Page 99 - Fenning_Scoland

1705 'Free' Letter from the Postmaster General of Scotland

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25 111 June 1705. Letter from George Main, Postmaster
General of Scotland, in Edinburgh to John Ogilvy,
postmaster of Coupar Angus.

This letter, written in George Main's own hand and sent
under his franking privilege, was carried free of postal
charges.

It is one of the earliest letters to be received at the Coupar
Angus Post Office and is a rarely-seen example of a 'Free'
letter sent entirely within Scotland in this period.

Mr John Ogilvy
Edinburgh June 2fl' 1705

Sir
I received yours of the 1 £!' Instant as also the money sent me for your Balances Due preceedlng the month of May and
accordingly I Doe here Return you A Discharge Conform to that time. And I am sory you mention to be no gainer. I hope It will
grow better and I shall take all possible means to encourage the same by ordering safe all your Foreign and Inland Letters
both and as to Private Caniers I intreat you'll likewise take care of them with you for you are fully lmpowered to doe every thing

as if I were present myself so shall Recommend the same to you which with my Respects to you is the needful/ at present from
Sir
Your humble seNant
George Main

From the earliest times Postmasters General strove to eliminate the illegal carriage of letters by 'private carriers'. This
letter instructs the Coupar Angus postmaster to 'take care of' the private carriers. It is also apparent that the Coupar
Angus Post Office had returned no financial benefit for its postmaster in its first five months of operation.

\ Digital scan of letter