The [Appendix] is designed to afford a source of general reference on many important matters relating to the Post-Office, some parts of it having been carefully collated from Parliamentary documents not easily accessible to the public.

April 16, 1864.

[CONTENTS.]

[PART I.]
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE POST-OFFICE.
[CHAPTER I.]PAGE
INTRODUCTORY1
[CHAPTER II.]
THE RISE OF THE GENERAL POST-OFFICE15
[CHAPTER III.]
ON OLD ROADS AND SLOW COACHES37
[CHAPTER IV.]
THE SETTLEMENT OF THE POST-OFFICE47
[CHAPTER V.]
PALMER AND THE MAIL-COACH ERA73
[CHAPTER VI.]
THE TRANSITION PERIOD AT THE POST-OFFICE94
[CHAPTER VII.]
SIR ROWLAND HILL AND PENNY POSTAGE108
[CHAPTER VIII.]
EARLY RESULTS OF THE PENNY-POSTAGE SCHEME132
[CHAPTER IX.]
THE POST-OFFICE AND LETTER-OPENING150
[CHAPTER X.]
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POST-OFFICE165
[PART II.]
DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE POST-OFFICE.
[PREFATORY]186
[CHAPTER I.]
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE POST-OFFICE187
[CHAPTER II.]
ON THE CIRCULATION OF LETTERS199
[CHAPTER III.]
THE MAIL-PACKET SERVICE245
[CHAPTER IV.]
ON POSTAGE-STAMPS255
[CHAPTER V.]
POST-OFFICE SAVINGS' BANKS268
[CHAPTER VI.]
BEING MISCELLANEOUS AND SUGGESTIVE279
[CHAPTER VII.]
CONCERNING SOME OF THE POPULAR MISCONCEPTIONS AND MISREPRESENTATIONS TO WHICH THE POST-OFFICE IS LIABLE291
[APPENDIX (A).]
CHIEF OFFICERS OF THE POST-OFFICE308
[APPENDIX (B).]
ABSTRACT OF THE PRINCIPAL REGULATIONS309
[APPENDIX (C).]
INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE APPOINTMENTS IN THE POST-OFFICE SERVICE330
[APPENDIX (D).]
APPOINTMENTS IN THE CHIEF OFFICE IN LONDON[333]
PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS IN THE CHIEF OFFICES OF DUBLIN AND EDINBURGH[336]
APPOINTMENTS, WITH SALARIES, OF THE FIVE PRINCIPAL PROVINCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND[337]
INFORMATION RESPECTING OTHER PRINCIPAL PROVINCIAL POST-OFFICES[340]
[APPENDIX (E).]
SALE OF POSTAGE-STAMPS341
[APPENDIX (F).]
CONVEYANCE OF MAILS BY RAILWAY342
[APPENDIX (G).]
MANUFACTURE OF POSTAGE-LABELS AND ENVELOPES344
[APPENDIX (H).]
RESULTS OF POSTAL REFORM345

[PART I.]
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE POST-OFFICE.