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Internal Postal Rates set by the 1695 Act of the Scottish Parliament

1708 - Edinburgh to Coupar Angus (via Dundee) 2 Shillings Rate

2st11 August 1708. Letter from Lord Coupar in Edinburgh to John Ogilvy, 'Baillie Deput of
the Regality of Couper, Dundee', and postmaster of Coupar Angus.
Rate: 2 shillings (Scots) unpaid, being the single rate for under 50 Scottish miles set by the 1695
Act of the Scottish Parliament.

Despite a post office having been established at Coupar Angus in 1704, the letter is
directed to Dundee, presumably because that office made up the bag for the Coupar
Angus runner.

The writer was John Elphinstone, 4t11 Lord Balmerino and 3rd Lord Coupar, a Privy
Councillor and one of Scotland's leading lawyers. Although he was a strenuous opponent
of the Union with England he was elected one of the sixteen representative peers of
Scotland in the British Parliament of 171 O.
The letter conveys news of one of the regular hazards of earfy 1at11 Century Edinburgh:

7his serves to give you notice that by a fire which happened this morning in or near Patrick Steil's
house my Chamber is burnt. But all the papers that were in my custody were removed before the

flames came the length and I hope there shall be none of yours a missing although some of my
presses broke in the carriage.' [presses' were large cupboards, usually built-into or free-standing in recesses]

The Edinburgh Gazettee reported: Wednesday Morning broke out a Fire in Patrick Steel's house,
1
which consumed it to ashes; lying on the South-side of the high-street foregainst the Cross-well; and set on
Fire some houses; but by God's Blessing, and Care of the Magistrates, and Skillful Tradesmen, was speedily
overcome'. The Edinburgh Couranf added: 'There are no Persons that I hear of Lost, tho there be
some Amissing, but several Persons are Bruised'.

References: 1. Edinburgh Gazettee (#113) 24 Aug - 28 Aug 1708
2. Edinburgh Courant (#467) 25 Aug - 27 Aug 1708