The History of the British Post Office

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Harvard university, 1912 - HISTORY - 261 pages
This volume offers a history of the British postal service.
 

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Page 139 - Their commercial policy was well fitted to stimulate trade and to make their country 'the pack-house of the world.' In the organization of business they had no equals. It was not until well on in the eighteenth century that the insurance of English shipping came to be effected at home instead of in Amsterdam. . . . For English economic writers it was a puzzle: they groped uncertainly towards the truth, which it is now easy to see, that this difference was a symptom and a result of the backwardness...
Page 23 - Carrying, and Re-carrying of Letters by Post, to and from all Places within England, Scotland and Ireland, and into several parts beyond the Seas, hath been, and is the best means, not only to maintain a certain and constant Intercourse of Trade and Commerce betwixt all the said Places, to the great benefit of the People of these Nations, but also to Convey the Publique Despatches, and to discover and prevent many dangerous and wicked Designs, which have been, and are daily contrived against the...
Page 157 - Norway were charged in addition the same postage as if they had been sent from or to London. Letters from and to France paid no additional postage.
Page 9 - The packet of letters was not to be delayed more than fifteen minutes and was to be carried at a rate of seven miles an hour in summer and five in winter.
Page 124 - Act for the more sure conveyance of ship letters and for granting to His Majesty certain rates of postage thereon.
Page 193 - ... that the office of post-master is, and ought to be, in the sole power and disposal of the parliament.
Page 192 - ... the Corporation of the Poor of the City of London offered its own reward of a shilling each for beggars and vagabonds. " Whereas the streets and passages of this city are generally at this time of the year much annoyed with rogues, vagabonds and sturdy beggars ; for prevention hereof for the future, the President and Governors of the Poor of the City of London do 1 MS.
Page 85 - Two thirds at least of one political party are in great fear of losing their seats. The swing of the pendulum is against them, and any Member who receives forty or fifty such letters will under present circumstances have to consider very seriously whether on this question he can afford to go into the wrong lobby. This is taking advantage of the political situation.

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