Stamps were used as an acknowledgment that
postage was paid, and likewise to mark the hours when letters
were sent out from the offices, by which, in case of delay, its
cause might be traced to the messengers; and deliveries took
place ten times in the vicinity of the Exchange and Inns of
Court, and four times in the suburbs daily. All persons were
requested to post their communications before six o'clock in the
winter, and seven in the summer, on Saturday nights, "that the
many poor men employed may have a little time to provide for
their families against the Lord's Day." And it was moreover
intimated that upon three days at Christmas, and two at Easter
and Whitsuntide, as likewise upon the 30th of January, the post
would not be delivered.
From the first this scheme promised success, the manner in which
it was carried out being wholly admirable; yet there were many
who raised their voices against it persistently. Porters and
messengers declared it took away their means of subsistence;
whilst those of higher grade were confident it was a contrivance
of the papists, which enabled them to carry out their wicked
schemes with greater security. But these illusions vanished with
time; and the penny post became such a success that Government
laid claim to it as a branch of the General Post Office, and
annexed its revenues to the Crown. [In the year 1703 Queen Anne
bestowed a grant on Elizabeth, Dowager countess of Thanet, to
erect a penny post-office in Dublin, similar to that in existence
in London.
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