The History of the Postmarks of the British Isles from 1840 to 1876 - John Hendy (1909)

CHAPTER XIII.
HOME PACKET SERVICE.
The introduction of cheap postage and the consequent great increase ol correspondence,
taken in conjunction with the rapid improvements in steam navigation, wrought an
immense change in the condition of the various small islands round the British coast.
Before this period there was very little intercourse between the islanders and the rest of
the world, and before steam vessels were employed to trade with the islands sailing
vessels were delayed by contrary winds, which sometimes baffled them for months at a
stretch. But to employ steam vessels to convey the mails between the mainland and the
islands was a costly undertaking. The very material reduction of the Post Office
revenue, which followed the adoption of the general Penny Postage rate, had compelled
the Post Office authorities to consider whether the amount likely to be derived from
postage would cover the expense of the conveyance of a mail, or whether, as in the case
of guaranteed posts, the inhabitants of the islands should contribute to the expense of
the service. It was found that in nearly every instance the establishment of a regular
mail packet could not be maintained except at a heavy charge to the revenue, and
accordingly it was generally refused except to the larger islands.
The most important of these services in home waters was that between Great
Britain and Ireland, which has always been looked upon as more of a national object
than merely the means of postal communication. Govei'nment packets for the conveyance
of mails and passengers to Ireland had been in existence at Holyhead from time
immemorial, and similar packets were at later periods established at other stations, so
that in 1846 there were no less than four distinct services performed by a fleet of twenty
steam vessels plying between Milford Haven and Waterford, Liverpool and Kingstown,
Donaghadee and Port Patrick, and Holyhead and Kingstown. By the opening of the
Chester and Holyhead Railway in May, 1848, Holyhead became the only point of
embarkation for mails ; and by 1850 not only had the three first-named mail packets
been removed from their stations, but tenders were invited for the performance of the
service between Holyhead and Kingstown. The contract was secured by the City of
Dublin Steam Packet Company, who agreed to perform the service for;£25,ooo a year.
The service, however, was far from satisfactory, and negotiations were opened with a
view to an entirely new scheme, with the result that in the year 1859 an arrangement
was made between the Government, the London and North Western, and tlie Chester
and Holyhead Railway Companies, and the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, by
which a much improved mail service was to be maintained between London and Dublin;
this came into operation on the ist October, i860. According to the agreement the City
of Dublin Company were to build four paddle-wheel steamers, and the eighth clause
the contract specified that these vessels should be specially constructed so as to give
sufficient accommodation for the sorting of mails.OT voyage. These packets have been
known from the beginning of the service as the " Holyhead and Kingstown Packet."
Figs. 556, 557 are types of stamps used on board.
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