Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Eric Skeet, The Philatelic Digital Library Project at http://www.tpdlp.net and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) THE ROYAL MAIL [Illustration: MAIL-COACH ACCIDENT NEAR ELVANFOOT, LANARKSHIRE.] THE ROYAL MAIL ITS CURIOSITIES AND ROMANCE BY JAMES WILSON HYDE SUPERINTENDENT IN THE GENERAL POST-OFFICE, EDINBURGH THIRD EDITION LONDON SIMPKIN, MARSHALL AND CO. MDCCCLXXXIX. _All Rights reserved._ NOTE.--It is of melancholy interest that Mr Fawcett's death occurred within a month from the date on which he accepted the following Dedication, and before the issue of the Work. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY FAWCETT, M. P. HER MAJESTY'S POSTMASTER-GENERAL, THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE, BY PERMISSION, RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION. The second edition of 'The Royal Mail' having been sold out some eighteen months ago, and being still in demand, the Author has arranged for the publication of a further edition. Some additional particulars of an interesting kind have been incorporated in the work; and these, together with a number of fresh illustrations, should render 'The Royal Mail' still more attractive than hitherto. The modern statistics have not been brought down to date; and it will be understood that these, and other matters (such as the circulation of letters), which are subject to change, remain in the work as set forth in the first edition. EDINBURGH, _February 1889_. PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. The favour with which 'The Royal Mail' has been received by the public, as evinced by the rapid sale of the first issue, has induced the Author to arrange for the publication of a second edition. This edition has been revised and slightly enlarged; the new matter consisting of two additional illustrations, contributions to the chapters on "Mail Packets," "How Letters are Lost," and "Singular Coincidences," and a fresh chapter on the subject of Postmasters. The Author ventures to hope that the generous appreciation which has been accorded to the first edition may be extended to the work in its revised form. EDINBURGH, _June 1885_. INTRODUCTION.