Note 25 — I THE RATE FOR LETTERS

"Nether can anie place in Christendom bee named wher merchants are allowed to send their letters by other body or posts, then by those only which are authorized by the State.... Your Lordship best knoweth what accompt wee shal bee hable to give in our places of that wch passeth by letters in or out of the land, if everie man may convey lrs, under the covers of merchants, to whome and what place hee pleaseth."—30th February 1627. John Coke to Lord Conway (Report from Secret Committee on the Post Office (Commons), 1844, Appx., p. 51).