office until the last week in November. For a while it came to Groton
by the way of Leominster, certainly a very indirect route. This fact
appears from a letter written to Judge Dana, by the Postmaster-General,
under date of December 18, 1800, apparently in answer to a request to
have the mail brought directly from Boston. In this communication the
writer says:--

It appears to me, that the arrangement which has been made for
carrying the mail to Groton is sufficient for the accommodation of
the inhabitants, as it gives them the opportunity of receiving their
letters regularly, and with despatch, once a week. The route from
Boston, by Leominster, to Groton is only twenty miles farther than by
the direct route, and the delay of half a day, which is occasioned
thereby, is not of much consequence to the inhabitants of Groton.
If it should prove that Groton produces as much postage as Lancaster
and Leominster, the new contract for carrying the mail, which is
to be in operation on the first of October next, will be made by
Concord and Groton to Walpole, and a branch from Concord to
Marlborough.

I am, respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

JOS. HABERSHAM.


The amount of postage received from the office, after deducting the
necessary expenses, including the postmaster's salary, was, for the
first year after its establishment, about twelve dollars, or three
dollars for three months. In the year 1802 it was thirty-six dollars, or
nine dollars for three months, a large proportional increase. At this