The rates of postage prescribed by the Act of 1657 were only slightly varied by the Act of 1660. As finally adjusted, they were as follows:-- +--------------------------------+--------------+--------------+----------+ | | On | On | | | |Single Letter.|Double Letter.|Per Ounce.| +--------------------------------+--------------+--------------+----------+ |80 miles and under | 2d. | 4d. | 8d. | |Above 80 miles | 3d. | 6d. | 12d. | |To or from Berwick | 3d. | 6d. | 18d. | | From Berwick within Scotland--| | | | | 40 miles and under | 2d. | 4d. | 8d. | | Above 40 miles | 4d. | 8d. | 12d. | |To or from Dublin | 6d. | 12d. | 24d. | | From Dublin within Ireland-- | | | | | 40 miles and under | 2d. | 4d. | 8d. | | Above 40 miles | 4d. | 8d. | 12d. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ How these rates compare with those which had gone before we have no means of judging. We only know that during Prideaux's management the postage on a single letter was 6d.; that at some time between 1655 and 1657 it was reduced to 3d.; and that the credit of this reduction was due to Clement Oxenbridge. Oxenbridge, after acting as deputy first to Prideaux and then to Manley, appears to have taken a farm under Thurloe; and, rightly or wrongly, he affirmed that, as soon as he had improved the posts at a cost to himself of more than £5000, and had made his farm profitable, he was turned adrift by Cromwell.