Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
435
Her Majesty's Mails
·
William Lewins
63
CHAPTER
IV.
THE
SETTLEMENT
OF
THE
POST-OFFICE.
Ten
years
after
the
removal
of
Docwray
from
his
office
in
connexion
with
the
"Penny
Post,"
another
rival
to
the
Government
department
sprung
up
in
the
shape
of
a
"Halfpenny
Post."
The
arrangements
of
the
new
were
nearly
identical
with
those
of
Docwray's
post,
except
that
the
charges,
instead
of
a
penny
and
twopence,
were
a
halfpenny
and
penny
respectively.
The
scheme,
established
at
considerable
expense
by
a
Mr.
Povey,
never
had
a
fair
trial,
only
existing
a
few
months,
when
it
was
nipped
in
the
bud
by
a
law-suit
instituted
by
the
Post-Office
authorities.
In
1710,
the
Acts
relating
to
the
Post-Office
were
completely
remodelled,
and
the
establishment
was
put
on
an
entirely
fresh
basis.
The
statutes
passed
in
previous
reigns
were
fully
repealed,
and
the
statute
of
Anne,
c.
10,
was
substituted
in
their
place,
the
latter
remaining
in
force
until
1837.
The
preamble
of
the
Act
just
mentioned
sets
forth,
that
a
Post-Office
for
England
was
established
in
the
reign
of
Charles
II.
and
a
Post-Office
for
Scotland
in
the
reign
of
King
William
III.;
but
that
it
is
now
desirable,
since
the
two
countries
are
united,
that
the
two
offices
should
be
united
under
one
head.
Also,
that
packet-boats
have
been
for
some
time
established
between
England
and
the
West
Indies,
the
mainland
of
North
America,
and
some
parts
of
Europe,
and
that
more
might
be
settled
if
only
proper
arrangements
were
made
"at
the
different
places
to
which
the
packet-boats
are
assigned."
It
is
further
deemed
necessary
that
the
existing
rates
of
postage
should
be
altered;
that
"with
little
burthen
to
the
subject
some
may
be
increased"
and
other
new
rates
granted,
"which
additional
and
new
rates,"
it
is
added,
"may
in
some
measure
enable
Her
Majesty
to
carry
on
and
furnish
the
present
war."
Suitable
powers
are
also
needed
for
the
better
collecting
of
such
rates,
as
well
as
provision
for
preventing
the
illegal
trade
carried
on
by
"private
posts,
carriers,
higlers,
watermen,
drivers
of
stage-coaches,
and
other
persons,
and
other
frauds
to
which
the
revenue
is
liable."
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
