Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
1
435
Her Majesty's Mails
·
William Lewins
38
Under
the
Protectorate,
the
Post-Office
underwent
material
changes.
Whilst
extending
the
basis
of
the
Post-Office,
Cromwell
and
his
Council
took
advantage
of
the
State
monopoly
to
make
it
subservient
to
the
interests
of
the
Commonwealth.
One
of
the
ordinances
published
during
the
Protectorate
sets
forth
that
the
Post-Office
ought
to
be
upheld,
not
merely
because
it
is
the
best
means
of
conveying
public
and
private
communications,
but
also
because
it
may
be
made
the
agent
in
"discovering
and
preventing
many
wicked
designs,
which
have
been
and
are
daily
contrived
against
the
peace
and
welfare
of
this
Commonwealth,
the
intelligence
whereof
cannot
well
be
communicated
except
by
letters
of
escript."
A
system
of
espionage
was
thus
settled
which
has
always
been
abhorrent
to
the
nature
and
feelings
of
Englishmen.
But
perhaps
we
ought
not
to
judge
the
question
in
the
light
of
the
present
day.
And
we
would
do
justice
to
the
Council
of
the
Commonwealth.
The
Post-Office
now
for
the
first
time
became
the
subject
of
parliamentary
enactments,
and
the
acts
passed
during
the
interregnum
became
the
models
for
all
subsequent
measures.
In
the
year
1656
an
Act
was
passed,
"to
settle
the
postage
of
England,
Scotland,
and
Ireland,"
and
henceforth
the
Post-Office
was
established
on
a
new
and
broad
basis.[16]
It
was
ruled
that
there
"shall
be
one
General
Post-Office,
and
one
officer
stiled
the
Postmaster-Generall
of
England,
and
Comptroller
of
the
Post-Office."
This
officer
was
to
have
the
horsing
of
all
"through"
posts
and
persons
"riding
post."
"Prices
for
the
carriage
of
letters,
English,
Scottish,
and
Irish,"
as
well
as
foreign,
and
also
for
post-horses,
were
again
fixed.
All
other
persons
were
forbidden
"to
set
up
or
employ
any
foot-posts,
horse-posts,
or
packet-boats."
Two
exceptions,
however,
were
made
under
the
latter
head,
in
favour
of
the
two
universities,
"who
may
use
their
former
liberties,
rights,
and
privileges
of
having
special
carriers
to
carry
and
recarry
letters
as
formerly
they
did,
and
as
if
this
Act
had
not
been
made."
The
Cinque
Ports
also
must
"not
be
interfered
with,
and
their
ancient
rights
of
sending
their
own
post
to
and
from
London
shall
remain
intact."
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
