ions, but rather with the services between branch post offices
and the chief post office. The service from the chief post office to the
railway station is a further service.

[670] In France heavy parcels are not accepted at post offices, but must
be taken to a railway station. _Vide supra_, p. 206.

[671] The general proportion of parcels to letters for the United
Kingdom as a whole is 1 in 40; but on some of the remoter rural routes
the proportion of parcels frequently rises to 1 in 20, and sometimes to
more than 1 in 10.

[672] _Vide supra_, pp. 190 and 219.

[673] The naval operations during the present war in regard to neutral
mails have brought out clearly the essential distinction between letters
and parcels. The arguments as to the customary inviolability of mails
have been based on the idea of free communication. But parcels
containing goods, possibly contraband, e.g. rubber, obviously cannot
claim the privileges of communications, and the right of sea-power to
interfere with parcel mails has been admitted. "The Government of the
United States is inclined to regard parcels post articles as subject to
the same treatment as articles sent by express or freight in respect of
belligerent search, seizure, and condemnation."--United States Note to
Great Britain, 10th January 1916.

[674] For particulars of other Acts relating to packet postage, and of
Acts relating to Ship Letters, and to rates of postage within Ireland,
see Schedule A of 1 Vict., cap. 32. Rates for transmission within
Ireland were also fixed by 1 Vict., cap. 34 ([S] 4).

[675] _Vide supra_, p. 6, n. 1.

[676] Ibid., p. 7.

[677] _Calendar of State Papers_ (_Domestic Series_), 1625-6, p. 523.

[678] H. Joyce, _History of the Post Office_, p. 12.

[679] H. Scobell, _A Collection of Acts and Ordinances_, London, 1658,
p. 513.

[680] H. Joyce, ibid., p. 72.

[681] Ibid., p. 73.

[682] H. Scobell, ibid.

[683] _Historical Summary of Post Office Services_, London, 1911, p. 47.

[684] The number of letters still handed in to the General Post Office
was, however, quite considerable. Thus, in 1686, 60,447 ship letters
were received.--_Vide_ H. Joyce, ibid., p. 74.

[685] _London Gazette_, No. 3247, 21st-24th December 1696; cited H.
Joyce, ibid., n. 2.

[686] 9 Anne, cap. 10, [S] 16.

[687] H. Joyce, ibid., p. 329.

[688] Act of 39 Geo. III., cap. 76, [S][S] 1 and 2; H. Joyce, ibid.; J.
C. Hemmeon, _History of the British Post Office_,