at pleasure, the salary £76 per annum, net, payable quarterly,
the attendance not more than 20 times in the year, and about 2 or
3 hours each time: the duty is agreeable, and in the line of a
Gentleman, and can at all times at a small expence be executed by
a Deputy. Address &c., &c."--(_Times, Feb. 3, 1798._)
* * * * *
Advt.--"Three hundred Pounds. An adequate Premium of £300 or
upwards, will be given to any Lady, or Gentleman, who has
interest to procure the Advertiser a Place in one of the
Government Offices. As the parties are of the utmost
respectability, the greatest honour and secrecy may be depended
on. Address to &c., &c."
* * * * *
Advt.--"Fifty Guineas will be given to any Gentleman, or Lady,
who has interest to procure the Advertiser, a young Man, 25 years
of age, a Situation in any of the Public Offices under
Government. Address &c., &c."
* * * * *
Advt.--"A Douceur. Wanted, Information as to Situations in
Public Offices, or other Appointments under Government, at home,
or abroad, which are at present vacant, or like soon to be, or
where those who hold such may be willing to resign, on account of
their advanced time of life, or other circumstances, on a Douceur
being made them. Any person who can give information of this kind
will be waited on at any time, or place, he may appoint. At
meeting, all particular terms, and circumstances, can be
explained. The Advertiser is a person who can give the most
satisfactory testimonials of connections, and abilities, and he
wishes to be understood that the object of this Advertisement
respects Appointments where the emoluments derived from the
Situations may be from £500, down to £200 per ann. The most
perfect secrecy may be relied on--"
* * * * *
Advt.--"Five Hundred Pounds will be given to any Lady or
Gentleman, who can procure the Advertiser a Place under
Government, where the emoluments will be a liberal compensation
for the sum proposed, and but little attendance required: or, if
constant attendance is necessary, it will be expected that the
emoluments should be in proportion. The person who wishes such a
situation, is respectable in his connections, and the most
inviolable secrecy will be observed. No broker will be attended
to. Either in a Civil department, or otherwise. For reference &c.
&c. &c."--(_Times, Jany. 4, 1799._)
[Illustration:
Lord Sandwich. Dr. Brilland. Dr. Pair.]
The _Penny Post_ was an institution of those days, although its action
was limited as to distance. The following excerpts will enable us to
notice its different phases, during the years treated of:--
"The Postmaster General has lately established a Penny Post at
Manchester, which promises great convenience to the inhabitants
of that place, and its vicinity."--(_Times, April 17, 1793._)
* * * * *
"The new Penny Post Office is likely to prove such a very great
accommodation to the public, that the only wonder is--it has been
so long neglected. Instead of the number of deliveries, and the
hours of despatch, varying in different parts of the town, as at
present, there will be six deliveries, each day, in all parts of
the town: by which means, a person living at Mary-le-bonne, may
send letters to, or receive letters from, Limehouse, a distance
of seven miles, five times a day. Persons putting in letters by
nine in the morning at the distance of ten miles from the chief
Penny Post Office, and later, at less distant parts, may receive
answers from London the same afternoon. There will be three
deliveries of letters, in most parts of the country, within the
limits of the Penny Post; and there will be two posts, daily,
from all parts within the distance of ten miles from Lombard
St."--(_Times, Feb. 28, 1794._)
* * * * *
"The proposed plan of a new Penny Post is no longer talked
of:--It is every day more, and more, wanted, as the present mode
is extremely irregular, and insufficient. According to the new
plan, the Penny Post was to have gone out seven times a
day."--(_Times, May 4, 1794._)
* * * * *
"The PENNY POST.
