The Royal Mail: Its Curiosities and Romance

One or two instances of the cross-post service of former times, in England itself, which might be supposed to be more fortunate than its Scottish neighbour, will repay consideration. Thus we find it duly recorded in official reports, that in 1792 there was no direct post between Thrapston and Wellingborough, though the distance separating them was only nine miles. Letters could circulate between these towns by way of Stilton, Newark, Nottingham, and Northampton, performing a circuit of 148 miles, or they could be sent by way of London, 74 miles up and 68-1/2 down, in which latter case they reached their destination one day sooner than by the former round-about route. Again, from Ipswich to Bury St Edmunds, two important towns of 11,277[3] and 7655[4] inhabitants respectively, and distant from one another only 22 miles, there was no direct post. Letters had to be forwarded either through Norwich and Newmarket, or by way of London, the distance to be covered in the one case being 105 miles, and in the other 143-1/2 miles. We have not the means of computing the time letters took to travel from Ipswich to Bury St Edmunds in 1792, but an Itinerary for 1812 affords the necessary information as regards the later period. Suppose a letter were posted at Ipswich for Bury St Edmunds on Monday, it would be despatched to Norwich at 5.30 A.M. on Tuesday, reaching Norwich some six hours thereafter. It would leave Norwich at 4.0 P.M. same day (Tuesday), and arrive at Newmarket at about 11.0 P.M., where it would lie all night and the greater part of next day, and would only arrive at Bury St Edmunds at 5.40 P.M. on Wednesday. If the letter were sent by the Metropolitan route, its time would be the same, thus:--Leaving Ipswich at 9.30 P.M. on Monday, it would reach London at 8.0 A.M. on Tuesday. Thence it would not get despatched till 7.30 P.M.; and proceeding to Newmarket, would arrive there at 4.0 A.M. on Wednesday. Here it would remain till the afternoon, and would reach Bury St Edmunds, as in the former case, at 5.40 P.M. (on Wednesday). So that, in practice, to cover this short interval of 22 miles by post, three whole days were necessary.