INDEX

Abbot's Cliff, 191

Aberdeen, 72, 73, 80

Accountant-General, 45, 55

Addresses on letters, 108, 111, 115, 120, 252

Admiralty, 220

Advertising postal facilities, 85, 323

Aldersgate Street, 129

Allen, Ralph, 36

Alphabet keeper, 45

America, 64

Anglo-American Telegraph Company, 160

Animals by post, 323

Annals of the Road, 27

Annuities, Post Office, 143

Architecture of Post Offices, 233, 302

Army Post Office— Crimea, 130 Early history, 336 Duties of, 337

Arran Islands, 217

Assistant Secretaries, 261

Associations, their recognition by Postmaster-General, 262

Atlantic Ferry, 209, 212

Athens, 81

Australia— First mail service to, 215 Postal service, 258 Articles refused by post, 328

Austria, 160

Awards Committee, 206

Aylesbury Coach Road, 89

Bagnigge Wells, 85

Baines, F. E., C.B., 32, 265

Balloons, 235

Balmoral Castle, 216

Band conveyors, 60

Baptism, commercial idea of, 150

Barnet, 98

Bartholomew's Hospital, 58

Batavia, 213

Bath, 22, 36

Baudot system— Introduction, 155 Circuit, 160 Working of, 167

Bawtry, 281

Bedminster Town Penny Bank, 325

Bees by post, 323

Belfast, 279

Belgium— Parcel Post to, 84 Money Orders to, 131 Wires to, 160 Telephone to, 191

Bell, A. M., 182

Bell, Graham, 182

Berlin, 327

Berne— First Congress, 225 Treaty of, 226 Second Congress, 228 Monument, 230

Bicycles, 99

Birmingham, 31, 35, 70, 72, 164, 279

Blackfriars Power Station, 162, 169

“Black Swan,” 44

Blackwood, Sir Arthur, K.C.B., 264

Blind Section, 62, 89, 90

Bombay, 215, 216

Bousseul, Charles, 181

Boxmoor, 72

Boy messengers— Qualifications, 339 Explanations, 341-346

Bradshaw, 231

Bright's Bell, 155

Brighton, 75, 99, 100

Brindisi, 215

Brisbane, 216

Bristol, 21, 279, 280

Britannia, 213

British Central Africa— Postal Service, 255 Postmaster's duties, 257

British Islands packet services, 217

British Post Offices abroad, 205

Brontë, Charlotte, 67

Brussels, 191

“Bull and Mouth,” 27, 50

Bullion, carriage of, 209

Burdett, Sir Francis, 34

Burravoe, 81

Buxton, Right Hon. Sydney, M.P., 201, 262

Cable conveyors, 60

Cadiz, 81

Cairo, 215

Calais, 220

Caledonian Railway, 73

Camels as carriers of mails, 246, 254

Campania, 213

Campbell, Lord, 23

Campbeltown, 285

Canada— Parcel Post, 84 Money Orders, 131 Imperial Penny Post, 258

Canary Islands, 237

Cape Colony— Money Orders, 131 Ocean mail service, 214, 216 Post Office stones, 255

Cape Grisnez, 191

Card system for accounts, 244

Cardiff, 279

Carlisle, 75

Cash on Delivery System, 253

Cats in Post Office, 95

Central News Agency, 165

Central Telegraph Office— Building, 67 Transmitting centre, 159 First office, 161 351Interior, 163 Sunday arrangements, 169 Staff, 173

Chamberlain, Right Hon. Joseph, M.P., 51, 247, 263

Channel Fleet, letters to, 116

Channel Islands— Cable to, 156 Mail service, 218

Chesham, 104

China— Mails to, 220 Post Office, 244 Articles refused, 328

Christian World, 298

Christ's Hospital, 58

Civil Service, secret of success in, 272

Clerical Establishment, 268

Clerks of the Roads, 45, 125

Clifden, 178

Cloak Lane, 43

Coaches, 22

Coaching inns, 98

Coin by post, 125, 127

Coke, Lady Mary, 304

Coldbath Fields Prison, 85

Coleridge, S. T., 33

Colonial Office, 51

Compensation, 59

Comptroller and Accountant-General, 265

Concentrator switches, 168

Connaught, 218

Consols— Popularisation of, 140 Amount held in Post Office, 141 Facilities for purchase, 141 Reduction of interest on, 143

