CHAPTER XVI

Appointment of Second Postmaster-General abolished--Other Economies-- Transfer of the Falmouth Packets to the Admiralty--Speed of Mail-coaches--Mail-coaches the Disseminators of News--Newspapers--Sir Henry Parnell--Royal Commission--General Review--Gerrard Street-- Headquarters of the General Post Office removed to St. Martin's-le-Grand--Branch Offices--Morning Delivery expedited--First Mail sent by Railway--Duke of Richmond--Incorporation of the Irish Post Office with the Post Office of Great Britain--Lord Althorp-- Limits of the General Post Delivery--Packet Service put up to public Competition--Abolition of the Newspaper Privilege--Dissatisfaction with the Post Office--Money Order Office--Unsatisfactory Returns to the House of Commons--Indisposition to carry out Reforms--More unsatisfactory Returns--New Contract for Mail-coaches--Freeling's Despondency--and Death 396

APPENDIX 429

INDEX 439

ERRATA [see Transcriber's note at the end of the book.]

Page 324, sixth line from bottom, _for_ 1713 _read_ 1703. " 339, first line, _for_ 1892 _read_ 1802.

HISTORY OF THE POST OFFICE