Page 107 - 201710_BWISC-Convention_Booth_BWI-MaritimeMail
P. 107
INTER ISLAND MAIL
Two entires, both of them almost impossible to read, sent well before the abolition of the
Colonial Packet Office in Barbados and the introduction of independent Colonial Post Offices in the
1850’s and 1860. The first was written from Barbados addressed to a lady c/o the Colonial Bank in
Grenada on 21st January 1844. It was nominated to go on the steamer of 25th January which was
the “Teviot”, which arrived in Grenada a day later. The second was written in Antigua on 2nd
March 1845 and was addressed to Grenada. “Thames” left St Thomas on the 5th and arrived in
Grenada on the 8th via Antigua.
The main interest of these two letters lies in the rate. Both were charged the inter island
rate, as expected, of 4d; but then both had an additional charge of 2d making 6d in total. This is
presumably an inland charge but as the Colonial Packet Office in Barbados was still in existence it
raises the question whether Id might be due to the despatching office and whether inter-colonial
accounting was in existence through Barbados.