Constantinople, 84, 130, 328

Continental Mail, 75, 222

Cooke, 155

Cornwall, 75

Cowper, William, 21

“Creed” system, 155, 166

Crimean War, 130

Cuba, 328

Cunard Company, 212

Daily Mail, 108, 193

Daily Telegraph, 245

Date stamping, 61

David Copperfield, 281

Dead Letter Office, 109, 118

Deal, 33

Denmark, 328

De Quincey, Thomas, 28, 102

De Saint Marceaux, 230

Diamond Jubilee Reforms, 84, 246, 258

Dickens, Charles, 28

Dickson, Mrs. Elizabeth, 314

Dieppe, 220

Dockree support system, 88

Dockwra, 35, 290

Don Manuel Alvarez Espriella, 210

Dover, 220

Dover Road, 19, 208

Dryden, 45

Dublin, 218

Duncan, Rev. Henry, 138

Dunfermline, 287

Eastbourne, 284

East India Company, 247

Edinburgh, 23, 32, 36

Edinburgh Castle, 216

Edison Telephone Company, 183, 184

Egypt, 84, 215, 336

Electric stamping machines, 61

Electric Telegraph Company, 161

Elephant as carrier of mails, 246, 249

Engineer-in-Chief, 267

Engineers, 195, 196

Enniskillen, 284

Etruria, 213

Euston, 72, 74, 80, 89

Exchange Telegraph Company, 165

Exeter, 25

Express Delivery Service, 96, 323

Factories (see Post Office Factories)

Fair Isle, 220

Fair Wages Resolution, 206

Falkland Islands, 328

Falmouth— As packet station, 209 100 years ago, 210 P. and O. service, 214

Farmers' telephones, 193

Fawcett, Right Hon. H., 85, 262

Ferry mail services, 81

Fiji Islands, 216

Fishguard, 217

“Fleece Tavern,” 44

Flushing, 75, 220

Flying Coaches, 22

Folkestone, 75, 220

Foot posts, 21

Foreign Parcel Post, articles refused, 328

Foreign postal rates, 223

Foreign Post Office methods, 231

Forman, H. Buxton, C.B., 265

Forty Years at Post Office, 265

Foula, 220

Founder's Court, E.C., 161

France— Money Orders to, 131 Wires to, 160 Postal methods, 234 Savings Bank, 235 Telegraphs, 236 Parcel Post, 236

Franks, 34

Freeling, Sir Francis, 264, 268, 278

Garibaldi, 41

Gavey, Sir John, K.C.B., 267

Gell System, 166

General Election— Effects on telegraph system, 171, 204

General Post Office North, 55, 67

General Post Office South, 55, 67

General Post Office West, 67, 161

Germany— Parcel Post, 84 Money Orders, 131 Wires to, 160 Postal methods, 232 Post Offices, 232

Ghosts seen from motors, 107

Gibraltar, 81, 84, 214

Gladstone, Right Hon. W. E.— Anglican Orders, 132 Post Office Savings Bank, 138 Home Role Bill telegrams, 171

352Glasgow— Early charges to, 32 Telephone, 191 Postmaster, 279 Postmen, 313

Grand Magazine, 270

Great Eastern Railway, 75

Great North Road, 22, 32, 98, 282

Great Western, 212

Great Western Railway, 73, 75

Greenwich Observatory, 170

Grievances against the Post Office, 330

Halfpenny Post, 64, 320

Harkara, 249, 250

Haroldswick, 80, 81

Harwich, 209, 220

Hasker, Thomas, 24, 27, 30

Heaton, Henniker, 247, 320, 325

Hennibique reinforced concrete, 58

Hill, Sir Rowland, K.C.B.— Penny Postage, 31 As a reformer, 35 Career, 38 His reforms, 39 As a lecturer, 54

