Letter complaining about delay in postal delivery in Victorian London-8 May 1881(victorianlondon.org)

    I believe the inhabitants of London are
under the impression that Letters posted for delivery within the metropolitan
district commonly reach their destination within, at the outside, three hours of
the time of postage. I myself, however, have constantly suffered with
irregularities in the delivery of letters, and I have now got two instances of
neglect which I should really like to have cleared up.

    I posted a letter in the Gray's Inn post
office on Saturday at half-past 1 o'clock, addressed to a person living close to
Westminster Abbey, which was not delivered till 9 o'clock the same evening; and
I posted another letter in the same post office, addressed to the same place,
which was not delivered till past 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Now, Sir, why is
this? If there is any good reason why letters should not be delivered in less
than eight hours after their postage, let the state of the case be understood:
but the belief that one can communicate with another person in two or three
hours whereas in reality the time required is eight or nine, may be productive
of the most disastrous consequences.

   I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,

Regulations
of the Twopenny Post Office.- The principal office is at the General Post
Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand There are, besides, upwards of 400 receiving
houses for letters, both in town and country. There are seven collections and
deliveries of letters in town daily, and five deliveries daily at all places in
the environs of London, situate within a circle of three miles' distance from
the head establishment in St. Martin's le Grand, that having been determined as
the limits of the Post Office. The country delivery, as it is called, extends to
a distance of twelve miles from the metropolis, and most places within that
limit have four despatches and four deliveries daily (Sundays excepted). The
hours by which letters should be put into the receiving houses in town for each
delivery are as follow - For delivery in town,
Over night by eight o'clock, for the first delivery.
Morning by eight o'clock, for the second delivery.
Morning by ten o'clock, for the third delivery.
Morning by twelve o'clock, for the fourth delivery.
Afternoon by two o'clock, for the fifth delivery.
Afternoon by four o'clock, for the sixth delivery.
Afternoon by six o'clock, for the seventh delivery. For delivery in the country,
The preceding evening by six o'clock, for the first delivery,
Morning by eight o'clock, for the second delivery.
Morning by twelve o'clock, for the third delivery.
Afternoon by two o'clock, for the fourth delivery.

Mogg's New Picture of London and Visitor's Guide
to it Sights, 1844 

   
London is divided into 8 postal districts, in which the number of deliveries
varies from 12 to 6 daily, between 7.30 a.m. and 7.45 p.m.
    The correct initials of the postal district in
addition to the address will ensure the early delivery of a letter.
        E.C. Eastern Central. St.
Martin's-le-Grand.
        W.C. Western Central. 126,
Holborn and Charing Cross.
        W. Western. 3, Vere-street,
Oxford-street.
        NW. North Western. 28,
Eversholt-st., Camden-Town.
        SW. South Western. 8,
Buckingham-gate, Pimlico.
        SE. South Eastern. 9,
Blackman-street, Borough.
        E. Eastern. 817,
Commercial-road.
        N. Northern. 46,
Essex-road, Islington.
    Take care to post before ¼ to 8, 10, 12, and 2, 4, 6, 8, in
one of the Iron Pillar Boxes (first erected 1855) on the kerb stones of the
leading thoroughfares.
    Letters posted at the Receiving-houses in London before 6 at
night are delivered the same evening at all places within a circle of three
miles from the General Post Office; or if posted before 5, they are delivered in
the environs the same evening.
    There is no postal delivery in London on Sundays.
    Letters for the night mails out of London must be posted
before 5.30 p.m., in pillar boxes and branch offices; at the General Post Office
they are received without extra payment as late as 6 p.m.: from 6 to 7 with an
extra 1d. stamp; up to 7.15 with an extra 2d. in stamps, up to
7.30 with an extra 3d. in stamps, and up to 7.45 with an extra 6d. in
stamps.
    Letters for the day mails must be posted before 3 am.
    Post-cards, ½d. for the United Kingdom, and id for
abroad, are a very useful means of correspondence.
    The rates for postage are 1d. for 1 oz. and under; 1½d.
over 1 oz. and under 2 oz., and increasing proportionately  ½d. for
every 2 oz. or part of 2 oz. up to 12 oz.
    Newspapers and book-post packets must be left open at the
ends. Postage ½d. for every 2 oz. or part of 2 oz.
    Parcels if not exceeding …

Murray's Handbook to London As It Is, 1879

Postal Regulations
Relating Specially to the London District. — London and its environs are
divided into Eight POSTAL DISTRICTS, Viz.:
Eastern Central E.C.
Eastern E.
Northern N.
North Western N.W.
South Eastern S.E.
South Western S.W.
Western W.
Western Central W.C.
By the addition of the initials of the Postal District to
the address of a letter for London or its neighbourhood the work of the
Post-office is facilitated.
TOWN DELIVERIES—The portion of each district within
about 3 miles of the General Post Office is designated the town delivery, and
the remainder the suburban delivery.
Within the limits of the Eastern Central District there
are daily twelve, and within the town limits of the other districts eleven
deliveries :—The first, including all Inland, Colonial, and Foreign letters
arriving in sufficient time, begins about 7.20 a.m., and, except on Mondays, or
on other days when there are large arrivals of letters from abroad, is generally
completed, throughout London, by 9 o’clock. In the E.C. district the second
delivery begins at about 8.30 a.m., and includes the correspondence received by
night mail from Ireland and by the north mails arriving at 6.40 and 8 a.m.; and
the third delivery in this district, corresponding with the second delivery in
other districts is made at about 10 a.m., and includes the letters collected in
London generally at 8.45 a.m and the correspondence by the Scotch mail arriving
about 9 a.m. The next nine deliveries are made in every district hourly, and
include all letters reaching the General Post Office or the district offices in
time for each despatch. The last delivery, extending to all the districts,
begins at about 7.45 p.m.
Each delivery within the town limits occupies about an
hour.
The provincial day mails are due at various times, and
letters arc included in the next delivery after their arrival. The day mails
from Ireland, France, and the Continent generally and the letters received from
Brighton and other towns…