100 The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 



These charges were, in turn, superseded after the Union of 

 1707 by the following tariff from the Post Office Act of 17ii:— 



From London. 



80 miles and under 



Above 80 miles 



To Edinburgh 



From Edinburgh within Scotland. 



50 miles and under ... 



Above 50 miles and not exceedino 



Above 80 miles 



By the same Act rates for correspondence passing between 

 Dumfries and Edinburgh were prescribed as follows: — 



" And for the Port of every Single Letter, or Piece of Paper, 

 from the said General Post Office in London unto the City of 

 Edinburgh, in that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, or 

 from thence to the said General Post Office in the City of 

 London, and to and from Dumfries, or Cockhurnspaih, and 

 between either of those Places and the said City of Edinburgh, 

 not coming from, or directed on Board any Ship, Six Pence; 

 and for the like Port of every Double Letter, Twelve Pence ; and 

 so proportionally unto the said Rates, for the Port of every 

 Packet of Letters." 



In the earliest years of postal administration it appears to 

 have been a common practice for public bodies, such as the Town 

 Council, to make only periodical payments for postages, etc. 

 It may not therefore be out of place to quote herejhe following 

 extracts from the Dumfries Burgh Treasurer's Accounts : — 



lib s. d. 



1708-09.— Feb. 24. Itt payed to Jo. Johnston for 

 Eleven two peny leters and five four peny 

 leters upon ye towns accoumpt ... ... 02 02 00 



July 4. Itt payed for postage of letters for ye town 



from ye first of Aprile to the 4th July instant... 03 14 00 



Deer. 20, 1710. For two post letters from Edr.... — 4 — 



Febry. 16, 1711. To Torrery for postage of two 

 letters from John Sibbald about ye toun's 

 affairs ... ... ... ... ... ... — 4 — 



Septr. 8 (1711). To John Johnstone Postmaster 

 for postage of Letters to and from ye Magis- 

 trals about ye Touns affairs from 1 Deer, to 22 

 August last ... ... ... ... ... 3 15 — 