Hindhead, 199

Hindustan, 214

Hobart, 216

Holborn Viaduct, 75

Holland, 160

Holyhead, 24, 29, 217

Home Safes— England, 154 New Zealand, 259

Hong Kong, 84, 244

Hood, Thomas, 40

Household Words, 136

Hughes recorder, 155, 160

Hull, 279

Hungary, 160

Imperial Penny Postage— Beginnings of, 247 Establishment of, 258

Incivility of officials— Germany, 233 America, 241 England, 329

India— Wires to, 160 Mails, 214 Early postal service, 247 Honours, 251

Indo-European Telegraph Company, 160

Insurance, National, 279, 332

Insurance, Post Office, 143

Intercommunication switch, 163, 168

International Parcel Post, 83

Investments in Government Stock, 140

Ipswich, 25, 75

Ireland— Mail coach service, 29 Parcel Post, 94 Packet service, 217 Service incident, 295

Iris, 215

Isle of Man, 217, 218

Isle of Skye, 217

Isle of Wight, 217

Jacobs, W. W., 274

Japan— Mails to, 220 P. O. service, 243 Savings Banks, 244

Jingle, Mr. Alfred, on postmen's uniform, 311

Johnston, Sir H. H., K. C. B., 255

Johnston, R. W., 50

Jolly, John, 107

Joyce, H., C. B., 265

Karstadt, Frederick, 70

Kekewich, Sir George, 270

Kipling, Rudyard, 250, 324

King Edward's Building— Migration of staff to, 55 Site, 57 Construction, 58 Ventilation, 66 Staff, 67

King's Birthday— Coach processions, 27 Post Office feast, 46

King's posts, 20, 208, 277

Kingston-on-Thames, 100

Knoydart, 220

Lamb, Charles, 216

Leamington, 305

Leeds, 32, 279

Leinster, 218

Lerwick, 80, 220

Letter bringers, 45

Letters, number of, 64

Lichfield, Lord, 36

Lighthouse communication, 178

Limited mail, 73

Lincoln sorting carriage, 75

Lisbon— Early mail service, 214 Postal congress, 228

Lismore, 295

Listowel, 172

Liverpool, 35, 57, 70, 97, 213, 279

Liverpool Street, 75

Loading coils, 191

Local Taxation Licences, 335

Lombard Street, 45, 48, 55

London— Early posts, 19 Mail coaches, 27 Twopenny posts, 35 First Post Office, 43 Postmaster of, 56 Chief Post Office, 57

London and North-Western Railway, 31, 73, 74

London and South-Western Railway, 75

London Bridge, 75

London Postal Service, 56

Lucania, 213

Lusitania, 213

Maberley, Colonel, 50

Macadam, 27

Macdonald, Flora, 285

Madeira, 81, 216

Magazine competitions and postal orders, 133

Magazine Post, 238

Magnetic clocks, 170, 200

Mail bags— Makers of, 45 Colour, 62 Travelling Post Office, 77 Repairs, 203 Mail cart, 80

Mail coaches— Early days, 23 Speed, 24 Robberies, 27 Procession, 27 End of, 29 Coach v. motor, 104

Mail coachmen— Uniform, 24 Furious driving, 26 Stories of, 104, 107

353Mail guards— Arming of, 24, 103 Condition of service, 25 Complaints against, 26

Mail trains— First trains, 32 Late-fee boxes, 73 Night, 74, 75 Catching up, 302

Majestic, 213

Mallaig, 220

Malta, 84

Manchester, 35, 279, 326

Manila, 216

Manning, Thomas, 216

Marconi Company, 178

Marriage, depositors' views on, 150

Masters of the Posts, 143

Mauretania, 81, 208, 213

Melbourne, Lord, 37

Middleton, 92

Midland Travelling Post Office, 75

Milford, 217

Milton, John, 45

Mirror, 308

Money Orders— Reduction in price, 39 Offices, 55, 68 Early days, 125 Old charges, 126 Number issued, 127 Soldiers and sailors, 130 Foreign and Colonial, 131 Telegraph, 132 Complaints, 134 Scenes at counter, 136

Monte Video Times, 243

Montreal, 123

Morris, O'Connor, 53

Morse characters, 165

Morse's Printer and Sounder, 155

Mossbank, 81

Motor mails— Early beginnings, 100 Distances, 102 Night service, 102 Guards, 103 Drivers, 103, 105

