This letter, addressed George T Lamb Esq Bedford Row London June 13th 1821 has only two postal markings. The Exeter dated mileage mark in red ink on the reverse, and then a single rim crowned FREE date stamp. This Free Frank postmark in red ink was a London morning duty stamp applied when the letter reached London two days after it was lodged in Exeter. This type with a single rim, and the day either side of the month, and the year in a straight line at the bottom was in use from 1812 to 1839.
The mileage marks are a specialised study in themselves, and have a long history. Beginning in 1784 new postal rates were introduced which made the distance a letter was carried more important, and the mileage from London began to appear in Provincial Postmarks. The receiving office clerk (knowing how far he was from London) added this to the mileage in the stamp of the sending town and was able to check the charge.
Over the years they were in force, many changes occurred, and varieties with the mileage number after, above or below the office name. The mileages were often inaccurate so in 1797 it was ordered that mileage marks should be removed from the office name stamps, but not all were removed. Then, in 1801 postal rates were altered again and mileage marks came back into general use. This example of Exeter appears to show as 178 or 176, though the actual listing in Alan Robertson’s book is 171.
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As a member of parliament Sir Laurence Palk, was entitled to the Franking Privilege and so was able to send and receive mail free of charge. There were strict regulations regarding this Franking and he had to sign the bottom left side of the letter, and at the top had to write the date and place of posting. This letter clearly follows these regulations, LAURENCE V PALK Exeter June thirteenth 1821.
The letter was endorsed top left inside by the receiver of the letter, “1821 June 15th ansd”
It is written on heavy cream paper with a large watermark with a crown and frame including a posthorn and the letters C B intertwined underneath
Now to the content of the letter, which is very easy to read, and in very good condition for a letter that is more than 200 years old.
My Dear Sir
Cartwright will remit to the account of the trustees I believe next Friday £2000 and Wm Abraham will receive the Mamhead rents the latter end of next week and I of course will send up the amount as soon after as possible. There will then be an ample fund in the Bankers hands to meet all demands.
I hope your father will receive from me, as my apology for not acknowledging the receipt of his letter, reporting the transactions in the House of Lords in the Clinton Cause my being so much alarmed on account of Lady Palk’s illness and so much engaged at her bedside for these last four days. She is now, I am happy to say better, and I trust will shortly be recovered
I am yours very sincerely
Laurence V Palk
HALDON June 13th 1821
I am not certain, but I am informed “Mrs Dick” is Dead.
Note: on the right hand side panel it is endorsed
13 June 1821 Sir L V.Palk at Lees & Co, hereon 21 June
This is a short letter Written from Baron Palk’s home, but has surprising points of interest that were not immediately obvious and needed research. Beginning with the writer of the letter, Sir Laurance V Palk who was born about 1766. The following information is based on an extract from the entry on Wikipedia.
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Sir Lawrence Palk, 2nd Baronet (c.1766 – 20 June 1813) was a British politician and landowner. A member of parliament for Ashburton, a “rotten borough” controlled by his family, from 1787 to 1796, and then at the 1796 British general election Palk stood for Ashburton and the county seat of Devon. Elected to both seats, he chose to sit for Devon, leaving his cousin Walter Palk to take the family position at Ashburton.
(The so-called “rotten boroughs” did not have elected representatives, but belonged to wealthy families. These were all swept away in the 1832 Reform Act of Parliament.)
While William Pitt the Younger’s government had hoped Palk would support them, he remained independent as representative for Devon. He voted against the Bank Restriction Act 1797 and the Land Tax Perpetuation Act 1798. With the Irish Rebellion of 1798 ongoing, he also opposed the idea that British militia would be sent across to help stem the rebellion. He did this despite being a major in the South Devon Militia, and added in his speech the addendum that if his unit was ordered to Ireland he would go.
He represented Devon from 1796 to 1812.Palk was predominantly independent in his political dealings, although a supporter of Henry Addington. He was able to hold his seat for Devon in Parliament until ill health forced his retirement. Suffering badly from gout, Palk chose not to contest the 1812 United Kingdom general election and died in the following year.
A shy man beset by illness, Palk was nonetheless described positively in 1809 by the diarist Joseph Farington;
“his countenance had all the expression of good humour, and his deportment was simple and unassuming.”
Palk, who owned and invested in a large part of Torquay, was rumoured to have an annual income of £15,000 (equivalent to £1,047,518 in 2025).
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Second: The Clinton case referred to in the letter:-
In 1821 the House of Lords heard one of its most famous property law cases Cholmondeley v Lord Clinton. He was Sir Lawrence V Palk Baronet, 1st Lord Haldon, and as such he would have been in the House of Lords for this debate.
The Dispute; The Marquis of Cholmondeley sued Robert Cotton St. John (Lord Clinton) over the rights to valuable mortgaged estates.
The Legal Outcome; The House of Lords ruled that because Lord Clinton had held the property for over 20 years, the statute of limitations barred the original owners from reclaiming it.
The Legacy; This established a vital legal precedent regarding “adverse possession” (often called squatter’s rights) and time limits on equity claims.
Third : Palk made no contributions in parliament until 1792 when on 1 March he voted against sending an ultimatum to Russia on its occupation of Ochakiv. Out of interest, I did a websearch and found that astonishingly, it is in Ukraine.
quote:
Ochkiv (commonly spelled Ochakiv or historically Ochakov) is a small coastal city and seaport located in the Mykolaiv Raion of Mykolaiv Oblast in southern Ukraine.
Region: Southern Ukraine, inside Mykolaiv Oblast.
Body of water: Situated on the Dnieper-Bug Estuary, near the mouth of the Dnieper River and the Southern Bug River delta.
Surroundings: Located roughly southeast of Odessa and southwest of the regional hub of Mykolaiv.
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It seems that history is being repeated in the 21st century.
Fourth: the recipient of the letter, George T Lamb Esq Bedford Row London
He was also a member of parliament, and held these positions, the seat of WESTMINSTER 3 Mar. 1819 – 1820, then later, DUNGARVAN 18 Feb. 1822 - 2 Jan. 1834.
He held the office of Under-secretary. of state for Home affairs Nov. 1830 until his death.
References: “Herewith my Frank” J W Lovegrove
"Great Britain Post Roads, Post Towns and Postal Rates 1635-1839" by Alan W Robertson”
Wikipedia for background information.