THE POST OFFICE.
In the year 1635, Charles I. directed his postmaster to open a communication between London and Edinburgh, &c. &c. In 1653-4, the revenues of the Post-office were farmed by the Council of State and Protector, at 10,000l. per annum. Some idea of their progressive increase may be gained by the perusal of the following:—
| 1664 | £21,000 |
| 1674 | 43,000 |
| 1685 | 65,000 |
| 1688 | 76,318 |
| 1697 | 90,505 |
| 1710 | 111,467 |
| 1715 | 145,227 |
| 1744 | 235,492 |
| 1775 | 345,321 |
| 1785 | 463,753 |
| 1793 | 607,268 |
| 1814 | 2,005,987 |
Since 1814, Mr. Macculloch considers the revenue of the Post-office to have been about stationary.