Mount Pleasant, 61, 67, 85

Mowatt, Sir Francis, K.C.B., 271

Muckle Flugga, 79

Mulock, Hon. William, K.C., 258

Munster, 218

Murray Multiplex, 155

National Insurance, 279, 332

National Telephone Company, 177, 185, 187

National Telewriter Company, 177

Navy Post Office, 338

Newcastle-on-Tyne, 279, 326

Newhaven, 220

New Jersey, 285

Newmarket, 35

Newspaper post, 29, 64, 322

Newport, 92

Newton, 92

New South Wales, 260

New York— Telephone service, 189 Mail service to, 213

New Zealand— Postal service, 258 Pigeon post, 260 Articles refused, 328

Nightingale, Florence, 130

Northcote, Sir Stafford, 130

Norway, A. H., 209, 210

Norwich, 35, 75

Nottingham, 279

Old Age Pensions— In New Zealand, 259 In England, 332 Number, 333 Stories of, 334

On the Track of the Mail Coach, 265

Oporto, 214

Orient Company, 216

Orkney, 80, 217

Osiris, 215

Overland Route, 214

Oversea Mails— Times of voyages, 216

Packet Services (see Post Office Packet Service)

Paddington, 75

Pages from a Private Diary, 299

Palmer, John, 22, 99, 102

Parcel Post— Offices, 55, 67 Beginnings, 83 Rates, 84 Foreign, 84, 328 Sorting, 86, 88 Receptacles, 89 Packing, 93 Switzerland, 232 France, 236

Parcel Post coaches, 99, 101

Paris— Telephone, 191 Postal Congress, 228 Postal service, 235

Paris Messenger, 240

Parsons, Alfred, R.A., 274

Payment on demand, 142

Pearson's Weekly, 133

Peel, Sir Robert, 291

Peninsular and Oriental Company, 214

Penny Post— Demand for, 32 Introduction, 37 Results, 40 Dockwra's, 290

Penzance, 73

Permanent officials, 270, 349

Persia, 85, 328

Philadelphia Exhibition, 182

Phonogram, 163

Pigeon Post— French, 235 New Zealand, 260

Pillar boxes, 112, 113

Pitt, William, 23

Plague, Great, 44

Pneumatic tubes, 161, 163, 203

Port Said, 215

Postal charges— Old style, 32 Evasion of, 33 Prepayment of, 37

Postal Orders— Offices, 68 Origin, 132 Numbers, 132 Effect of newspaper competitions on, 133 Lost, 135 Regulations, 322 Foreign, 328

Postal Union— First Conference, 224 Opposition to, 225 Business, 227 Conferences, 228 354Monument, 230 Uniformity of services, 327

Postboys, 20, 46, 346

Postcards— Number, 64 Addresses, 114 Prices, 320

Post horses, 20, 104, 277

Postman's bell, 304

Postman's Federation, 309

Postman's Gazette, 313

Postman's knock, 315

Postmaster— Early history, 20, 277 News agents, 277 Duties, 278 Salaries, 279 Powers, 282 Letters to, 283-287 Inquiry agents, 288

Postmaster-General— Early conditions, 45 Duties of office, 261 Discretionary powers, 348

Postmaster-General's monopoly, 19, 184

Postmen— Before Penny Postage, 34 Empire, 246 Early condition, 302 Grades, 305 Duties, 306 Uniform, 311 Lame, 315

Post Office clerks— Promotion, 269 Advantages, 273 Esprit de corps, 275 Counter, 329

Post Office factories, 202

Post Office figures— Their size, 63 Balance-sheet, 266

Post Office Guide— Its scope, 318 Usefulness, 320, 325 Time-tables, 325 Defects, 331

Post Office Library, 54

Post Office Packet Service— Early history, 209 Sailors' pensions, 211 Home Service, 217

Post Office Savings Bank— Sir Rowland Hill on, 39 Offices, 55, 68 Origin, 138 Number of depositors, 139 Stock investments, 140 Withdrawals, 142 Cost of transactions, 143 Government security, 144 Cheque deposits, 144 Staff, 145 Colonial transfers, 154 Home safes, 154 Withdrawal telegrams, 163 Stories of depositors, 146-153

