Comment on 20.3.1802
Around 1800 there were post offices in most cities. Letters from Denmark could both be sent to the post office in Rome and be delivered by messenger, as was apparently the case for most letters. For instance, see the letter of 16.8.1805 from C.F.F. Stanley to Thorvaldsen that mentions a postman delivering a letter.
Abildgaard’s letter of 4.10.1801, which remained at the post office over the winter, was addressed in the usual way to Thorvaldsen, cf. the address, so it is unclear why Thorvaldsen was not told about it before. See also the related article about Postal Services.
Last updated 30.01.2015