The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-07
From the ,Sapannnh Georgian.



THE POST OFFICE IN THE OLDEN TINE.
tits somewhat of all unsettled point with historians,
as to whom indebted for the institution Of the
letter post. The necessity of such establishment In
every extended Government, and the Obvious advan-
tages resulting therefrom, NUT have caused their In
PRODUCTION close the footprints of civilization and
refinement The Post Office system, enjoy it,
however is the result of modern knowledge and i'm
provement and has greatly enlarged every beneficial
feature which pertaned to more ancient plans. Da-
nus King of Persia, established line of posts for
his private use having relays of men and noises sta
toned at proper points along the great roads OF his
kingdom SO that intelligence could be easily commu-
nicated from its extreme boundaries to the capital
The Emperor Augustus, of Rome also Instituted
posts after very nearly the same manner as The Per
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 for the surveillance
of its subject for the transmission of It's orders.
The earliest notice of such convenience IN mo-
dern times occurs in the thirteenth century, when
the students of the Univer y of Paris established va
rjous though rather uncertain lines OF communication
with their several families and friends The Eiglish
Universities soon followed the example of the French
Students and these seats ofearning hoary with aye,
and venerable with the gathered wisdom OF ages gave
birth to scheme which binds together the most dis
tant members of the human family In afeclonale COM
munion, and preserves from blight and anguish the
hopes and hearts ofgenerations OF mankind
In I464 Louis XI. of France established by royal
ordinance posts for the Of the court, and for pc
iitical purposes only. 1t is uncertain when Posts
were introduced into England. That then existed in
the reign OF Elizabeth, evident from the fact that,
in 1881 there as a chief Postmaster there; and the
office of Postmaster for foreign parts, was esta-
bshed by James l. who placed at ITS head Mathew
de i'Eu aester. Charles L. was the first English
monarch who determined to annex the post office as
department Of revenue to the government, and tor
this purpose established in 1875 under the manage
ment of Thomas Whitening letter office for Eng
land and Scotland" Intestine troubles, soon rlen-
ing into civil war; prevented the advantages which
would naturally have grown out OF tins scheme
though Cromwell took 1t up with great spirit, ana
effected some Judi ious measures in It's management.
Ii had hitherto been expense to the government
The Commonwe hh Parliament conhded 1t to the
care of Attorney General PndeaI, who was lmme-
diately able to save $1,000 per annum. In l649 he
established weekly post through the principal towns
and cities, and beneficial its results, that at
the time of the Restoration the of the office
was farmed out at over f20 600 per annum. In TOO
the income was about fl000O0 One century after,
netted The government over ESQ 900.
II was not until l619 that any regularly organized
method was adopted for the transmission of letters in