POS 
more than a century, originated from the 
public spirit of a merchant, named Docwra, 
and a Mr. Murray, who, with much diffi- 
culty and great expense, in the reign of 
Charles II., proceeded so far as to establish 
it; but, strange and perverse as it may ap- 
pear, every species of opposition and mis- 
representation attended its progress, both 
from the public and the government, and, 
after a trial with the latter in the court of 
King’s Bench, the projectors had the morti- 
fication to find it adjudged to belong to the 
Duke of York, as a branch of the general 
post-office. 
In an adverfisement issued by them, in 
1681, they say, “ that undertakers have set 
up, and hitherto carried on the said prac- 
tice with much pains and industry, and at 
the expence of a great sum of money, and 
are as desirous to continue it for the public 
pervice of their native place, as to benefit 
themselves thereby; yet they have met 
with much opposition, and many discou- 
ragements from the self-interested, tlie en- 
vious, and the ignorgnt : from the last of 
which (to pass by the others at present) 
there are daily complaints of the delays of 
letters causelessly charged on the office, 
which hath proved very injurious to the 
progress and prosperity of their honest de- 
sign, and hindering the inhabitants from 
reaping the advantage and conveniency 
thereof.” ■ After some explanations how 
the delay complained of occurred through 
the carelessness of persons not connected 
with the undertaking, they add, “ for some 
remedy to prevent such unjust reflections 
for the time to come, and that any person 
may discover where the fault lies, if his let- 
ter be delayed, the undertakers have pro- 
vided stamps of the like form in the margin, 
(similar to those still used) which shall be 
.set on each letter every hour of the day ; 
(at the time they are given out of their of- 
fice for delivery) and all persons are to ex- 
pect their letters in an hour (little more 
or less) after the time stamped, according 
as the distance is further from, or nearer to, 
the office from whence they are sent ; and 
if people will but consider, that there must 
be an hour's time allowed for collecting 
every round of letters, another for sorting 
and distributing, and a third for delivery, 
(besides an over-allow'ance for remote parts) 
they would not so often mistake in their 
reckonings, and expect a letter should go 
or come as soon as if a special messenger 
were immediately sent away with it, al- 
though they hope, that all ingenuous and 
POS 
thinking persons do find such dispatches a* 
do answer their reasonable expectations.” 
An establishment of decided and obvious 
utility, like that of the penny-post, could not 
fail of succeeding in time, and accordingly we 
find, it has flourished for more than a hundred 
years; but well-founded complaints were 
sometimes urged againstit during that period, 
which at length induced the government to 
take it under their immediate inspection, at 
the close of the last century, when, in order 
to meet the increased expences of every 
portion of the undertaking, it was deter- 
mined to double the charge, and from that 
period it received the denomination of the 
two-penny post. In order to facilitate the 
conveyance of letters and packets, boys are 
employed, who ride small swift horses to and 
from the principal office situated in Gerard- 
street, Soho, where may be seen a minia- 
ture copy of the proceedings at the general 
post-office, already described. 
POST-oj^ce, a general post-office, was 
erected 12 Charles II. c. 35. It was made 
perpetual, and part of the general fund, 
3 George I. c. T. The postmaster is not 
like, a common carrier, and is not answer- 
able for the loss of any money by post, nor 
can the country postmaster add any charge 
to the postage tor carrying the letters out to 
the inhabitants of the town. The case has 
been several times tried and decided. A 
principal object in the erection of the post- 
office was in order to have the means of in- 
specting letters of individuals, and discover- 
ing attempts against the Government, (see 
the Ordnance 1657); and now letters mav 
be opened by an order from a Secretary oV' 
State. For this, and other purposes, there 
are several penalties levied upon persons 
carrying or sending letters by private con- 
veyance. Letters coming by private ships 
from abroad, and even letters belonging to 
the owners must also pass through the post- 
office. 
Post, in the military art, is any place 
or spot of ground, fortified or not, wdiere a 
body of men may make a stand and fortify 
themselves, or remain in a condition to fight 
an enemy. Hence it is said, that the post 
was relieved, the post was taken sword in \ 
hand, &c. 
Post, advanad, is a spot of ground seized 
by a party to secure the army, and cover 
the posts that are behind. 
POSTERN, in fortification, is a small 
gate generally made in the angle of the flank 
of a bastion, or in that of the curtin, or 
near the orillon, descending into the ditch ; 
