The Royal Mail: Its Curiosities and Romance

"SIR,--His Majesty's Postmasters-General have received an information laid against you, that on the 18th ultimo your clerk, Mr ----, for whom you are answerable, illegally sent three letters in a parcel by a stage-coach to you at Broadstairs, Kent, contrary to the statute made to prevent the sending of letters otherwise than by the post. "I am commanded by their lordships to inform you that you have thereby incurred three penalties of L5 each, and that they feel it their duty to proceed against you to recover the same. "Should you have any explanation to give, you will please to address the Postmaster-General.--I am," &c. [Illustration (facsimile): General Post-Office, Aug. 10th, 1792