Edmund Prideaux, and the First Post-office.—Polwhele, in his History of Cornwall, says, p. 139.:
"To our countryman Edmund Prideaux we owe the regular establishment of the Post-office."
He says again, p. 144.:
"Edmund Prideaux, Attorney-General to Oliver Cromwell, and Inventor of the Post-office."
Now the Edmund spoken of as Attorney-General, was of Ford Abbey, in Devonshire, and second son of Sir Edmund Prideaux, of Netherton, in the said county, therefore could not be one of the Cornish branch.
Query No. 1. Who was the Edmund Prideaux, his countryman, that regularly established the Post-office?
Query No. 2. How were letters circulated before his time?
Query No. 3. Was Edmund Prideaux the Attorney-General, the inventor of the Post-office, as he states; if not, who was?
Query No. 4. Has any life of Edmund Prideaux as Attorney-General been published, or is any account of him to be found in any work?