Page 16 - BWISC 60th Anniversary Display at RPSL, November 2014
P. 16
Frame 11
MARITIME MAIL – THE FALMOUTH PACKET
from the collection of Graham Booth, FRPSL
The first packet service to the West Indies was organised by Edward Dummer in 1702 but the effort involved had
bankrupted him by 1711. From then until 1745 there was no packet service and from 1745 to 1765 it was very
irregular. From 1765 until 1842 there was a consistent service when not interrupted by the frequent wars.
Originally there was one packet a month, then by 1790 two. Both initially called at Barbados; one then went
straight to Jamaica, the other worked its way up the Windward and Leeward chain of islands before returning
home. In 1826 a third packet to Mexico was added. These were supplemented by small sailing vessels and
eventually small steamers locally hired in the West Indies – at their peak there were seven different routes.
The original packets were owned and manned in Falmouth and were contracted under very specific terms to
the Post Office. They were designed for speed and were specifically instructed to avoid a fight if at all possible.
Then in 1823, faced with a shortage of career appointments for young officers the Admiralty took over the
service and progressively replaced the existing packets with 10-gun brigs. The service closed and was replaced
by the Royal Mail Steam Packet in 1842.
An entire from Jamaica addressed to Colonel Charles Long, it was endorsed “Per the Pacqt. Q.D.C.”. It is not known which
vessel carried the letter but it was struck with a Bishop Mark of 8 March and charged a triple rate of 4s.6d.
One of 10 known Dummer packet letters from Jamaica, and believed to be the only one charged a triple rate.
MARITIME MAIL – THE FALMOUTH PACKET
from the collection of Graham Booth, FRPSL
The first packet service to the West Indies was organised by Edward Dummer in 1702 but the effort involved had
bankrupted him by 1711. From then until 1745 there was no packet service and from 1745 to 1765 it was very
irregular. From 1765 until 1842 there was a consistent service when not interrupted by the frequent wars.
Originally there was one packet a month, then by 1790 two. Both initially called at Barbados; one then went
straight to Jamaica, the other worked its way up the Windward and Leeward chain of islands before returning
home. In 1826 a third packet to Mexico was added. These were supplemented by small sailing vessels and
eventually small steamers locally hired in the West Indies – at their peak there were seven different routes.
The original packets were owned and manned in Falmouth and were contracted under very specific terms to
the Post Office. They were designed for speed and were specifically instructed to avoid a fight if at all possible.
Then in 1823, faced with a shortage of career appointments for young officers the Admiralty took over the
service and progressively replaced the existing packets with 10-gun brigs. The service closed and was replaced
by the Royal Mail Steam Packet in 1842.
An entire from Jamaica addressed to Colonel Charles Long, it was endorsed “Per the Pacqt. Q.D.C.”. It is not known which
vessel carried the letter but it was struck with a Bishop Mark of 8 March and charged a triple rate of 4s.6d.
One of 10 known Dummer packet letters from Jamaica, and believed to be the only one charged a triple rate.
