History of the Post-Office Packet Service between the years 1793-1815 Compiled from Records, Chiefly Official

About this book

Arthur H. Norway’s work is a meticulously compiled history of Britain’s Post‑Office Packet Service from 1793 to 1815, drawn chiefly from official records. The book opens with a series of acknowledgments to local Cornish figures who supplied illustrations of notable packet ships, followed by a detailed contents list that maps the narrative across thirteen chapters, an index, and a list of illustrations. The introductory chapter immediately situates the reader in Falmouth, describing the town’s transformation from a modest hillside settlement into the hub of the packet system, and lamenting the loss of its once‑vibrant records. Norway frames the service as a “fighting service” whose stories have been neglected, promising a thorough account of its vessels, crews, commerce, and the bustling life that surrounded each arrival and departure.

Written in a formal, nineteenth‑century scholarly voice, the text combines exhaustive data, such as passenger fares, cargo values, and crew numbers, with vivid anecdotes about town life, naval engagements, and contemporary observers. Its style is dense yet richly descriptive, reflecting the period’s penchant for comprehensive documentation. Readers with an interest in maritime history, postal and communication networks, or the social and economic fabric of Georgian‑Era Britain will find the book rewarding, especially those who appreciate primary‑source‑driven narratives that illuminate a forgotten facet of the nation’s naval heritage.