Allen's Contract--General Review--The Secretary's Dismissal--Earl of Abercorn's Complaint--Sketch of Allen's Plan--His Qualifications for carrying it into effect--His local Knowledge--His Difficulties with Postmasters--Post-boys--Illegal Conveyance of Letters--Contrast between Allen's Mode of Procedure and that of the Post Office--Posts increased in Frequency--Opening of Letters--Falmouth Packets--Late Delivery of Foreign Letters--Erection of Milestones--Letters containing Patterns and Writs--Apertures to Letter-boxes--Expresses--Highwaymen--Bank Notes-- Decadence--Allen's 146 CHAPTER XI Penny Post--Franking--Newspapers--Clerks of the Roads--Numbering of Houses--Scotch and Irish Posts--Receiving Offices--Gratuities on Delivery--Appeal to the Courts--Appointment of Letter-carriers--Attempt to curtail the Limits of the Penny Post frustrated--Benjamin Franklin-- Post Office Monopoly in matter of Horses abolished--Disfranchising Act-- Causes of Disquietude 187 CHAPTER XII Palmer's Plan--Objections--First Mail-coach--Post-coach--Increase in Rates of Postage--Restrictions upon Franking--Obstruction alleged-- Anthony Todd--Transitional Period--Stages--Earlier Closing of the General Post Office--Emoluments from Bell Ringing--Internal Dissensions-- Tankerville's Dismissal--Corruption--Surveyors--Conditions of Palmer's Appointment--Abuses--Fees and Perquisites--Expresses--Registration-- Palmer's Improvements--Packet Service--Smuggling--Flagitious Expenditure--Todd's Emoluments--Pitt's Indisposition to expose Abuses-- Lord Walsingham--Daniel Braithwaite--Essays in Cause of Economy--Milford Haven and Waterford Packets--Pitiable Condition of the Clerks of the Roads--The King's Coach--His Illness and Prayer for his Recovery-- Strange Treatment of Official Papers--George Chalmers--Palmer's Jealousy--Mail Guards--Creation of a Newspaper Office--Walsingham attempts to check Irregularities--His inveterate Habit of Scribbling-- Exposes an Attempt at Imposition--Curious Practice as regards the Delivery of Foreign Letters--Earl of Chesterfield--Insubordination on Palmer's Part--Appeal to Pitt--Charles Bonnor--Palmer's Suspension-- Chesterfield's Letter--Interview with Pitt--A Second Interview--Palmer's Dismissal--Bonnor's Promotion 208 CHAPTER XIII