Among the social institutions then in existence, was the penny post, which cannot be better, or more tersely, described than in Misson's own words: 'Every two Hours you may write[164] to any Part of the City or Suburbs, he that receives it pays a Penny, and you give nothing when you put it into the Post; but when you write into the Country, both he that writes and he that receives pay each a Penny. It costs no more for any Bundle weighing but a Pound, than for a small Letter, provided the Bundle is not worth more than ten Shillings. You may safely send Money, or any other thing of Value, by this Conveyance, if you do but take care to give the Office an Account of it. It was one Mr. _William Dockwra_ that set up this New Post, about the beginning of the Reign of King Charles 2, and at first enjoy'd the Profits himself; but the Duke of _York_, who had then the Revenue of the General Post, commenc'd a Suit against him, and united the Penny Post to the other.' [Footnote 164: Besides the six great offices for taking in letters, there were 600 smaller ones in different parts of London, for the convenience of correspondents.] Misson makes a slight error here. The penny post was started in 1683 by Rob. Murray, an upholsterer, but next year, several charges being brought against him, he was removed, and the concern was handed over to Dockwra, who was dispossessed as above, by an action in which he was cast both in damages and costs; but, about a year after, he was appointed Controller of the District Post. He was allowed a pension in the time of William and Mary (variously stated of from £200 to £500 a year), but he only enjoyed it four years, when he was discharged on account of some charges of malversation, etc., which were brought against him. In January 1703, when Dockwra tried for the Chamberlainship of the City of London--which candidature, however, he soon abandoned--he found it necessary to issue disclaimers, and tell his version of the history of the penny post.[165] [Footnote 165: _Daily Courant_, January 11, 1703.] 'Whereas a malicious false Report has been industriously spread, that one _Robert Murray_ was the first Inventor of the _Penny Post_, and that he has been in Articles with me _William Dockwra_, and wrong'd and hardly used; the World is desired to take notice, That as to the first Pretence, it is utterly false, for _Dr. Chamberlen_, one _Henry Neville_, _Payne_, and others pretended themselves the first Inventors; And after I had actually set up the Office, one Mr. _Foxley_ came and shew'd me a Scheme of his concerning a _Penny Post_, which he had offer'd to Sir _John Bennet_, Post Master General, eight Years before I ever Knew Murray, but that was rejected as impracticable, as indeed were all the rest of their Notions; nor was it by any of them, or any other Person whatsoever, put into any Method to make it practicable, till at my sole Charge and Hazard I begun it in the Year 1680.