"The late regulations in the Penny Post Office are certainly of
the most essential service to the public: but the conduct of the
Letter Carriers requires the most minute attention. They wall
defraud where they think they can do it with impunity; and as an
instance of this, we give the following fact. From any part of
the Metropolis, to the Borough of Southwark, and its adjacent
parts, is stated to be but _One penny_ per Letter. The Carriers,
however, uniformly charged 2d. per Letter. A Complaint of this
imposition was made to the Comptroller, by a Gentleman, whose
house is in the Blackfriars Road, and an immediate answer was
given 'that the Carrier had been severely reprimanded,' and the
surcharge had been returned. His removal from that walk, gave his
successor, who, perhaps, did not hear of this reprimand, an
opportunity to continue the same imposition, and the letters to
Blackfriars Road, and in other parts of St. George's Fields, were
again charged 2d. The Comptroller was again applied to, and on
the next evening, he wrote a letter to the person who sends this
for publication, 'that the Carrier was ordered to return the
surcharge.' The publication of this circumstance is requisite, as
no doubt, similar extortions are practised in other parts of the
suburbs. This is a matter that ought to be universally made
known, as cent. per cent., even on a _penny_, is rather too much
for a man, illegally, to pay."--(_Times, Oct. 27, 1794._)
"Franking," as the privilege of free postage was called, had already
assumed dimensions, so as to have become a scandal, which is well
exposed in the following notices:--
"Motion respecting Clerks in Office.
"Mr. _Dent_ said ... Public notoriety went to accuse the offices
of great abuse of the privilege of franking ... that such abuses
did exist, and to give the proofs of them was the object which he
proposed to gain by his present motion. He would state to the
House some of the abuses. Certain bags came to the Post Office,
marked Ordnance, Navy, Treasury Bags, &c., and the letters
contained in these bags were furthered without more enquiry.
These bags, perhaps, contained a great quantity of letters from
the various Clerks: he could produce an instance of a very
inferior Clerk, who had franked to a great amount, by placing his
initials on the superscription. He had looked attentively over
the list of those who had the privilege, and he did not find his
name among them.... Among other instances, he would mention a Mr.
Lackington, a celebrated bookseller; he had friends in some one
of the Offices, and the whole of his Catalogues were franked to
different parts of the country. It was also notorious, that some
persons had written to their country correspondents, that if they
would deal with them, the whole mass of pamphlets published in
London should be sent them free of postage: this was done by
means of the Clerks in office. In short, there were persons whose
salaries amounted to only £300, or £400 per annum, who from their
situation, made £1000 or £1200. It surely could not be the
intention of the House to permit such malversation, and,
therefore, he should move for a Committee to enquire into these
facts. Before the late regulation, venison has passed as nimbly,
by the post, as it run when alive in its native park. After
further conversation, the House divided.--For the Question, 53;
Against it, 41.--Majority, 12."
"It would have been extraordinary indeed, if Sir Benjamin Hammett
had not opposed the Franking Bill: for we are informed from very
good authority, that Letters franked by, and addressed to, him
only, are to the amount of £2400 sterling _per annum_."--(_Times,
March 11, 1795._)
* * * * *
"Debate on Franking.
"Mr. _Hobart_ brought up the Report of the Committee upon the
Bill to restrain the abuse of Franking.
"Mr. _Dent_ said, he was sorry to add, that this privilege had
been notoriously abused, and was so publicly known, that
paragraphs had appeared in a newspaper, of a Member having
received £300 annually, from a mercantile house, to give them the
advantage of this privilege. He hoped this fact was false, but he
feared, however, it would be found too well warranted. By this
Bill, Members were to receive only fifteen letters, and send ten,
therefore the abuse, to this extent, could not be continued. At
the same time, he thought, and should, bye-and-bye, more
particularly state, in the motion he should submit to the House,
that, when they were curtailing their own privileges, the Clerks
in office should not be permitted to continue their abuses.
"Mr. _Courtenay_ said, by the official returns it appeared that
£30,000 was franked by the various offices, which amounted to one
third of the whole of what was franked by Members of Parliament.
Now the privilege was restrained in Members of Parliament, it
would become more valuable to the Clerks in Office, and he should
not wonder, if some of them should become not sleeping, but
_writing_, partners in mercantile houses....
"Mr. _Dent_ observed, abuses in the offices did exist to a very
great degree. The Commissioners of the Customs received large
Packets which contained letters to all their acquaintances in
Town: the abuse did not end here: 20 Custom-House Porters were
immediately dispatched to 20 different parts of the town.
"Mr. _W. Smith_ said, ... Public notoriety was sufficient grounds
to proceed against the Offices. Though all those letters were
superscribed for His Majesty's service, yet they went upon many
other purposes. A friend of his had informed him of some Vine
cuttings, which had been sent to Ireland, franked: he also knew
of a silk gown franked into the country: this was hardly for His
Majesty's service.