Post Office song, 46

Post Office stone, 255

Post Office uniform, 201, 250, 254

Posts— Origin of word, 19 Masters of, 20, 143

Postwomen, 313

Preece, Sir William, K.C.B., F.R.S., 179, 183, 267

Press telegrams, 158, 189

Preston, 72

Primrose, Sir Henry, 271

Punch, 193, 319

Punctuality, 51

Puzzle addresses, 63

Quarterly Review, 26

Queen Victoria Street, 67, 327

Race Meetings— Telegraph arrangements, 166, 176

Radio telegrams, 178

Raikes, Right Hon. Cecil, 262

Railways— Introduction, 29 Travelling by night, 32 Modern conditions, 71 Parcel carriers, 96, 99

Rat-catcher, 46

Rats in Parcels Office, 95

Reading, 75

Red Hill, 101

Red tape— Supplies, 202 Methods, 347

Registered packets, 112

Reply coupon, 228

Returned Letter Office, 108

Returned Parcels Office, 94

Roads— Early conditions, 19 Improvements in, 27 Neglect of, 98 Motor service, 103

Rome, 228

Rosebery, Lord, 275

Roman remains, 48, 57

Roumania, 328

Royal William, 212

Runners— Early use of word, 19 Indian, 249 South African, 254 Central African, 256

Rural Posts— France, 234 America, 241 Early history, 290 Later history, 291

Russell's Wagons, 209

Russia, 160, 204, 328

Ruthwell, 137

Sailing Vessels— As mail packets, 208 Construction, 211 Contracts with, 220

Sanctuary, privilege of, 48

St. Kilda, 218

St. Martin's le Grand— College of, 48 Design of building, 49 Interior, 50 Chief office, 56 Officials, 54 Closing of, 55

St. Petersburg, 328

Samuel, Right Hon. Herbert, 266

Savannah, 212

Savings Banks, 137, 150 (see Post Office Savings Banks)

Scalloway, 80

Scavenger, Post Office, 46

Schooling, J. H., 64

Scilly, 156, 217

Scotland— Early postal service, 19 Footposts, 21 Postal charges to, 32 Mails to, 73

Scott, Sir Walter, 29

“Scottish Coast Village,” 298

Scudamore, Frank Ives, C.B., 54, 265

355Selby, 32

Serna, 213

Shanghai, 215

Sheffield, 279

Shelley, H. C., 338

Shetland Isles, 39, 79, 116, 156, 217, 219

Shrewsbury, 79

Sikes, Sir C. W., 138

Skye, 217

Smirke, Mr., 49, 55

“Snooper in,” 190

Solicitor to Post Office, 267

Sorting carriages, 73, 74

Sorting of letters and parcels, 60, 61, 88

South Africa, 253

South America, 243

Southampton, 218

South-Eastern and Chatham Railway, 75, 302

Southsea, 286

Spain— Leisured methods, 211 Postal service, 236

Spanish swindle, 114

Special Events Section, 166

Steam motors, 101

Stephen, Justice, 185

Stephenson, George, 31

Stock certificates, 140

Stock Exchange, 173

Stores Department— Early beginnings, 45 Offices, 68 Business, 200 Sale of stores, 205

Stow's Survey, 43

Straits Settlements, 84, 245, 328

Studd Street, 68

Submarine cables, 156, 160, 191

Sub-Postmaster— Qualifications, 289 Increase of duties, 292 Troubles, 294 Hereditary, 295 Applications for, 300

Sub-Postmistress— Qualifications, 296 Methods, 297 Difficulties with, 302

Suez— Mail route, 214 Canal, 215

Sunday deliveries, 326

Surveyors, 267

“Swan with Two Necks,” 27

Switzerland— Money Orders, 131 Postal facilities, 232

Tamworth, 75

Tangiers, 81

Taplow, 104

Telegraph Act (1869), 184

Telegraphs— Offices, 56, 67 Early history, 155 Transfer to State, 156 Charges, 158 Breakdown, 159 News Section, 165 Special Section, 166 Long distance, 167 Timing of, 170 Loss on, 189

Telegraph Construction Act (1908), 199

Telegraph instruments, 160, 204

Telegraph poles, 198, 203, 204

Telegraph Street, E.C., 161

Telegraphists— Scales of pay, 173 In war, 336

Telephone Company, 183

Telephones— Effect on telegraph, 176 Early beginnings, 181 Parliament's action, 185 London service, 186 Decision to purchase, 187 Subscribers, 188 United States, 189 Long distance calls, 190, 193 Exchange, 191 Farmers, 193

Telephone-telegram business, 163

Telewriter, 177

Telford, 27

Teutonic, 213

Thomson, Sir William, 183

Threadneedle Street, E.C., 173

Tie-on labels, 94

Tilley, Sir John, K.C.B., 264

Tintagel, 301

Tranavoe, 81, 255

Travelling Post Office— Romance, 69 First service, 71 Apparatus, 75 Disasters, 79 Mail bags, 203 Oversea mails, 213

Treasury, 264

Trinidad, 328

Trollope, Anthony, 41, 52, 53, 267

Trouble-man, 190

Truth, 329

Tuke, Brian, 19

Tunbridge Wells, 22

Ulster, 218

Umbria, 213

Undelivered packets— Numbers, 110 Stories of, 113-123 South African War, 337

Underground wires, 178, 187, 190, 196, 199, 233

Uniform (see Post Office Uniform)

Union Castle Line, 216

Union Postale, 227

United States— Letters to, 64 Money Orders, 131 Telephone service, 189 Weather, 190 Postal Union, 224 Postal service, 238 Postmaster-General's reports, 241

“Valeurs à recouvrer,” 236

Value-Payable Post, 253

Vienna, 228

Vigo, 214

Village Post Office— Described, 298 Architecture, 300

Villette, 67

Viner, Sir Robert, 45

Voe, 81

Von Stephan, Herr, 224, 226, 232

Waghorn, Lieutenant, 214

Walpole, Sir Spencer, K.C.B., 229, 265, 271

Washington, 228

Washington Evening Star, 228

Wayleave-getting, 197

356Welby, Lord, 270

West, Sir Algernon, K.C.B., 270

West Indies, 84, 131

West Kensington, 68, 144

Weston-super-Mare, 287

Weymouth, 218

Wheatstone, Sir Charles, 182

Wheatstone apparatus— A B C, 155 Automatic, 155, 165 Transmitter, 165 Telephone, 181

White Star Line, 213

Wick, 326

Window man, 45

Wireless telegraphy, 178

Witherings, 35

Wolverton, Lord, 147

Women clerks— Savings Bank, 145 Conditions of service, 274

Wort, Mrs. Jane, 314

Written explanation, 310

Yarmouth, 209

Yates, Edmund, 53

Yell Sound, 81

York, 24, 27

YQ wire, 166

Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.

Edinburgh & London

Transcriber’s Note

At the top of p. 28, the conclusion of the paragraph is punctuated inconsistently. Either the quotation begun on the preceding page should end after the words 'key bugle', or at the end of the paragraph. In the latter case, the quotation marks are incorrect. The passage is left as printed.

On p. 51, the paragraph beginning 'The old riddle' is likewise compromised by faulty punctuation. In this case, the nested quotations on p. 52 are corrected for consistency. However, it is not clear where the quotation ends.

An index entry for “Mails to Scotland” is incorrectly referenced to p. 407, which does not exist. It is most likely meant to refer to the discussion of the mail train to Scotland on p. 73, and the entry is accordingly revised.

In most instances, apparent errors appear in quoted material, and have not been corrected. Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original.

v.7 but it count[ sits/s its] friends in millions Space misplaced.

52.1 [“/‘]Oh,[”/’] said she, [“/‘]I don’t> Replaced.

52.2 We don't begin till eleven.[”/’] Replaced.

52.5 replied, [“/‘]I daresay Replaced.

52.8 of the hour.[”/’] Replaced.

61.32 On the no[r]thern side correspondence Inserted.

182.28 the Centennial Exposition in Philade[l]phia Inserted.