The rates within Scotland were lower than those within England and Ireland. Scotland had a 2_d._ rate for distances not exceeding fifty miles. England had no rate under 3_d._, except for the Penny Post. Ireland, too, had a 2_d._ rate for distances not exceeding forty miles, but for distances from forty to eighty miles and over, the rate for Irish letters was 4_d._, while in England the rate was only 3_d._ for distances not exceeding eighty miles. The distances which letters travelled within Scotland were shorter than in England and Ireland. As a rule the different rates for the three countries varied with their wealth and consequent ability to pay, the least being required from poverty-stricken Scotland. The new rates as compared with the old were for a single letter:[583]-- _For England_ 1660 1711 Not exceeding 80 miles 2_d._ 3_d._ Above 80 miles 3 4 Between London and Edinburgh 5 6 Between London and Dublin 6 6 _Within Ireland_ Not exceeding 40 miles from Dublin 2_d._ 2_d._ Above 40 miles from Dublin 4 4 _Within Scotland (Scotch Act, 1695)_ Not exceeding 50 miles from Edinburgh 2_d._ 2_d._ From 50 to 80 miles from Edinburgh 3 From 50 to 100 miles from Edinburgh 3 Above 80 miles from Edinburgh 4 Above 100 miles from Edinburgh 4 [583] When the rates for single letters only are given it is understood that double and triple letters paid two and three times as much respectively. Letters weighing an ounce or more paid a single letter rate for each quarter of an ounce. The act of 1660 imposed rates on letters in Scotland from Berwick as a centre. By that act rates had been fixed for distances not exceeding 40 miles and for distances over forty miles from Berwick, being 2_d._ and 4_d._ for single letters for the respective distances, so that by the act of 1711, the Scotch rates were lower than they had been in 1660 and slightly higher than those of 1695. When forty miles was made the lowest distance according to which rates were levied, it was thought and intended that 2_d._, the rate for that distance, would pay for a single letter from Berwick to Edinburgh. As a matter of fact, the distance between the two places was fifty miles, so that the Scotch Act had estimated it better.