PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION.
PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.
INTRODUCTION.
CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
CHAPTER I. OLD ROADS.
CHAPTER II. POSTBOYS.
CHAPTER III. STAGE AND MAIL COACHES.
CHAPTER IV. FOOT-POSTS.
CHAPTER V. MAIL-PACKETS
CHAPTER VI. SHIPWRECKED MAILS.
CHAPTER VII. AMOUNT OF WORK.
CHAPTER VIII. GROWTH OF CERTAIN POST-OFFICES.
CHAPTER IX. CLAIMS FOR POST-OFFICE SERVICE.
CHAPTER X. THE TRAVELLING POST-OFFICE.
CHAPTER XI. SORTERS AND CIRCULATION.
CHAPTER XII. PIGEON-POST.
CHAPTER XIII. ABUSE OF THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE, AND OTHER PETTY FRAUDS.
CHAPTER XIV. STRANGE ADDRESSES.
CHAPTER XV. POST-OFFICE ROBBERIES.
CHAPTER XVI. TELEGRAPHIC BLUNDERS.
CHAPTER XVII. HOW LETTERS ARE LOST.
CHAPTER XVIII. ODD COMPLAINTS.
CHAPTER XIX. CURIOUS LETTERS ADDRESSED TO THE POST-OFFICE.
CHAPTER XX. SINGULAR COINCIDENCES.
CHAPTER XXI. SAVINGS-BANK CURIOSITIES.
CHAPTER XXII. REPLIES TO MEDICAL INQUIRIES.
CHAPTER XXIII. VARIOUS.
CHAPTER XXIV. ABOUT POSTMASTERS.
CHAPTER XXV. RED TAPE.
THE ROYAL MAIL
MAIL-COACH ACCIDENT NEAR ELVANFOOT, LANARKSHIRE.
MAIL-COACH ACCIDENT NEAR ELVANFOOT, LANARKSHIRE
THE ROYAL MAIL
ITS CURIOSITIES AND ROMANCE
BY
JAMES WILSON HYDE
SUPERINTENDENT IN THE GENERAL POST-OFFICE,
EDINBURGH
THIRD EDITION
LONDON
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL AND CO.
MDCCCLXXXIX.
All Rights reserved.
Note.—It is of melancholy interest that Mr Fawcett's death occurred within a month from the date on which he accepted the following Dedication, and before the issue of the Work.
TO
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
HENRY FAWCETT, M. P.
HER MAJESTY'S POSTMASTER-GENERAL,
THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE, BY PERMISSION,
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.
