From Joseph Priestley to John Adams, 29 November 1794
From Joseph Priestley
Northumberland Nov 29. 1794
Dear Sir
You are indeed very kind in expressing your wish to hear from me, when all I can do is to ask favours. As You mention your readiness to assist me with respect to arrangements in the Post Office, I will take the liberty to inform you of our situation in that respect.
The state Post goes no farther than from Philadelphia to Reading, and Mr Williamson of the [Genasee] undertakes to carry the letters farther.1 Btween both we now pay 1s. 6d for a single letter, and 1 1/2 Cent for a News paper; whereas a while ago the former charge was 1S, and the latter 1 Cent— Besides the Post Master at Reading is much complained of for inattention to the duties of his place, and to my certain experience justly.
Now I am persuaded that if the state could undertake to bring the letters to this place, if the post was regular, and the charge moderate, it would answer very well. At present the charge is so high, and the conveyance so uncertain, and tedious, that all persons take every opportunity of sending letters by private hands; when, if the case was different, they would all prefer the regular post. But tho there should for the present be some loss to the state, it would not be of long continuance, and the gain in one place should compensate for the loss in another. Could we have a Coach, or a coachée, to carry parcells, and passengers, as well as letters, it would be a great convenience and benefit to the country, and in time would pay for any reasonable expence attending it. We sometimes talk of petitioning the legislature on the subject. Could you give us any assistance in the business, you would confer a great obligation on us who are so much interested in the conveyance of letters and small parcells.
It is, indeed, Sir as you observe an aweful crisis in which we live. What I think on the subject you will see in the Sermon to which I referred you. One extreme naturally produces another. But I flatter myself that since truth and right have a great advantage over their opposites, the present conflict of opinions, and of arms, will terminate in a better system than any that has hitherto prevailed. But the struggle I fear will be extensive and dreadful Happy they who, looking to an overruling providence, can calmly wait the issue, endeavouring to lessen prejudice and violence on all sides, and contribute what they can to enlighten the minds, and improve the morals of their fellow creatures.
With the greatest respect, I am, / Dear Sir, / yours sincerely
J Priestley
RC (Adams Papers).
1. The Postal Act of 20 Feb. 1792 had established the U.S. Post Office as a cabinet department, but regulatory oversight and timely delivery of mail remained a challenge. Stage coaches traveled the main post road from Maine to Virginia three times per week, and southern routes depended on individual riders. Priestley wrote in the months before the new terms of the Postal Act of 8 May 1794 took effect, which largely addressed his complaints. That legislation made the U.S. Post Office a permanent federal entity, authorizing the appointment of letter carriers and the distribution of magazines and pamphlets. The act also barred private competitors from delivering mail (, 9:95; Carl H. Scheele, A Short History of the Mail Service, Washington, D.C., 1970, p. 66, 67; Stephen W. Stathis, Landmark Legislation, 1774–2012: Major U.S. Acts and Treaties, 2d edn., Los Angeles, Calif., 2014, p. 18). See also Descriptive List of Illustrations, No. 8, above.