'William Dockwra.'
And in the next day's Courant he was obliged to defend himself from other allegations.
'Whereas some Malicious Persons, designing to lessen me in the good Opinion of my Fellow Citizens, have spread a False and Scandalous Report, that I, William Dockwra, was remov'd from being Comptroller of the Penny Post, because of Injuries done to the Subject; and that I sunk the Revenue at least one fourth part to the Crown. I do hereby declare, That on the Contrary, I rectified many Abuses in the Management of that Office, and never wrong'd either Crown or Subject of the Value of a Shilling: And I do positively affirm, That I prov'd undeniably before the Post Master General by the Accounts then made up, that I advanced that small Revenue above Four Hundred Pounds: Yet neither my Right to the whole (being the only Person that ever brought the Penny Post to Perfection) nor the faithful Discharge of my Trust while Comptroller thereof, were sufficient to protect me against those Artifices too often made use of to remove useful and honest Men from publick Imployment: Nor have I receiv'd any of the Pension formerly granted me these two Years and half past. So that I hope the Impartial World will consider the great Loss I and my Family have sustain'd, by being depriv'd of the Penny Post, whilst the Publick daily reaps the Benefit and Advantage thereof and will do so to Posterity.
'William Dockwra.'
In 1711 an Act was passed abolishing the penny post, and on June 23 of that year a proclamation was issued putting it in force. A notice had previously appeared in the London Gazette of June 12/14, assimilating all rates to those of the General Post, although for 'the Accommodation of the Inhabitants of such Places, their Letters will be convey'd with the same Regularity and Dispatch as formerly, being first Tax'd with the Rates, and Stamp'd with the Mark of the General Post Office, and that all Parcels will likewise be Tax'd at the Rate of One Shilling per Ounce as the said Act directs.'
In 1709 the Foreign and Inland Post Letter days were:—
'Monday. To Spain, Italy, Germany, Flanders, Denmark, Sweedland, Downs and Kent.
'Tuesday. Germany, Holland, Sweedland, Denmark, North Britain, Ireland and Wales.
'Wednesday. Kent and the Downs.
'Thursday. Spain, Italy, and all parts of North Britain and England.