Packet Service.

In the early colonial period transatlantic news and mail usually came aboard merchant vessels. Caribbean islands received the news first, as ship captains sailed there first, then to the North or South American mainland colonies. To improve communications with its colonies during the War of Spanish Succession, England established a packet service to the West Indies in 1702. Packets were small armed vessels that carried only the mail. During the initial phases of the French and Indian War, the English government began a direct packet service to the North American mainland. In 1755 a monthly packet commenced operations between Falmouth, England, and New York City; by 1763 service had extended to Boston and Charleston. Intercolonial packet routes also linked such places as Charleston with Pensacola and St. Augustine, Florida.

Problems on Land.

After a packet docked at a port, post riders delivered the mail to...