To the Secretary of the Post-office.

We the undersigned the principal inhabitants of the village of Down in Kent & its neighbourhood, respectfully request your attention to the arrangement for the delivery our letters. Although but a small place we receive an average from 50 to 60 letters & newspapers &c. daily.— A letter posted by general post in London we receive not until after 9 oclock the next morning, which is almost too late to act on that day. But our chief grievance is that a letter written in any part of Great Britain (except a few places in the South), say on a Monday, is not delivered here till past 9 on the Wednesday morning; such letters lying 23 hours at Bromley, only six miles distant.⁴ Our hopes for many months have been raised by constant reports of some improvement; but the present result & only change is that the Down Postman delivers all letters in Farnborugh, & our delivery has been delayed a full half-hour.—⁵

By a change granted us a few years ago, our letters leave this place at one oclock, by which means they get to London in time to be sent out by the general post of the same day, & are delivered within London on that night; we most earnestly pray that this arrangement may not be disturbed.⁶

Hoping that you will consider our case favourably | Sir | Your obedient servants