35 2 OLD AND KEW EDINBURGH. [North Brid~c
Neaves was to be delivered, the house was filled in
every quarter; and to those who remember it the
bill of the last performance may not be without
~~ -
and a farewell address from the pen of Lord 1 Afm which hlr. JVyndhanr wifl DelPxr
A FAREWELL ADDRESS.
To k follmd by the Laughable Farce oj
HIS LAST LEGS.
Felix O?Callaghan, a man of genius, by Mr. Wyndhaminterest.
THEATRE ROYAL., EDINBURGH.
Sole Lessee, R. H. Wyndham, 95, Princes Street.
Final Closinr of this Theatre
Charles, i y Mr. Irving-Mr. Rivers, by Mr. Errser
Jones-Dr, Banks, by Mr. Foote-John, by Mr. R.
Saker--Thomas, by Mr. Davis-Mrs. Montague, by
Miss Nicol-Tulia. by Miss Tones-Mrs. Bank, by Mrs. - . -
On Wednesda; kay zgth, 1859. I E. Jones-Betty, by Miss S:Davis.
ME. CLINCH AND DIRS. YATES AS THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF BXAGANZA. (AfterKny.)
The Performance will commence with the celebrated
Comedy written by Tom l?aylor and Charles Reade, Esq:.,
entitled
MASKS AND FACES.
Sir Charles Pomander, by Mr. Wyndham.
Triplet, by Mr. Edmund Glover, Theatre Royal, Glasgow-
Ernest Vane, by Mr. E. D. Lyons-Colley Cibber, by
Mr, Foote-Quin, by Mr. Errser Jones-Snarl, by Mr.
Fisher-Call Boy, Mr. R. Saker-Soaper, by Mr. Irving
-Humdon, by Mr. Vahdenhaff-Colander, by Mr.
Tames-Burdoch, by Mr. Carroll.
Kitty Clive, by Miss M. Davis-Mn. Triplet, by Mrs.
E. Jones-Roxalana, by Miss M. Foote-Maid, by
Miss Thompson - Mabel Vane, bx Miss Sophia
Miles.
Peg WoBngton, by Mrs. Wyndham.
A ffer which the Nafional Drama of
CRAMOND BRIG.
lames I.:, King of ScotZand by Mr. G. Melv21e.
Jock Howieson, by Mr. Fisher-Birkie of that Ilk, by Mr.
Rogerson-Murdoch, by Mr. Wallace-Officer, by Mr.
Banks-Grime, by Mr. Douglas-Tam Maxwell, by Mr.
Davis-Tibbie Howieson, by Miss Nicol-Marion, by
Miss M. Davis, in which character she will sing the
incidental song,
?A Kiss ahint fk Door!?
To Conclude with a Moving and Removing Valedictory
Sketch,
Mr. Wjmdham, by himev-Mrs. Wyndham, by AcrseZf
Spirit of the Past, Miss Nicol-Spirit of the Future, Miss
THE NATIONAL ASTHEM BY THE ENTIRE COMPANY.
Davia.
THE OLD THEATRE ROYAL, IN PROCESS PP DEMOLITION.
CHAPTER XLV.
EAST SIDE OF THE NORTH BRIDGE (cotttinued).
Memorabilia of the General Post Office-First Postal System in Scotland-First Communication with Ireland-Sanctions given by the Scotti, I
Parliament-Expenses of the Establishment at various Periods-The Horse Posts-Violation of Letter Bags-Casualties of the Period-Tht
First Stage Coach-Peter Williamsop-The Various Post Office Buildings-The Waterloo Place Office-Royal Arms Removed-New Office
Built-S&C and Fiscal Details.
THE demolition of the old theatre was proceeded
with rapidly, and with it passed away Shakespeare
Square, on its southern and eastern sides, a semirectangle,
alike mean in architecture and disreputable
in character; and on the sites of both,
and of Dingwall?s ancient castle, was erected the
present General Post Office, a magnificent building,
prior to describing which we propose to give some
memorabilia of the development of that institution
in Edinburgh.
The year 1635 was the epoch of a regular postal
system in Scotland, under the Scottish ministry of
Charles I. This systeni was probably limited to
the road between Edinburgh and Berwick, the
main object being to establish a regular communication
with London. Mails were despatched once
and sometimes twice weekly, and the postage of a
single letter was 6d. From Rushworth?s ? Collec-
45
tions? it appears that in that year Thomas Wither
ings, his Majesty?s Postmasterof England and foreign
parts, was directed to adjust ?one running post
or two, to run day and night between Edinburgh
and London, to go thither and back again in six
days, and to take with them all such letters as shall
be directed to any post town on the said road.?
Three years after these posts became unsafe ; the
bearers were waylaid and robbed of their letters,
for political reasons.
In 1642, on the departure of the Scottish troops
to protect the Ulster colonists, and put down the
rebellion in Ireland, a line of posts was established
between Edinburgh and Port Patrick, where John
M?Caig, the postmaster, was allowed by the Privy
Council to have a ?post bark?; and in 1649 the
posts were improved by Cromwell, who removed
many, if not all the Scottish officials j and in 1654