AVELLING, 27

FOOT AND HORSE POSTS, 33

_Illustration_--THE MAIL, 1803, _facing_ 40

THE MAIL-COACH ERA, 40

_Illustration_--THE MAIL, 1824, _facing_ 46

_Illustration_--MODERN MAIL "APPARATUS" FOR
EXCHANGE OF MAILS, _facing_ 58

_Illustration_--THE MAIL-COACH GUARD, _facing_ 74

DEAR POSTAGE, 80

_Diagrams_--ROUNDABOUT COMMUNICATIONS, 84, 85

STREETS FIRST NUMBERED, 88

POSTMASTERS AS NEWS COLLECTORS, 91

_Illustration_--THE BELLMAN, _facing_ 92

MAIL-PACKET SERVICE, 96

_Illustration_--HOLYHEAD AND KINGSTOWN PACKET
"PRINCE ARTHUR," _facing_ 102

PENNY POSTAGE, 111

_Illustration_--HANDBILL USED IN PENNY POSTAGE
AGITATION, _facing_ 112

VARIOUS BUSINESS OF THE POST OFFICE, 119

STAFF OF THE POST OFFICE, 123

_Illustration_--TONTINE READING-ROOMS
GLASGOW, _facing_ 126

VALUE OF EARLY NEWS BY POST, 130

DIFFUSION OF PARLIAMENTARY NEWS BY THE TELEGRAPH
AND PRESS, 136

RESULTS OF RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, 139

[Illustration: _Frontispiece._ MAIL-COACH IN THUNDERSTORM.
(_From a print, 1827._)]

A HUNDRED YEARS BY POST.

Were a former inhabitant of this country who had quitted the stage of
life towards the close of last century to reappear in our midst, he
could not fail to be struck with the wonderful changes which have taken
place in the aspect of things; in the methods of performing the tasks of
daily life; and in the character of our social system generally. Nor is
it too much to say that he would see himself surrounded by a world full
of enchantment, and that his senses of wonder and admiration would rival
the feelings excited in youthful minds under the spell of books like
Jules Verne's _Journey to the Moon_, or the ever-entertaining stories of
the _Arabian Nights_. It is true that he would find the operations of
nature going on as before. The dewdrop and the blade of grass, sunshine
and shower, the movements of the tides, and