[701] _Cal. S. P. D._, 1623-25, pp. 55, 285; 1628-29, p. 184; 1629-31, pp. 379, 440. Until 1626[702] our knowledge of the finances of the Post Office is concerned with expenses only, for there was no product, gross or net, for the state. In 1603, the cost of the posts was £4150 a year.[703] This was the year of James the First's accession, and to this is probably due the fact that payment was made for an entire year. Then there comes a break of several years' duration. In 1621, arrears for the half year ending March 31, 1619, were paid. They amounted to £917. For the next two years the yearly expenses averaged £2984. The total expenses for the financial year ending in March, 1621, were £3404. All the posts to Berwick received 92_s._ a day, to Dover 17_s._ 6_d._, to Holyhead 36_s._ 8_d._ and £130 a year for a sailing packet, to Plymouth 25_s._ a day. The wages for each postmaster varied from 1_s._ 8_d._ to 4_s._ 4_d._ a day. In addition there was an expenditure of £50 for extraordinary posts and 5_s._ a day to the paymaster.[704] In 1625, the ordinary expenses were about £4300 a year.[705] It is disappointing not to be able to make any more definite statements concerning the financial operations of the Post Office before 1635, but the unbusinesslike system under which it was conducted must take the blame. [702] The proceeds from de Quester's rates, which went into effect from this year, may possibly have gone to the Post Office. After Witherings' rates were announced in 1635, they certainly did. [703] _Cal. S. P. D._, 1603-10, p. 9. [704] _Rep. Com._, 1844, xiv, app., p. 43 (21). [705] Hist. MSS. Com., _Rep._, 12, app., pt. 4, p. 472.