Page 94 - Fenning_Scoland

1704 Commission from the Postmaster General of Scotland

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George Main, a jeweller in Edinburgh, became Postmaster General of Scotland in 1701. The annual rent for
the office of Postmaster General was set at 21,500 merks (£1194.Ss.Od sterling).

In November 1704, George Main authorised the opening of a post office in Coupar Angus. He sent the
Commission to John Ogilvie, a Baillie of the town, requesting Ogilvie to choose a suitable person to become
postmaster. Spaces were left in the Commission for Ogilvie to insert the name of the new postmaster. In the
event, John Ogilvie assumed the role himself and there was no necessity to insert a name in the
Commission.

This Commission, and the associated letter, is believed to be the only example in private hands of
documents authorising the opening of a Scottish post office in the period preceding the establishment of the
British Post Office in 1711.

The Commission provides important details of the powers of the new postmaster, his salary and the new
postal arrangements between Coupar Angus and Dundee:

'I, George Main, General Postmaster of the Kingdom of Scotland doe hereby impower [blank space to insert the name)
in Coupar of Angus to Receive and uplift the Port of all Letters and Packquets to and from the Toun of Coupar in
Angus and to doe. whatsoever else is incumbent to him as Postmaster Depute as fully and freely in all Respects

as I might doe myself if Personally present. But it is specially provided that the said [blank space to insert the name]
shall make just Compt and payment to me monthly for the Port of the said Letters and Packquets and that
immediately whenever his Accompt is sent him he always being allowed the fourth inland for his salary as also
one penny for payment of his Runner betwixt the said Toun of Coupar in Angus and Dundee out of the first end
thereof. In witness whereof I have written and subscribed thir presents at Edinburgh the twenty fourth day of
November one thousand seven hundred and four years.'

George Main