Note 264 — II THE RATE FOR NEWSPAPERS
Reading edition
"That the six Clerks of the Road are also allowed to frank newspapers from the London office.
"That the newspapers franked by them are not included in any of the accounts of Deductions in respect of Franks. That the profits arising from their franking newspapers may amount to £3,000 or £4,000 p. ann., and that a considerable allowance is made thereout to the Comptroller, Deputy-Comptroller, By Night Clerk and six assistants; all of whom as well as the six Clerks of the Roads would without such advantage be very insufficiently provided for."—Evidence of Anthony Todd, Secretary to the Post Office. Report of Committee appointed to enquire into the several frauds and abuses in relation to the sending or receiving of letters and parcels free from the Duty of Postage (Commons Journal, March 28, 1764).
"The Profits derived by the Clerks of the Road from the privilege of sending Newspapers into the Country free of Postage, were so considerable that they were not only able to make a good Provision for their Families but also to pay thereout an Annual Sum of £1,300 to Officers and Clerks in this Dept. in Aid of their Salaries, which on that Account were proportionately small from the Public; and this Situation of Clerk of the Roads was looked up to as the Reward of their long and arduous Labour in the subordinate Stations of the Office. Twenty years before, of the sum of £8,660 paid to the 39 Officers of the Inland Dept., £2,060 was paid by the Public and £6,600 from the profits on the circulation of newspapers."—Tenth Report of the Commissioners on Fees and Emoluments, 1788, p. 28.