href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@37238@[email protected]#CHAPTER_IX" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">CHAPTER IX

153 Thomas Allen Stayner deputy postmaster general—Restrictions of general post office relaxed—Grievances of newspaper publishers—Opinion of law officers of the crown that postmaster general's stand is untenable—Consequences. CHAPTER X 173 The beginnings of the postal service in the Maritime provinces—Complaints of newspaper publishers—Reception given to imperial act to remedy colonial grievances. CHAPTER XI 193 Continuance of agitation in the Canadas for control of the post office—Much information obtained by committees of legislatures—Difficulty in giving effect to reforms. CHAPTER XII 212 Durham's report on the post office—Effects of rebellion of 1837 on the service—Ocean steamships to carry the mails—The Cunard contract—Reduction of Transatlantic postage. CHAPTER XIII 230 Diminution of powers of deputy postmaster general—Commission on post office appointed—Its report—Efforts to secure reduction of postal charges. CHAPTER XIV 243 Continuation of account of post office in Maritime provinces—Departmental inquiry into conditions—Agitation for reduced postage. CHAPTER XV 263 Reversal of attitude of British government on post office control—Instructions to Lord Elgin—Provincial postal conference—Control of post office relinquished to colonies. CHAPTER XVI 273 Provincial administration of the post office—Reduced postage—Railway mail service—Arrangements with United States. CHAPTER XVII 284 Canadian ocean mail service—Want of sympathy of British government therewith. CHAPTER XVIII 302 Canadian ocean mail service (cont.)—Series of disasters to Allan line steamers. CHAPTER XIX 316 Postal service of Manitoba, the North-West Provinces and British Columbia—Summary of progress since Confederation. CHAPTER XX 333 The post office in Newfoundland. INDEX 347

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PORTRAITS

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HISTORY OF THE POST OFFICE
IN BRITISH NORTH AMERICA

CHAPTER I

Benjamin Franklin relates that when the news reached America in 1763 that peace had been concluded between England and France, he made preparations to visit Canada, for the purpose of extending to it the postal service of the North American colonies, and that the joy bells were still ringing when he left Philadelphia on his journey northward. Franklin has universal fame as a philosopher and statesman, but is perhaps less widely known as one of the deputies of the postmaster general of England. He had, however, a long and useful connection with the post office a quarter of a century before this time. He was appointed postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737,[1] and for many years combined the duties of this office with that of newspaper publisher. He became deputy postmaster general in 1753.[2] Canada had been in the hands of the British since 1760, and until a regular system of government was established in 1764, its affairs were administered by a military council, which among other matters provided a rudimentary postal service. The merchants of Quebec were desirous of a regular post office; and, owing to Franklin's promptness, the post office was the first of the institutions of government which was placed on a settled footing after Canada became a British province.