Page 247 - British Post Office Notices 1666 to 1799

Dockwra's Pamphlet

Others instrusting Boys and other Servants to Deliver their Letters at the Receiving Houses, are often deceived by
their Destroying such Letters to keep the Money, though so trivial, and by their Loytering and long Delay before the same
be left by them, time is lost, all which is unjustly Charged on the Penny-Post.
There are many other Causes of Delays of Letters, which yet ought not to be Charged on the Office, as when
Directions are not plainly Written (as they ought to be,) and when they are very ill Directed, Persons that write do
frequently omit to mention the Trade and Sign, or near what Place, Lane, Church, Remarkable Publick House, or Tavern,
&c. which is altogether Necessary every where; but especially in long Streets and large Places, such as are in this great City
and Suburbs, as the Strand, Covent-Garden, Thames-street, Wapping, Southwark, &c. all which occasions not only Delays,
but Expence of the Messengers time to seek out, and enquire fo;r the Parties, but often times such Letters lie Undelivered,
it being sometimes impossible by the most Acute Interpreter to Read, much less find out how, or where to Deliver them,
and such short, imperfect and blind Directions, (as are, more or less, daily sent to go by the Penny-Post) beget them great
Trouble, much Vexation, and unjust Disparagement.
Furthermore, Most Letters that are sent to Carriers and Stage Coaches, are rejected at the Inns for want of two pence,
which they require for Carriage, and often times abuse the Messengers that offer them; therefore all Persons are Desired to
take Notice thereof, and either to settle the Receipt with Carriers, Coachmen or others, to take them without Money, (by
agreement) or to send Two Pence for the future, and Endorse upon such Letters, Carriage Paid 2d.
As for such as Object the Miscarriage of their Letters, because not come to hand, they are under the greatest mistake
of all; for if they please to send or come to the Chief Office in Lyme-street, they shall find them there, remaining under their
proper Alphabetical Letter, Endorsed with the True Reason why they could not be Delivered, though the Messenger has
spent thrice the due time to find them out, which at last has not been possible to do, by Reason of such bad Directions, and
for want of Money at Inns, as before mentioned; but these Letters lie ready for any that shall please to call or send for them
by the Penny-Post, though every such Letter has caused Scandalous and unjust Reflections on the Undertaking, among
thousands of Persons first and last, yet the Penny-Post has been altogether innocent.
Now for Remedy of divers of the forementioned Mischiefs, and to prevent the further spreading of mistaken Reports
of the Delays and Miscarriage of Letters, which has not only tended greatly to the Prejudice of the Penny-Post; but to the
hinderance of the Inhabitants from Embracing the great Benefit that they might have received, by the Use of this
Conveyance.
The Undertakers have provided the Stamps aforesaid to Mark the Hour of the Day on all Letters when sent out from
their Office to be Delivered, and all Persons are to expect their Letters within one Hour (little more or less from the time
Marked thereon,) (excepting such Letters as are to the four Out-Towns, and the Remotest Parts,) which necessarily require
a longer time of Conveyance, by these they may be able from time to time to discern, whether the delays that hereafter may
happen, be really in the Office, or in their own Servants (or others,) with whom their Letters were left in due time.

Tbi.t .J.£trk.[rgrrijiu Eighr cf rix CIKI:_ in rh< Mrnir.g.

Tne Second M.irl;_i.r rl:c .Lme,.. of ibe Cbi<f Office in L;1:le·fuect.

Each Office having its proper Letter, with an acknowledgment that the Penny-Post is paid, to prevent the giving of
anything at the Delivery, and for the more Regular Dispatch and Conveyance, the said Undertakers have Directed the
Hourly Collecting and Delivery of all Letters, from Seven in the Morning, till Nine at Night on Post Nights, allowing all
Persons an Hour to send in their said Letters or Parcels, and the Office an Hour to Collect, bring in, Sort and Distribute
the same; That is to say, all Letters and Parcels given or left at any Penny-Post House after Seven at Night, and before Eight
in the Morning, are by the Office Collected, brought in, Sorted and sent out soon after N"me, all Letters left betwixt the
Hours of Eight and Nine, are brought in, sorted, and sent out by the Office soon after Ten, and so successively every Hour
in the Day, till Eight of the Clock at Night.
All Letters left as before, betwixt Seven and Eight in the Evening, are Collected, brought in, sent out, and Distributed
soon after Nine, (to the nearest, but not to the Remotest Parts, as Blackwel4 Redriff, &c.) that Night, but no Letters left

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