The History of the Post Office, from Its Establishment Down to 1836

E-text prepared by Adrian Mastronardi, The Philatelic Digital Library Project (http://www.tpdlp.net), Julia Neufeld, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)
FROM ITS ESTABLISHMENT DOWN TO 1836 By
OF THE POST OFFICE
LONDON RICHARD BENTLEY & SON, NEW BURLINGTON STREET Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen 1893

Page 324, sixth line from bottom, for 1713 read 1703. 339, first line, for 1892 read 1802.

The early history of the posts is involved in some obscurity. What little is known on the subject is touched upon in the first Annual Report of the Post Office, the Report for 1854; but the historical summary there given is, as it purports to be, a summary only. The object of the following pages is nothing more than to fill up the gaps and to supply some particulars for which, though not perhaps without interest, an official report would be no fitting place. The origin and progress of an institution which has so interwoven itself with the social life of the people as to have become one of the most remarkable developments of modern civilisation can hardly, we think, be considered a subject unworthy of study.
It seems almost certain that until the reign of Henry the Eighth, or perhaps a little earlier, no regular system of posts existed in England, and that then and for some considerable time afterwards the few posts that were established were for the exclusive use of the Sovereign. Sir, writes Sir Brian Tuke to Thomas Cromwell in 1533, it may like you to understonde the Kinges Grace hathe no moo ordinary postes, ne of many days hathe had, but bitwene London and Calais ... and sens October last, the postes northewarde.... For, Sir, ye knowe well that, except the hakney horses bitwene Gravesende and Dovour, there is no suche usual conveyance in post for men in this realme as is in the accustumed places of France and other parties. Sir Brian Tuke held the appointment of Master of the Posts, and he had received the King's commands to set up posts in al places most expedient.