The Post Office in British Guiana. 203 



country distri6ls was initiated, and carried on for a long 

 time. It seems to have been more for the purpose of 

 distributing the mails from abroad than for local letters. 

 In the report of the Inspe6lor-General of Police to Tune 

 30th 1841, he stated that the casualties in running the 

 Overland Mail to Berbice had been numerous. It was 

 in contemplation to establish Mail communication with 

 the Arabian Coast through Leguan and Wakenaam to 

 Spring Garden, and thence to Pin. Richmond, as soon 

 as the Leguan Steamer now daily expe6led, commenced 

 to ply. On the 27th of Oftober following, the Court of 

 Policy san6lioned a regular Mail twice a week to Airy 

 Hall by the Steamer Royal Vidoria^ thence to be carried 

 by a Mail gig to the Police Station at Capoey, thence to 

 Henrietta, and finally to Windsor Castle. 



In January 1842 arrived the first Mail Steamer. This 

 event was said by a correspondent to the Royal Gazette 

 to be the opening of a new era, " the advantages of 

 which we cannot yet form any idea." The Clyde was 

 described as a beautiful specimen of naval archite6lure. 

 Her engine room was enough to give some ideas of 

 what the art of man could do. She was fitted up with 

 great elegance and comfort and could accommodate 

 upwards of a hundred passengers. Captain WOODRUFF 

 entertained a large party of ladies and gentlemen, in- 

 cluding the Governor, who were all highly delighted 

 with the appearance of the vessel, and the attention they 

 received. The fare (;^5i) was considered too high ; if it 

 had been put at a charge below that of sailing vessels, 

 the Gazette thought they would have secured all the 

 passengers, and increased the number of travellers. The 

 postage was a shilling the half-ounce for British and 



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