LORD STRICKLAND said: 'When the report was made, it was told you that it (the Post-Office) would raise a revenue. It matters not what reports be abroad, _nothing can more assist trade and commerce than this intercourse_. Our letters pass better than in any part whatsoever. In France and Holland, and other parts, letters are often laid open to public view, as occasion is.' SIR CHRISTOPHER PACK was also of opinion, 'That the design of the bill is very good for trading and commerce; and it matters not what is said abroad about it. As to letters passing free for members, _it is not worth putting in any act_.' COLONEL SYDENHAM said: 'I move that it may be committed to be made but probationary; _it being never a law before_.'" The bill was referred to a Committee, and subsequently passed nearly unanimously. [17] Lord Macaulay states that there was an exceptional clause in this act, to the effect, that "if a traveller had waited half an hour without being supplied, he might hire a horse wherever he could."--_History of England_, vol, i. [18] Cobbett's Parliamentary History, vol. ix. [19] Macaulay's History of England, vol. i. pp. 387-8. [20] Under William and Mary, Docwray was allowed a pension, differently stated by different authorities, of 500_l._ and 200_l._ a year. [21] Amongst the Post-Office pensions granted in subsequent reigns, Queen Anne gave one, in 1707, to the Duke of Marlborough and his heirs of 5,000_l._ The heirs of the Duke of Schomberg were paid by the Post-Office till 1856, when about 20,000_l._ were paid to redeem a fourth part of the pension, the burden of the remaining part being then transferred to the Consolidated Fund. [22] Stowe's Survey of London. [23] Stark's Picture of Edinburgh, p. 144. [24] "Letters and Despatches relative to the taking of the Earl of Ormond, by O'More. A.D. 1600." [25] In 1784, the line of Milford Haven packets was re-established, the rates of postage between London and Waterford to be the same as between London and Dublin, _viâ_ Holyhead. The packets were, however, soon withdrawn. CHAPTER III. ON OLD ROADS AND SLOW COACHES.