[650] Ibid., 1780-82, p. 537.
[651] 22 Geo. III, c. 70; 23 Geo. III, c. 69.
[652] Jo. H. C., 1790-91, p. 468.
[653] Ibid., 1784-85, p. 383. The Lords also agreed to this resolution (ibid., p.411; 24 Geo. III, sess. 2, c. 37).
[654] For the years 1783 and 1784, the number of free letters arriving in London, exclusive of the state's letters, averaged over 800,000 a year and those sent from London averaged over 1,000,000. In 1785, they had fallen to 514,000 and 713,000 respectively (Parl. Papers, 1812-13, Rep. Com., ii, 222, p. 95).
[655] 24 Geo. III, c. 6; Jo. H. C., 1795-96, p. 588.
[656] 35 Geo. III, c. 53. After 1786 the number of franked letters had gradually increased until checked by this act. In 1795 the number of franked letters delivered in London was 1,045,000, the number sent from London 1,195,000. In 1796, the inward and outward free letters amounted to 737,000 and 787,000 respectively. In 1797 the numbers were 696,000 and 721,000. These restricting acts of 1784 and 1795 had a more important effect than Joyce leads us to suppose (Parl. Papers, 1812-13, Rep. Com., ii, 222, p. 95).
[657] Those officials in the General Post Office who had no franking privilege were reimbursed the amount of postage paid by them on inland single letters (Rep. Commrs., 1837, xxxiv, 8th rep., app., no. 2).
[658] 42 Geo. III, c. 63.
[659] 43 Geo. III, c. 28.