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W: Mr. Charlie, the other day you told me something a bout your hobby, stamp collecting. I wonder if you could tell me now about the development or history of postal transport... the way letters are carried?
M: Definitely. I’ll be glad to. To start with, you should remember that there were developments in two directions: in the way that letters were carried, and delivered inside Britain and in methods that were used in carrying letters abroad to other countries.
W: Perhaps you could begin by describing the methods used inside Britain?
M: Right. From the earliest times messages were carried on foot by messengers for kings and other important people. Then in the 13th century there was the first big development—horses were used to carry letters for the king. It wasn’t until much later that ordinary people, the public, also used horses to carry their letters. While this was happening inside the country, sailing ships were being used in the 17th century to carry letters from Britain to European countries. The next development in carrying letters abroad wasn’t until 1819 when steam ships were used instead of sailing ships.
W: You mentioned that horses were used in Britain. I remember reading somewhere that coaches and horses were used as well.
M: Yes, that was the next bit of progress. That started in 1784. Four horses were used to pull the coach. But then, in 1830, there was something faster still—rail ways. It was in that year that steam trains were used for the first time to carry the Royal Mail. Later, in the country districts, bicycles were used to carry the mail, the first ones were used in 1880.
W: So far, everything you’ve said took place before 1900. What were the most important development in the 20th century?
M: That’s easy! In Britain, it was the use of motor cars. Cars were first used to carry letters in London in 1902, But in carrying letters abroad, the most important development was the use of aeroplanes. The world’s first air mail service started from London in 1911.
W: Thanks a lot. That’s most interesting.