The Development of Rates of Postage: An Historical and Analytical Study

by A. D. Smith

No. 1 (b).

After my hearty Comendations, Whereas my very good Lord John Lord Grandville and seaveral Gentlemen of Cornwall have Represented to you, That by reason of the Post Road passing along the South Coast of Cornwall, Seaveral Inland Towns are under great disadvantages in their Correspondence; Whereupon you have proposed to Me the Settlement of a New Post for the Midland Towns, as well as for the South Coast, the better to Serve those parts, the Charge whereof will Amount to Two hundred and Sixty pounds p. Ann I approve of what you have proposed, And do hereby Authorize and Require you to Settle and Establish such a Post accordingly. But you are at twelve months End to Represent to Me or the Lord High Treasurer or Commiss^rs. of the Treasury then being, how far such a Post doth answer the Expence Her Ma^tie. is at in Settling the Same. And for so doing this shall be y^r. Warrant. Whitehall Treary Chambers the 7th December 1703.

Godolphin.
To my very loving Friends
S^r. Rob^t. Cotton Kn^t. and
S^r. Thom^s. Frankland Bar^t.
Her Ma^ties. Post-M^r. Gen^l.

No. 2.

S^r. Robert Cotton Kn^t. and Sir Thomas Frankland Baronet Her M^ties. Post Master Gen^l. in the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland and in all Her M^aties other Dominions Territorys and Isles thereunto belonging in Europe Affrica and America.

To all People to whom this shall come Greeting know ye, that whereas the County of Lincoln has not hitherto been Served so well with the Correspondence by Letters as other parts of the Nation, several Towns therein not having had the Convenience of a Post at all, and others having been obleig'd to pay an extraordinary Tax above the Common Postage, We have thought it proper to appoint Mr. Richard Bigg of Winslow in the County of Buckingham Gentleman, and Mr. Richard Dixon of Bourn in the County of Lincoln Gentleman (having receiv'd good Testimony of the fidelity and Loyalty of both and each of them to Her Ma^tie. and reposing great trust & confidence in the knowledge Care and Ability of them both) to be our lawfull and Sufficient Deputys with full Power and Authority to Erect Settle and Establish Posts in such Towns of the said County for the Carrying and Conveying the Letters as well those called the London Letters as the By Letters of the said County, as shall be

judged most proper for Her Ma^ties. Service, and the improvem^t. of the Correspondence of the said County and to Agree and Contract with such Persons as the said Richard Bigg and Richard Dixon or either of them shall think fitt to Agree and Contract with for performing the Riding part through such Stages as shall be Erected by them or for keeping Letter Offices in any Towns of the said County, And do by these presents Depute Constitute Authorise and Appoint the said Rich^d. Bigg and Richard Dixon to be our Lawfull and Sufficient Deputys in manner and form aforesaid from the tenth day of August next ensuing the date hereof during such time as We or the Postmaster Gen^l, for the time being shall think fit under such Conditions payments and Instructions to be faithfully observ'd perform'd and done by the said Rich^d. Bigg and Richard Dixon their Deputys and Servants as they shall from time to time receive from the Gen^l. Post Office in London in writing Subscribed by Us our Deputy or Deputys in the Post Office, in Witness whereof We the said S^r. Robert Cotton and Sir Thomas Frankland have hereunto sett our hands & Caused the Seal of the said Office in such Cases used to be affixed this fourth day of August 1705.

R.C. T.F.

No. 3.

To y^e Rt. Honble y^e Lords Com^rs. of his Majestys Treary.
May it please your L.sps—