Postal. The mode of conveying the letters suggested by Mr. Palmer in 1784. By the adoption of this plan, the letters are conveyed by strong and well-guarded coaches, -each drawn by four excellent horses, which proceed with the utmost regularity between seven and eight miles an hour, stoppages, included. In allusion to their employment, they are called Mail Coaches. Formerly the mails were sent by carts or by post-boys on horseback, a mode attended with “danger and delay. The first mail coach was established to Bristol in 1784. In 1829, the principal Post-office was moved to St. Martin’s-le-Grand, with three Branch offices at Lombard-street, Charingcross, and Vere-street, Oxford-street. The receiving houses are open every day except Sunday, till five o’clock and by 1828, Omnibuses were taking postmen to their various stations every morning.

• Postage of a Single Letter.
• From any post-office in England or Wales, to any place not exceeding 15 miles from such office . . .4
• Between 15 and 20 miles ….. 5
• Between 20 and 30 mil’s …  6
• Between 30 and 50 miles ….. 7
• Between 50 and 80 miles ……. 8
• Between 80 and 120 miles ……. 9
• Between 120 and 170 miles ……. 10
• Between 170 and 230 miles … 11
• Between 230 and 300 miles … 12
• Between 300 and 400 miles … 13
• Between 400 and 500 miles …  14
• And so on in proportion, the postage increasing progressively one penny for a single letter for every like excess of distance of 100 miles.

• All double, treble, and other letters and packets whatever (except by the twopenny post) pay in proportion to the respective rates of single letters before specified.
• Single letters to soldiers and sailors are chargeable with one penny only. Newspapers are sent free from any charge.
• Foreign letters must be paid at the office where they are put in, otherwise there will be a necessity for such letters being opened, and returned for the postage.
• Mails for France are made up daily
• Money Orders can be sent at the cost of 8 pence per pound.
• Persons in the country may avail themselves of the same arrangement to send money to London.
• Regulations of the Twopenny Post-Office.

Principal post offices:

• General post-office in St. Martin’s-le-Grand
• Gerrard-street, Soho.
• Upwards of 140 receiving houses both in town and country.

There are six collections and deliveries of letters in town daily (Sundays excepted), and there are two despatches from, and three deliveries at most places in the country, within the limits of this office.

Hours by which letters should be put into receiving houses in town :—

For Delivery in Town.

• Over night, by eight o’clock, for the first delivery.
• Morning, by eight o’clock, for the second delivery.
• Morning, by ten o’clock, fur the third delivery.
• Morning, by twelve o’clock, for the fourth delivery.
• Afternoon, by two o’clock, for the fifth delivery.
• Afternoon, by five o’clock, for the sixth delivery.

For Delivery in Country.

• Preceding evening by five o’clock for first delivery.
• Morning by eight o’clock for second delivery.
• Afternoon by two o’clock for third delivery.

But letters, whether for town or country, may be put in at either of the two principal offices an hour later for each despatch, letters put in on Saturday evening arc delivered in the country on Sunday morning. The date stamp, or, if there are two, that having the latest hour, shows also the time of the day by which the letters were despatched for delivery from the principal offices. The postage of a letter from one part of the town to another, both being within the delivery of the general post, which extends three miles from the office in St. Martin’s-lc-Grand, is two-pence: and to and from parts beyond that delivery within twelve miles, three pence; and the postage of this office on each letter passing to or from the general or foreign post offices is twopence.

The twopenny postage of all letters, such as are for parts out of his majesty’s dominions excepted, may or may not be paid at putting in, at the option of the senders. No twopenny post letter must weigh more than four ounces, unless it be intended to pass or shall have passed by the general post. Every newspaper forwarded by the twopenny post is charged one penny. Cash, in gold or silver, or other articles of value, enclosed in loiters, (notes or drafts for money excepted,) to be mentioned to the office-keeper at putting in; but ,t is recommended that bank-notes, or others payable lo bearer, be cut in half, and sent at twice; the second part not to be sent till the receipt of the first is acknowledged. This office, however, is not liable to make good the loss of any property sent by post.

From: 1828 Leigh’s New Picture of London via Google Books (PD-150)