Modern Postal System

The world is indebted to Sir Rowland Hill, of England, for introducing a cheap uniform postal system. He published a pamphlet in 1837, called "Post-Office Reform," in which he proved that for a small radius about Charing Cross, London, letters of small weight were transmitted for twopence; beyond that the postal law was so extravagant as to be prohibitory. The right accorded to the Peers of franking, or sending letters free, he also strongly condemned. He then formulated a penny postal system for the whole Kingdom. This pamphlet met with furious opposition, as most extravagant to the Government. But Mr. Hill had a bill introduced into Parliament which the Postmaster-General of the realm, Lord Lichfield, declared in the House of Lords was the wildest, most extravagant bill ever introduced, and that if carried would be utterly impractical, as no building would be large enough to contain the mail and the clerks to handle it. His argument showed so clearly the demand for postal reform that, though opposed by such statesmen as Sidney Smith, Sir Robert Peel, and the Duke of Wellington, the Postal Bill of Sir Rowland Hill was adopted. It required the postage to be paid in advance by stamps furnished by the Government. Charles Knight, author and publisher, was the first to suggest the use of stamps to Mr. Hill, and the eminent painter, Mulready, furnished the design. The first postage stamp of England dates from May 6th, 1840.