Page:The empire and the century.djvu/337

 Martineau neatly summed up the result thus: 'The poor can now write to one another as if they were all M.P.'s.'

From the first postal revenue increased 'by leaps and bounds.' The Post-Office was in 1649 farrmed at £5,000; in 1663 at £21,000; in 1674 at £48,000; in 1685 at £65,000.

We cannot forbear sympathizing with our forefathers as we recall some of the postage rates that vexed them.

1290. Letter-carrier brought Edward I. a despatch announcing the arrival of the Maid of Norway. For this pleasing intelligence the King had to pay 18s. 4d.

1631. Postage on a letter for 80 miles, 2d.; under 140 miles, 4d.; above that distance, in England, 6d.; to Scotland, 8d.

1677. Beyond 80 miles in England Wales, single letter, 8d., or 1s. an ounce.

1770. In England, 8d. if under 80 miles; 4d. if above 80 miles; 6d. to Edinburgh or Dublin.

In England, from 1797 to 1812, the following rates were charged:

In 1695 postage from London to York or Plymouth was 8d.; but in 1818, 11d.

In 1812, at the crisis of the Napoleonic struggle, there were increased charges for postage, which were augmented a few years later, and continued in force till 1839. Thus: