The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-07
From the Sdpannnh Georgian
THE POST OFFICE IN THE OLDEN TINE

lis somewhat of an unsettled point with historians,
as to who we indebted for the institution OF the
letter post The necessity OF such establishment IN
every extended Government, and the oh ious advan-
taycs resulting thereirom mu have caused heir IN
PRODUCTION close on the foot prints OF civilization ana
refinement The Pos, Office system, we enjoy II,
however Is the result of modern knowledge ami lni-
provement and has greatly enlarged every benehcai
feature which pertalned to more ancient pans. Ia
rus, King of Persia, established line OF posts Tor
his private use hav relays of men and hoises sta-
toned at proper points along the great roads OF ms
kingdom, that intelligence could be easily commu-
nicated from its extreme boundaries 10 the capital
The Emperor Augustus of Rome, aso Instituted
posts after very nearly the same manner as me FER
sian monarch Various Improvements were, however,
adopted by Augustus and the Emperors who succeed
ed him, which greatly enhanced the value OF the Post
agent of government, either tor the surveillance
of its subject, or for the transmission oft orders
The earliest notice of such a convenience IN mo-
dern times occurs in the thirteenth century, when
the students of the University OF Paris established va
rious though rather uncertain lines OF communication
with their several families and friends he Ehgiish
Universities soon followed the ample OF the French
Students and these seats of learning, hoay with age,
and venerable with the gathered wisdom OF ages gave
birth to a scheme which binds together the most dis
ant members ofthe human family in afectlona'e com
munlon and preserves from blight and anguish the
hopes and hearts Of generations OF mankind.
In AGA, Louis XI. of France established by royal
ordinance posts for the of the court, and for po
tca purposes only. II is uncertain when Posts
were introduced into England. That then existed in
the reign OF Elizabeth evident, from the fact that
in 1881 there was a chief Postmaster there and the
office Of Postmaster for foreign parts, was esta-
bished bv James l. who placed at It's head Mathew
de ,'I1 dester. Charlie. l. was the first English
monarch who determined to the post office as
department of revenue to the government, and Tor
this purpose established il 1855 under the manage
ment of Thomas Whitening letter /" office tor Eng
land and Scotland" Intestine troubles, soon rlpcn-
ng into civil war, prevented the advantages which
would naturally have grown out of this scheme
though Cromwell took 1t up with great spirit, and
effected some judi ious MEASURES In It's management
IL had hitherto been an expense to the government
The Commonwe h Parliament confded it to the
care Of Attorney General Prideax, who was nme'
diatey able to ave $1,000 per annum. In l649 he
established weekly pos through the principal towns
and cities aud so beneficial its results that a
he time Of the Restoration the revenue OF the office
was farmed out at over 9s00 600 per annum. In Zoo
the income was about 9iO0,U00. One century after
Melted The government over ESQ 600
1t was not until 1919 that any regularly organized
method was adopted for the transmission OF letters II