The post office and its story an interesting account of the activities of a great government department

Of course I am largely indebted to the volumes I have mentioned and to others for the historical portions of my book. To Sir Rowland Hill's Life, written by his daughter, I owe many of the facts contained in my chapter on “The Penny Post.” The staff of the General Post Office have during the last twenty-one years conducted a magazine entitled St. Martin's le Grand, the volumes of which have been of great assistance to me, as they will be in the future to a more serious historian of the Post Office than I can claim to be. Among the writers to this magazine whose contributions I have found of great use are A. M. Ogilvie, J. A. J. Housden, C. H. Denver, R. C. Tombs, I.S.O., and R. W. Johnston. Mr. Johnston, who had held during a long life several important posts in the Department, took a keen interest in this book in its early stages, but, to my great regret, died before it was completed. Articles by J. G. Hendry and W. C. Waller helped me considerably in my chapter on “The Travelling Post Office.” Mr. E. Wells and Mr. A. Davey gave me their kind help on the subject of “Motor Mails” and “The Parcel Post,” and to my friend Mr. A. W. Edwards I am indebted for most valuable assistance in the writing of my chapters on “The Telegraph.” I have also to thank another friend, Mr. R. W. Hatswell, for advice and help in many directions.