AND LONDON
* * * * *
[1] _Report from Secret Committee on the Post Office_ (_Commons_), 1844,
Appx., p. 21.
[2] Ibid., p. 4. _Annual Report of the Postmaster-General_, 1854, p. 8.
[3] _Encyclopaedia of the Laws of England_, London, 1908, vol. xi. p.
344. J. W. Hyde, _The Post in Grant and Farm_, London, 1894, p. 131.
[4] _Report from Secret Committee on the Past Office_ (_Commons_),1844,
Appx., p. 95. In 1324 a writ or letter was issued to the Constable of
Dover and Warden of the Cinque Ports, to the Mayor and Sheriffs of
London, the Bailiffs of Bristol, Southampton, and Portsmouth, and the
Sheriffs of Hants, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall, reciting that
previous orders _de scrutinio faciendo_ had not been observed, in
consequence of which many letters prejudicial to the Crown were brought
into the kingdom; and commanding them to "make diligent scrutiny of all
persons passing from parts beyond the seas to England, and to stop all
letters concerning which sinister suspicions might arise, and their
bearers, and to keep the bearers in custody until further directions,
and to transmit the letters so intercepted to the King with the utmost
speed."
[5] Richard III in 1484 "followed the practice which had been recently
introduced by King Edward in the time of the last war with Scotland
(1482) of appointing a single horseman for every 20 miles, by means of
whom travelling with the utmost speed, and not passing their respective
limits, news was always able to be carried by letter from hand to hand
200 miles within two days."--_Third Continuation of the Chronicle of
Croyland_, Oxford, 1684, p. 571. The system was identical with that of
the posts of antiquity (_vide_ Appendix B, pp. 374-7, _infra_).
[6] Derived from _posta_, a contraction for _posita_, from _ponere_, to
place. The general use of the word is to signify relays placed at
intervals on the routes followed by messengers.
[7] "Ne men can kepe horses in redynes without som way to bere the
charges"--Tuke to Cromwell, 17 August 1533 (_Report from Secret
Committee on the Post Office_ (_Commons_), 1844, Appx., p. 32).
[8] "The King's pleasure is that postes be better appointed, and laide
in al places most expedient; with commaundement to al townshippes in al
places on payn of lyfe, to be in such redynes, and to make such
provision of horses at al tymes, as no tract or losse of tyme be had in
that behalf "--Ibid., Appx., p. 32.
[9] "A.D. 1572. The Office of the Maister of the Postes. The Accompte of
Thomas Randolphe esquier, Maister of the Postes.... As also of the
yssuyng and defrayment owte of the same, as well for the wages of the
ordinarie postes laide betwene London and Barwicke and elles where
within hir Ma^ts Realme of Englande, As also for the wages of divers
extra ordenarie postes laid in divers places of the Realme in the tyme
of hir Ma^ts severall progresses, and also to divers postes for cariage
of packets of l'res from Sittingbourne, Dartforde Rochester, Canterbury
and Dover for hir Ma^ts service and affayres, as occasion from tyme to
tyme did requier."--Ibid., Appx., p. 34.
[10] In the United Kingdom this system exists to a considerable extent,
chiefly in the south and west of Ireland, and in many parts of Scotland,
more especially among the Western Isles. In remote parts the means of
communication are in general provided for the double purpose, and
economy to the Post Office naturally results from the fact that the
contractors for the mail service have a source of income in addition to
the Post Office payment. Indeed, it is probable that since the days of
the post-boys by far the greater portion of the mails has always been
conveyed by means not exclusively provided for that purpose. The mail
coaches carried passengers and goods, and it was from that traffic that
the income of the proprietor was mainly derived. The payment in respect
of the mails was very small, the real consideration inducing the
proprietors to carry the mail being the fact that the mail coaches were
exempt from tolls. The railway displaced the mail coach, and increased
the dependence of the mail service on means of communication provided
primarily for other purposes. The number of trains run solely for the
conveyance of mails has always been extremely small. The weight of mails
to be conveyed is usually insufficient to warrant the provision of a
special train, and the Post Office is therefore compelled, as far as
possible, to make use of such trains as may be run for other traffic,
endeavouring to obtain such modification in the times and working as
will make them of the greatest advantage to the mail service without
destroying their utility for general traffic. The existence of extensive
means of communication for general purposes therefore results
advantageously to the Post Office.
[11] 2 and 3 Edward VI, cap. 3.
[12] "The Lords of the Privie Counsell, endevouring heretofore the like
furtherance of the service of the State, as well in horsing such as ride
on their Prince's affaires, as the speedy despatch of packets in all
places where Posts were erected and ordeined, considering that for the
service of the one, a daily fee is allowed, and for the other, no
certaine wages at all, but the hire of the horses let out, and that
often ill paide, whereby they stand not so bound to the one, as to
attend to the other; And that the townes and countreys besides became
many wayes vexed and perplexed, by the over great libertie of riders in
poste, specially by such as pretend publike service by speciall
commission, contrary to the King's meaning or their lordships'
orders."--Orders for Thorough Posts and Couriers, riding Post on the
King's Affairs, 1603 _(Report from Secret Committee on the Post Office
(Commons_), 1844, Appx., p. 38).
The "Thorough Post" was the term applied to the travelling facilities
provided by the posts, i.e. when the messenger travelled "through," in
contradistinction to the "Post for the Pacquet" (or "Packet"), i.e. the
post for the transmission of the mail, or "pacquet."
