Before Stamps had been invented in 1840, this is how a letter would have looked. This one is a ‘free’ meaning that the person sending it had some kind of priveledge not to have to pay for his or her mail. This letter was posted in 1835 and was addressed to an officer in the 46th Regiment of Foot, who were obviously stationed at Maghera during that year. This letter was addressed to Eustace Tennyson d’ Eyncourt, who was the youngest and favourite son of Charles Tennyson d’Eyncourt, a Member of Parliament, and it was he who posted the letter to his son. Does that name sound familiar? Eustace Tennyson d’Eyncourt, was the cousin of Alfred Tennyson, later Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson.. he of ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ fame. Unfortunately, this young army Captain died in Barbados in 1842.