16T0.J THE POST. 303 



Conduct : These are therefore in his Majesty's Name to require 

 you in your respective Stages to use all Diligence and Expedi- 

 tion in the safe and speedy Conveyance of this Mail and 

 Letters from London to Nezvuiarket and from thence to return : 

 And hereof you are not to fail, as you will answer to the 

 contrary at your perils. Given under my hand this 26 Apr. 

 1 670 past I past 2 in the after iiooji. 

 To the several Post- Masters 

 on the Road betiveen 

 London & Neivuiarket. 



Received at Walthant at 5 of 



the Clock and sent azvay by The post in>' of Neivmarkett 



John Lonen is hereby required to deliver 



Received at Ware at half this Expresse as directed zvhere- 



hower after 6 and sent away ^^'^^ Mr Williamson shalbe 



presently V R A Bellamy. i^^to his owne hand luithall 



Received at Royston past 10 possible speed & care. 



and sent aivay by me Ann cilice. 



A damson. 



Received at Cambridge past i 



and sent azvay by me Robert 



Skyringe. 



All the profits of the Post Ofifice were settled by Act of Parliament 

 on the Duke of York ; but the office of Post Master General was con 

 ferred by the king on the Earl of ArHngton, Lord-Chamber- 

 lain of the Household. Letters were despatched from the ^^^ Office. 

 General Post Office, in Bishopsgate Street, London, every Monday to 

 France, Italy, Spain, Flanders, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and to Kent. 

 Every Tuesday to the Netherlands, Germany, etc., and to all parts of 

 England, Scotland, and Ireland. Every Wednesday to Kent only, and 

 the Downs. Every Thursday to France, Spain, Italy, and all parts of 

 England and Scotland. Every Friday to the Spanish and United Nether- 

 lands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and to Kent. Every Saturday to all 

 parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The number of letters sent 

 through the post " had now become so prodigiously great (since the 

 meanest people have generally learnt to write) that this office is farmed 

 for ^30,000 a year." A letter containing a whole sheet of paper was con- 

 veyed eighty miles for zd., two sheets 4(^/., and an ounce weight of letters 

 to one address 8^., " and that in so short a time, by night as well as by 

 day, that every 24 hours, the Post goes 124 miles, and in 5 days, an 