[13] "1. First it is ordered, That in all places where Posts are layde
for the packet, they also, as persons most fit, shall have the benefit
and preheminence of letting, furnishing, and appointing of horses to all
riding in poste (that is to say) with horse and guide by commission or
otherwise.
"2. And, like as in the orders for the carrying of the packets, the
furtherance of our service and the State is only aymed at; so in this it
is intended that none be holden to ride on publique affairs but with
speciall commission, and the same signed either by one of our Principall
Secretaries of State, ... and of all such so riding in publike affaires,
it shall be lawfull for the Posts, or the owners of the horses, to
demand, for the hire of ich horse, after the rate of twopence halfe-peny
the mile (besides the guides groats). But of all others riding poste
with horse and guide, about their private businesses the hire and prices
are left to the parties discretions, to agree and compound within
themselves."--Ibid., Appx., p. 39.
[14] Contemporary papers show that this was largely a measure of police,
intended to enable the Government to keep a watch on all persons
travelling about the kingdom.
[15] As late as 1620 there were only four, and they touched only a small
portion of the kingdom. They were (1) The Courte to Barwicke, (2) The
Courte to Beaumaris, (3) The Courte to Dover, and (4) The Courte to
Plymouthe.
[16] See _supra_, p. 3.
[17] "The constables many times be fayn to take horses oute of plowes
and cartes."--Brian Tuke, 1533 (_Report from Secret Committee on the
Post Office_ (_Commons_), 1844, Appx., p. 33).
[18] The post from London serving the "Westerne part" of the kingdom was
discontinued in 1610 as unnecessary except in time of war.--Ibid.,
Appx., p. 43.
[19] "Universities and great towns had their own particular posts; and
the same horse or foot post went through the journey, and returned with
other letters, without having different stages as at present. It was
thus practised later in Scotland as having less commerce than in
England."--D. Macpherson, _Annals of Commerce_, London, 1805, vol. ii.
p. 400.
[20] The Committee of Secrecy of the House of Commons were of opinion
that the practice of carrying private letters probably began at an early
period and became a perquisite of the postmasters (_Report from Secret
Committee on the Post Office_ (_Commons_), 1844, p. 4).
[21] Ibid., Appx., p. 56.
[22] Ibid., Appx., p. 36; see p. 380, _infra._
[23] Ibid., Appx., p. 41.
[24] The business of carrying foreign letters had been conducted by the
holder of the general patent for carrying letters, although that patent
covered only inland posts and foreign posts within the King's dominions.
In 1620 a patent was issued to Matthew de Quester and his son,
conferring on them the office of Postmaster of England for Foreign
Parts. The holder of the patent for the Inland Posts, who had hitherto
been conducting this service, attempted to resist this new grant, but
without success; and for some time there was a sort of triple division
of the posts, viz. the Inland Posts, the posts in parts beyond the seas
within the King's dominions, and the posts for foreign parts out of the
King's dominions. There was, nevertheless, no regular provision for the
conveying of letters for places out of England. The foreign mails were
conveyed by men who were engaged in other business, who bought their
places in the posts, and were accused of delaying the mails through
"more minding their own peddling traffic than the service of the State
or merchants, omitting many passages, sometimes staying for the vending
of their own commodities, many times through neglect by lying in
tippling-houses."--See J. W. Hyde, _The Post in Grant and Farm_, London,
1894, p. 12.
[25] "Nether can anie place in Christendom bee named wher merchants are
allowed to send their letters by other body or posts, then by those only
which are authorized by the State.... Your Lordship best knoweth what
accompt wee shal bee hable to give in our places of that w^{ch} passeth
by letters in or out of the land, if everie man may convey lrs, under
the covers of merchants, to whome and what place hee pleaseth."--30th
February 1627. John Coke to Lord Conway (_Report from Secret Committee
on the Post Office (Commons)_, 1844, Appx., p. 51).
[26] A copy is given in Appendix B, _infra_, pp. 378-380.
[27] "Now his Majesty ... taking into his princely consideration how
much it imports this State and this whole realm, that the secrets be not
disclosed to foreign nations; which cannot be prevented if promiscuous
use of transmitting or taking up of foreign letters by these private
posts and carriers aforesaid should be suffered, which will be also no
small prejudice to his merchants in their trading.... And his Majesty,
taking further into his consideration that the mutual commerce and
correspondency of his subjects within his Majesty's dominions will be as
advantageous and beneficial as the trade with foreign nations, and that
nothing will more increase and advance the same than the safe and speedy
conveying, carrying, and re-carrying of letters from one place to
another ... he doth hereby straightly charge and command, that no post
or carrier whatsoever within his Majesty's dominions, other than such as
shall be nominated and appointed by the said Thomas Witherings, shall
presume to take up, carry, receive, and deliver any letter or letters,
pacquet or pacquets whatsoever, to any such place or places where the
said Thomas Witherings shall have settled posts, according to the said
grant, except a particular messenger sent on purpose with letters by any
man for his own occasions, or letters by a friend, or by common known
carriers."--Proclamation of 11th February 1637-8 (_Report from Secret
Committee on the Post Office (Commons)_,1844, Appx., p. 58).
[28] "1650. June 29th. Council of State to (Serjeant Dendy and his
assistants?):--