"Mr. _Rose_ said, if those abuses, mentioned by the Hon.
Gentleman, had been privately intimated, they would have had
immediate attention and some remedy applied. The laws to prevent
the abuse of franking had been transmitted to the several
Offices, and by them the first offence was a penalty, and the
second, a dismissal from Office.
"The Bill was ordered to be read a third time on
Friday."--(_Times, April 14, 1795._)
The following are to be the new rates of Postage in this country:--
"For every single Letter by post, for any distance not exceeding
15 miles, be charged 3d. Double letters 6d. Triple 9d. Those of 1
ounce weight, 1s., and so, in proportion.
"Above 15 miles, and not exceeding 30, for single Letters 4d.,
and so, in the same proportion.
"Above 30 miles, and not exceeding 60, 5d., and so, in
proportion.
"Above 60 miles and not exceeding 100, 6d., and so, in
proportion.
"Above 100 miles, and not exceeding 150, 7d., and so, in
proportion.
"All above 150 miles, 8d., &c.
"Upon every single Letter to Scotland, 1d., the rates of Postage
remaining the same, on double letters, 2d., &c.
"That the present rates of Postage between London, and Portugal,
and between London, and British America, do cease.
"From any part of Great Britain, to Portugal, exclusive of Inland
Postage, every single letter, 1s., &c.
"The same from any part of Great Britain, to British America.
"The Inland Postage upon said Letters according to
distance."--(_Times, Dec. 12, 1796._)
The following paragraph is interesting, as it fixes the date of the
Postal Uniforms--the colours of which are still adhered to by the
Postal authorities, in clothing the Mail drivers:--
"The Post Office Letter Carriers in London are to be provided
with an uniform of red coats, faced with blue, and to wear
numbers."--(_Times, Feb. 10, 1793._)
* * * * *
"There is at this time a third of the Mail Guards ill, either
from the intenseness of the severe weather or from colds they
have caught in the floods: their exertions were in general very
great, and meritorious, in saving the Mails."--(_Times, Feb. 19,
1795._)
We are here presented with the infancy of Telegraphing--which was then
a marvel of the age--but which we, from our standpoint of Electricity,
must fain smile at. They were mechanical contrivances placed on hills,
or other eminences.
"The Telegraph.--This mode of communication is little understood
here, although the invention be not a new one. The process is
getting possession of _heights_ at convenient distances, and by
fire-works, in different forms, for different letters, _spelling_
the order, or intelligence, from station, to station!"--(_Times,
Sept. 11, 1794._)
* * * * *
"The new mode of correspondence, by the help of which, the
surrender of _Quesnoy_ was known at Paris an hour after the entry
of the French troops into that place, is a communication by
signals, which are repeated from distance, to distance, by
machines, stationed four, or five, leagues asunder. This may
explain the celerity with which communications are made.
"The _telegraph_, now brought into use by the French, appears to
have been an invention of Dr. Hooper's, and published in his
Rational Recreations, in 1774. The plan of which may be seen in
his 'Visual Correspondence.'"--(_Times, Sept. 15, 1794._)
* * * * *
"The invention of the Telegraphe, does not belong alone to the
French. About ten years ago, Count Possini at Rome, invented a
mode of getting intelligence from Naples, in the course of an
hour. The Lottery at Rome, depends upon that drawn at Naples. It
differs from our Lottery, materially, for there are but six
prizes, and these are the first six numbers drawn, and the
remainder are all blanks. The Count, whose house is on an
eminence near Rome, managed with his confederates, who were
placed at certain distances, between Naples, and his estate, to
have sky rockets let off, by which they had previously fixed with
each other, to ascertain by such signals, any particular number,
or numbers, drawn. The plan succeeded, as Tickets continued to be
sold in Rome, for several hours after the drawing commenced at
Naples, the account of which was always brought by the ordinary
courier. By this scheme the party got about 100,000 crowns, and
the plot would never have been discovered, had not the Count
