This was the introduction of postage in the modern sense. The object of the exceptional rate for Ireland was to avoid interference with a Proclamation recently issued there by the Lord Deputy and Council. "A single letter is one written on one sheet of paper sealed; a double letter is one sheet of paper which covers another sheet sealed up; a treble letter proportionately."--_Calendar of State Papers_ (_Domestic Series_), 1658, p. 368. ORDINANCE OF 1657. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- For every Letter |If Single.|If Double.|Per ounce. ------------------------------------------+----------+----------+---------- | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. To or from any place within 80 miles | | | of London | 0 2 | 0 4 | 0 8 At a further distance than 80 miles | 0 3 | 0 6 | 1 0 To or from Scotland | 0 4 | 0 8 | 1 6 To or from Ireland | 0 6 | 1 0 | 2 0 In Ireland-- | | | To or from any place within 10 miles | | | of Dublin | 0 2 | 0 4 | 0 8 At a further distance than 40 miles | 0 4 | 0 8 | 1 0 ------------------------------------------+----------+----------+---------- --H. Scobell, _A Collection of Acts and Ordinances_, London, 1658, p. 512. ACT OF 1660 (12 CAR. II, CAP. 35). -------------------------------------------------------------- |On Single|On Double| | Letter. | Letter. |Per ounce. -------------------------------+---------+---------+---------- From London-- | d. | d. | d. 80 miles and under | 2 | 4 | 8 Above 80 miles | 3 | 6 | 12 To or from Berwick | 3 | 6 | 18 From Berwick within Scotland-- | | | 40 miles and under | 2 | 4 | 8 Above 40 miles | 4 | 8 | 12 To or from Dublin | 6 | 12 | 24 From Dublin within Ireland-- | | | 40 miles and under | 2 | 4 | 8 Above 40 miles | 4 | 8 | 12 -------------------------------+---------+---------+---------- N.B.--There were no cross posts. Between two towns not on the same post road, however near, letters could circulate only through London, and whenever a letter passed through London an additional rate was imposed, e.g. from Bristol to Exeter (less than 80 miles) a letter would be sent via London and charged two rates for over 80 miles. 1711 (9 ANNE, CAP. 10).