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| The Post in Colonial America | ||||||||||||||||
| A Survey by Hugh Finlay | ||||||||||||||||
| Hugh Finlay was a Post Office Surveyor who undertook an examination of the conduct of the Post Office in America shortly before the War of Independence. He travelled throughout the 13 Colonies and Canada, but only a part of his Journal has survived. He recorded his findings and observations written between 1773 and 1774. His partial manuscript was published in 1867, but only 150 copies of the book were printed and few remain.
The following extracts may be of interest to collectors in conveying something of the conditions prevailing in the 18th century, the problems in transporting the mails, and the day-to-day running of the postal service in the 1770's. The original idiom has been retained to give an authentic feel for the time when it was written. On arriving at Salem he wrote a report about the Deputy Postmaster, Edward Norice [or Norris], as follows: "October 11th. - His books were not in good order, he follows the form, but they are dirty and not brought up regularly; he understands the businefs of a deputy. The office is kept in a small mean looking place. He teaches writing. He has no commifsion to act, he took charge of the office at the death of his father; he reports that every other day the stage coach goes for Boston, the drivers take many letters, so that but few are forwarded by Post to or from his office. If an information were lodged (but an informer wou'd get tar'd and feather'd) no jury wou'd find the fact; it is deem'd necefsary to hinder all acts of Parliament from taking effect in America. They are they say to be governed by laws of their own framing and no other." Later, on arriving at New York "Where the General Post Office is kept under the care of John Antill, acting for Alexander Colden Esq., the Deputy Post Master," Hugh Finlay records: "I remain'd at New York untill I had Mr Foxcroft's permifsion to proceed, which was not before the 6th of December; as he was in dayly expectation of the arrival of the October Packet from England, he was unwilling that I shou'd leave New York before she came in, because he look'd for instructions for the Surveyor by her, from which he intended to model a set of Instructions for me. "In the mean time I was employed in visiting Mr Colden, and learning Mr Foxcrofts opinions concerning, and plans and intentions for the better regulation of all matters relative to the Post office, imprefsing them on my memory that in the course of my survey I might apply that instruction to the benefit of the office as circumstances might point out. "The books in this office are regularly kept, and quarterly accounts regularly delivered to the comptroller. "Great dispatch is given to the different riders, who are, punctually sent off at the stated hours. "Soon after the arrival of a mail the letters are quickly deliv'd by a runner always in time for answers to be returned in course; this regulation gives much satisfaction to the publick.
"There's some matters respecting the management of this office, and attendance given, which Mr Foxcroft finds great fault with. As he is on the spot, he will check the acting Post Master and his clerk, and put every thing on a proper footing, I therefore make no mention further of the New York office, only to note the dayly businefs there done, and to add a remark or two of Mr Antills. "Mr Antill wishes that the letters sent from England by the Packet cou'd be sorted in London, each city its different bundle viz. N. York, Phila, Boston, Quebec, Montreal, &c.; his reason for mentioning this wish is, that it often does happen that there is not time to afsort them before the departures of the different riders or at least of some of them, by which means they lie in the office untill the next post day which makes eight days difference to Canada for instance when the Packets arrive on Wednesday forenoon. "He further says, that instead of charging this office (which tho' called the General Office, is to all intents and purposes managed and conducted as are all the other offices, and in like manner, accountable once in every quarter to the Comptroller) with the letters from England, the Comptroller shou'd be made accountable for them, and he shou'd charge each office with the English bills. "I remark that there's a column in every deputys accounts for mifsent and forwarded letters, Mr Antill can easily take credit for all the letters charged to his office, which he forwards to other offices as heretofore." | ||||||||||||||||
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| [Commentary by the Editor, John Edwards. Extracts reproduced from "The Hugh Finlay Journal", published by Frank H Norton, Brooklyn Mercantile Library Association, 1867.] | ||||||||||||||||
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