purchased the whole of the six prizes, which caused suspicion,
and of course, excited enquiry."--(_Times, Sept. 16, 1794._)
* * * * *
"Astley, who is always employed in the production of something
new, brings out, this evening, an exhibition of the much talked
of, and ingenious Machine, called the Telegraphe, at the
_Lyceum_, in the Strand."--(_Times, Sept. 19, 1794._)
* * * * *
"The invention of the Telegraphe, is now traced back to 1655, and
particularly mentioned in a little book, then written, and
published, by the Marquis of Worcester, inventor of the Steam
Engine. He there gives it the name of _Visual Correspondence_,
and calls it his own invention."--(_Times, Sept. 20, 1794._)
* * * * *
"Experiments are now making at Woolwich with a new species of the
Telegraphe, to ascertain at what distance intelligence can be
conveyed by it during the night. It is composed of letters, or
figures, nine feet high, cut out in a board, which is painted
black in front, and strongly illuminated behind by patent lamps
with reflectors; it is placed on the top of the butt against
which the cannon are proved, and proper persons are stationed at
Purfleet, and other intermediate places, with telescopes, to
determine at what distance letters of that size are legible at
night, by which means any word may be written, by a succession of
letters, and intelligence may be conveyed, with astonishing
celerity, during the night, by having a series of different
signal-houses at proper distances between whatever places
information is intended to be communicated."--(_Times, Oct. 7,
1794._)
* * * * *
"It has been said, that a conversation had actually taken place
across the Channel, between Donaghadee and Port Patrick, by means
of a Telegraph. The following are the particulars: Two Gentlemen
of the county of Longford have been, for sometime past, making
experiments, in different positions, in that county, and they
succeeded so well, as to induce them to undertake the journey to
Donaghadee, where the Channel between Britain and Ireland is the
narrowest, being about 18 Irish miles across. They brought down
their machinery with them, and, having erected one on each side,
they conversed with each other, on Monday evening last, the
weather being tolerably clear. The conversation that passed was
as follows--The Gentleman on this side said 'I see you, being
white, distinctly.' The other replied 'I see you; I wish your's
was white also.' (The machine on this side being black.) The
Gentleman on this side then asked 'What o'clock is it?' and was
answered 'Six.' He then said 'I will shew lights at nine o'clock,
do you attend.' He was answered 'I will attend, but I have only
one light.' They then made signals of 'good night,' and the
communication ended. The machine consists of a triangle, with two
long sides and a short one, suspended in the air vertically; it
turns on a pivot, and is capable of being put into eight
different positions, very distinct from each other. These
positions represent eight of the common numerical figures, and
these figures, according to their position, denote certain words
and sentences, according to a preconcerted dictionary, or
vocabulary, alphabetically, as well as numerically, arranged. It
is believed this machine is on a principle totally different from
the French."--(_Times, Sept, 11, 1795._)
* * * * *
"A chain of Telegraphs is erected from Shuter's Hill to Dover.
_Gad's Hill_, and _Barham Hill_, are the intermediate
posts."--(_Times, Dec. 30, 1795._)
* * * * *
"Telegraphe.--An improvement on this post-haste mode of
travelling, has been offered to the Administration, by two
foreigners, who demand £40,000 for the discovery, if it should be
found to answer; if it does not, like quacks of another
description, they retire with nothing but the shame of the
attempt. These foreigners undertake to convey intelligence to all
parts of the world, by letter as quick as thought. Certain globes
are to be constructed, that, by the power of electricity and
attraction, a packet, large as a horse can carry, shall be sent
to and from Dublin, in about the time requisite for dispatching a
breakfast!! _Credat Judeus!_"--(_Times, Jan. 12, 1796._)
In or about 1796, was instituted the semaphore telegraph--which,
until the introduction of the Electric Telegraph, was the best system
out.
