{"id":1482,"date":"2012-03-26T20:17:24","date_gmt":"2012-03-27T03:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/susannaives.com\/wordpress\/?p=1482"},"modified":"2016-03-06T17:34:53","modified_gmt":"2016-03-07T00:34:53","slug":"lost-in-the-regency-mail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/susannaives.com\/wordpress\/2012\/03\/lost-in-the-regency-mail\/","title":{"rendered":"Lost in the Regency Mail"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I wrote my first book RAKES AND RADISHES<\/a>, I had to do a great deal of research on the exciting details of British mail delivery. Not only did I need to learn how a person retrieves her mail, but also the timing of communications. \u00a0That was years ago, and, like everything I learn, I quickly forgot it. Now I\u2019m storing my research on my shiny blog in the server sky! So the information is organized and available anytime I may need it (and illustrated with lots of pretty pictures.)<\/p>\n

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From<\/strong> The picture of London, for 1803:\u00a0<\/strong>being a correct guide to all the curiosities, amusements, exhibitions, public establishments, and remarkable objects, in and near London; with a collection of appropriate tables. For the use of strangers, foreigners, and all persons who are not intimately acquainted with British metropolis<\/em>, by John Feltham\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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<\/em>General Post-Office.<\/p>\n

This edifice, important as its concerns are to the nation, deserves no praise as a building. It stands behind Lombard-street, from which, on the south side of the street, there is a passage leading to it, under an arched gate-way. It is a national reproach when buildings of this kind, which naturally afford occasions for public architecture, and embellishment of the metropolis, are lost to those purposes.<\/p>\n

The Post-office system is, however, one of the most perfect regulations of finance, existing under any government. It has gradually been brought to its present perfection, being at first in the hands of individuals, and replete with abuse. In its present form, it not only supplies the government with a great revenue, but accomplishes that by means beneficial to the persons contributing, since prodigious sums are saved to individuals by this mode of conveying letters, and commerce derives from it a facility of correspondence it could not have from any less engine. When this source of public revenue is contrasted with State Lotteries, then only is its purity wholly comprehended.<\/p>\n

The present Post-office was erected in 1660, but has been a great part of it rebuilt last year.<\/p>\n

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From "Stage-coach and mail in days of yore" by Charles George Harper, published 1903<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mode of conveying letters by the General Post was greatly improved a few years since, by a most admirable plan, invented by Mr. Palmer. Previous to its adoption, letters were conveyed by carts, without protection from robbery, and subject to delays. At present they are carried (on Mr. Palmer’s plan) by stage-coaches, distinguished by the name of\u00a0mail-coaches,\u00a0<\/em>provided with a guard, well armed, and forwarded at the rate of eight miles an hour, including stoppages.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Government contracts with coach-keepers merely for carrying the mail, the coach-owner making a profitable business besides, of carrying passengers and parcels. It is not easy to imagine a combination of different interests to one purpose, more complete than this. The wretched situation, however, of the horses, on account of the length of the stages which they are frequently driven, is a disgrace to the character of the British nation, and requires the interference of the legislature. No stage should exceed ten miles in length.<\/p>\n

The rapidity of this mode of conveyance is unequalled in any country; an armed guard travels always with this coach. The present rate of charge is about six-pence per mile.<\/p>\n

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from Coaching Day and Coaching Way, by William Outram Tristam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Houses, or boxes, for receiving letters before four o’clock, at the west-end of the town, and five o’clock in the city, are open in every part of the metropolis; after that hour bell-men collect the letters during another hour, receiving a fee of\u00a0one penny\u00a0<\/em>for each letter; but, at the General Post-office, in Lombard-street, letters are received till seven o’clock; after that hour, till half an hour after seven, a fee of\u00a0six-pence\u00a0<\/em>must be paid; and from half after seven till a quarter before eight, the postage must be paid, as well as the fee of\u00a0six-pence.\u00a0<\/em>Persons, till lately, were, if well known, permitted to have back any letter put in, if required; but by an order of June, 1802, the masters of the receiving-houses are ordered not to return letters on any pretence whatever.<\/p>\n

Rates of Postage of Single Letters.<\/em><\/p>\n