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

88 THE POSTMARKS OF THE BRITISH ISLES FROM ISJfO.
For comfort, speed, and security there were few vessels afloat in home waters to
compare with those employed on this new day and night service.
Oc
1
vJA 28 1
Fig. 556.
Fig. 567.
To carry on the Channel Islands mail service three Government steam packets
plied twice weekly between Weymouth and the islands of Jersey and Guernsey ; this
was increased in 1857 to three times a week. There was also communication by private
vessels three times weekly between Southampton and the islands, and by a postal
convention concluded with France in 1843 direct and frequent communication by private
vessels became general between the islands and the neighbouring French ports of
St. Malo, Granville, and Cherbourg. Alderney and Sark were served from Guernsey ;
to Sark letters were conveyed by boatmen, who were paid a gratuity of one halfpenny
on each letter, while Alderney was served by a sailing boat, which carried a regular mail.
One of these vessels, the Experiment, left Guernsey on Saturday afternoon the i6th
March, 1850, for the island of Alderney, carrying mails and passengers. Shortly after
the vessel sailed the wind freshened strongly ahead, and by ten p.m. had increased to a
gale, which forced the master to put about and to make for port ; but in spite of his
endeavours to reach the roadstead the vessel struck on a rock about two miles from
shore and sank immediately, the master and eight passengers being drowned. The
mails, which were washed ashore, were found among the rocks, and after being dried and
carefully patched they were forwarded by another vessel. In July, 1857, it was arranged
to divide Jersey into twelve districts, on a somewhat similar plan to that adopted in
London ; they were as follows : Grouville, St. Brelade's, St. Helier's, St. John's,
St. Lawrence, St. Martin's, St. Mary's, St. Owen's, St. Peter's, St. Saviour's, and Trinity,
so that letters were sufficiently addressed if they bore after the name of the addressee
(say) "Grouville District, Jersey." On the ist January, 1870, the Channel Islands
obtained a daily communication during the winter as well as the summer ;
the total cost
for the whole service was ;£6ooo. The time occupied on a voyage to or from Guernsey
was nine hours ;
to or from Jersey twelve hours. Figs. 558-560 are types of marks in use.
' 857 U JE'RSEY
SHIPLEITER
Fig. 668. Fig. 569. Fig, 560. Used on Letters forwarded by private
ships on non-mail days.
The steam service to the Isle of Man commenced in 1831, when a contract was
made with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, which agreed to convey the mails
between Liverpool and Douglas each way, three times a week in summer and twice a
week in winter, for the sum of ^^850 per annum ; but during the summer the company's
vessels ran more frequently than required by their contract, and carried mails on every
voyage. In i860 steam vessels began plying between Liverpool and Ramsey during the
summer season, and the opportunity was taken of forwarding mails by these vessels, the
company being paid .£100 a year for their conveyance. Douglas was the head office of