"The most important services which can be rendered to the public
by the Telegraph, is in cases similar to that which occurred last
week, in forwarding the news from Deal to London, of the sailing
of the Dutch Fleet, within the space of five minutes. This prompt
conveyance of the intelligence enabled the Admiralty Board to
take such speedy measures for sending a fleet out after the
enemy. When the Telegraph is established between London and other
ports as well as Deal, the advantage will be very great
indeed."--(_Times, Mar. 2, 1796._)
* * * * *
"The English are remarkable for improving upon the inventions of
their Gallic neighbours. It is well known, that while these
aerial wanderers were tumbling down like so many Phaetons from
Heaven, we were driving about securely in balloon-coaches, and
eating balloon-cakes, and balloon-oysters. The same advantage has
resulted from the telegraph, which, beside christening a coach,
and a newspaper, is now transferred to the heads of our ladies,
and has given us telegraphic hats and telegraphic caps. By this
invention a female will travel to Edinburgh, through the
observatory at York, Doncaster, Grantham and Huntingdon, from the
principal machine in Bond Street, in the time of three Operas, or
twenty-four Routs."--(_Times, Oct. 15, 1796._)
* * * * *
"Since the invention of the _Coiffure télégraphique_ it is
scarcely possible to follow the rapidity of the fashions. The
morning dress and the evening dress mean literally the dress of
the day they are worn in. It was observed, with concern, at Drury
Lane the other evening, that the Lady P's were more than _half an
hour_ out of fashion."--(_Times, Oct. 21, 1796._)
Among the various tyrannies of fashion, none, perhaps was more curious
than that of powdering the hair. Taxation, and the French _mode_ of
"Cropping" killed it, but it died hard.--The Tax was treated both
jocularly, and _au grand serieux_.
EPIGRAM.
"On the Hair Powder Licence Tax, at a time when general
Expectation looked for a tax on Dogs:--
"Full many a chance, or dire mishap,
Oft'times between the lip, and cup, is;
The Tax, that should have _hung_ our Dogs,
Excuses them, and falls on Puppies."
--(_Times, Mar. 11, 1795._)
* * * * *
"A tax on Dogs would certainly have been unobjectionable, as well
as expedient, in a two-fold degree; first in creating a revenue,
and secondly, in lessening the number of them. At the present
period particularly, a tax on Dogs would have a good effect, as
it is a well known fact, that the coarser parts of meat are
scarcely to be had by the poor, because the rich can afford to
buy them for their dogs."--(_Times, Apr. 11, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The Tax on Powdered Heads is calculated to produce £450,000 per
annum, though the Minister has only calculated it at £200,000.
Some Gentlemen are said to have made an offer to farm it at
£400,000."--(_Times, Mar. 25, 1795._)
* * * * *
"Hair Powder Tax."
"An Annual Certificate to be taken out by every person wearing
hair-powder, price one-guinea: every sort, or composition, of
powder worn as an article of dress, to be deemed within the
meaning of the Act. The Royal Family, and their immediate
Servants; Clergymen, whose annual income is under £100;
Subaltern, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Privates of the Army,
Militia, Marines, and Fencible Corps; Officers of the Navy, under
the rank of Commander; Officers, and Privates, in Corps of
Yeomanry, or Volunteers; Dissenting Preachers in holy orders, or
pretended holy orders, whose annual income is under £100, are
exempted. Persons having more than two daughters unmarried, to
pay only for two.
"Persons wearing Powder without a Certificate, to forfeit £20.
Persons selling, transferring, or using, a Certificate, with
intent to defraud the revenue, to forfeit £30."--(_Times, May 7,
1795._)
* * * * *
"The Powder Tax has already produced three hundred thousand
pounds to Government. The term is to be extended by Act of
Parliament, and, according to the most probable conjectures, the
final amount will be double that sum.
"The Duke of Devonshire has paid five and thirty guineas for his
family. The Duchess of Northumberland, a single guinea for
herself: powder is under interdiction among the rest of that
family: though not from motives of disaffection. Her Grace
assigns a more justifiable motive; namely, a scruple of
contributing, in any unnecessary way, to the present
scarcity."--(_Times, June 12, 1795._)
* * * * *
"_Hair Powder Tax._ The Caricaturists, who generally paint so
plain, that those who run may read, have whimsically described
the two orders of beings, who do, and do not, pay. The first are
aptly enough termed _Guinea_ Pigs--the latter, Pigs without a
_Guinea_!"--(_Times, July 1, 1795._)
* * * * *
"The Commander in Chief of Brighton Camp has notified to the
Officers, that the use of Flour, for the privates, will be
dispensed with, during the present scarcity of Wheat."--(_Times,
July 15, 1795._)
* * * * *
"HAIR POWDER. To all those whom it may concern.