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Postage Act 1837
(1 Vict c.34, 12th July 1837)

An Act for the Regulation of the Duties of Postage.
[12th July 1837.]

WHEREAS an Act was passed in the present Session of Parliament, intituled An Act to repeal the several Laws relating to the Post Office; be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in. this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That on the Day on which the recited Act shall come into operation this Act shall come into operation for providing for the Payment of the Duties of Postage.

II. And be it enacted, That the respective Rates of Postage hereinafter set forth shall be charged by Her Majesty's Postmaster General, for the Use of Her Majesty, on all Letters not specially exempted from Postage, which shall be transmitted by Post; and such Postage shall be paid as follows:-- In all Cases in which it shall be so required by the Post Office Acts, or by any Regulations made by the Postmaster General in pursuance thereof, the Postage shall be paid by the Sender on delivering the Letter to the Post Office; in other Cases it shall be optional with the Sender to pay the Postage on delivering the Letter to the Post Office; and if the Postage shall not have been paid by the Sender it shall be paid by the Person to whom the Letter is addressed, on the Delivery thereof to him; but nevertheless, if the Letter be refused, or the Party to whom it is addressed shall be dead or cannot be found, the Writer or Sender shall pay the Postage; and this Enactment shall apply to every Packet, Newspaper, and periodical Publication, and every thing whatsoever chargeable with Postage, which shall be transmitted by the Post.

III. And be it enacted, That the Rates of Inland Postage for Letters transmitted by the General Post within Great Britain, and within the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man, shall be as follows:---

For every Single Letter to a Place at any Distance from the Post Office where the Letter shall be put in ---

Miles.s.d.
Not exceeding1504
Exceeding15and not exceeding2005
203006
305007
508008
8012009
120170010
170230011
23030010
And for every 100 Miles above30001
And for every fractional Part
of a Distance of 100 Miles above
30001
And for every Letter conveyed by the Post
in any Part of Scotland by a Mail Carriage
now or hereafter established with more
than Two Wheels, an additional Rate of
0

IV. And be it enacted, That the Rates of Inland Postage for Letters transmitted by the General Post within Ireland shall be as follows:---

For every Single Letter to a Place at a Distance (computed by Irish Miles) from the Office where the Letter shall be put in ---

Miles,
Irish Measure
s.d.
Not exceeding702
Exceeding7and not exceeding1503
152504
253505
354506
455507
556508
659509
95120010
120150011
15020010
20025011
25030012
And for every 100 Miles above30001
And for every fractional Part
of a Distance of 100 Miles above
30001

V. And be it enacted, That where a Letter shall transmitted by the Post over a Distance in Great Britain, as well as over a Distance in Ireland the like Rates of Postage shall be payable for the Whole Distances both in Great Britain and Ireland as would be payable on Letters sent for the whole of such Distances within Great Britain only, in addition to the Packet Rates which may be payable for Letters transmitted between Great Britain and Ireland.

VI. And be it enacted, That the following additional Rates shall be payable for every Single Letter transmitted by Packet Boat; (videlicet,)

s.d.
Between the Ports of Portpatrick in Scotland and Donaghadee in Ireland04
Between either Holyhead or Milford Haven and any Port in Ireland02
Between Liverpool and Dublin or any other Port in Ireland08

Nevertheless no Letter sent between Great Britain and Ireland by way of Liverpool shall be charged a higher Postage than if it were sent by way of Holyhead; nor shall any Letter sent between Ireland and Great Britain, or any Place beyond the Seas, be charged with any Postage for Conveyance between Kingstown and Dublin, or between Dunmore and Waterford; nor shall any Letters between Kingstown and Dunmore and any Place in Great Britain be charged more than for the actual Distance between Kingstown and Dunmore and any such Place in Great Britain.

VII. And be it enacted, That the following further additional Rates shall be payable on every Single Letter transmitted to or from Ireland; (that is to say,)

s.d.
By way of Holyhead in respect of Menai Bridge01
By way of Conway and Chester in respect of Conway Bridge01
By way of Milford and Waterford0

VIII. And be it enacted, That the Rates for Letters transmitted by the Twopenny Post in London shall be as follows:---

s.d.
For every Letter transmitted by such Post between Places within the Limits of Delivery for the Time being of the General Post02
For every Letter transmitted by such Post between a Place within the said Limits and. any Place beyond the same, or between Places both of which are beyond the said Limits03
And for every Letter originally sent by the General Post directed to Places beyond the said Limits and delivered by the Twopenny Post, and for every Letter originally sent by the Twopenny Post and afterwards passing through the General Post, in addition to all other Rates chargeable thereon02

IX. And be it enacted, That the Rates for Letters transmitted by the Penny Post in Dublin shall be as follows:---

s.d.
For every Letter transmitted by such Post between Places within the Limits of such Penny Post01
And for every Letter transmitted between Places within the said Limits and Places beyond them, or between Places both of which are beyond the said Limits02
And for every. Letter originally sent by the General Post directed to Places beyond the Limits of the said General Post in Dublin and delivered by the Penny Post, and for every Letter originally sent by the said Penny Post, whether within the said Limits or not, and afterwards passing through the General Post, in addition to all other Rates chargeable thereon02

Nevertheless the Limits of the Twopenny and Penny Post, both of London and Dublin, as now fixed, shall be subject to such Alteration and Extension as shall from Time to Time be made by the Postmaster General.

X. And be it enacted, That every Letter transmitted by a Penny Post established, or to be established in or from or to any City, Town, or Place in the United Kingdom or other Her Majesty's Dominions (other than London or Dublin) shall (whether passing through the General Post or not) be liable to a Rate of One' Penny for Transmission by any such Post.

XI. And be it enacted, That no Letter which shall exceed the Weight of Four Ounces shall be forwarded by Twopenny or Penny Post, unless it shall have first passed, or unless it shall be afterwards to pass by the General Post.

XII. And be it enacted, That the Rates of Packet Postage for Letters transmitted by Post between the United Kingdom and Her Majesty's Colonies shall (in. addition to any Inland Postage incurred by Transmission for any Distance within the United Kingdom) be as follows; (that is to say,)

For every Single Letter

s.d.
Between the Port of Weymouth and any Port in Jersey or Guernsey03
Between any Port in Jersey and any Port in Guernsey03
Between the Port of Liverpool and any Port in the Isle of Man06
Between the Port of Falmouth and any Port in the British Dominions in North America or the West Indies13
Or between any other convenient Ports than such as are above named, from or to which the Post Office Packets may from Time to Time be dispatched.

XIII. And be it enacted, That the Rates of Foreign Postage for Letters transmitted by Post between the United Kingdom and Foreign Parts shall be as follows; (that is to say,)

For every Single Letter

s.d.
Between London and France010
Between Dovor and Calais (not to or from London)03
Between London and Germany by way of France14
Between London and Switzerland by way of France12
Between London and Spain by way of France17
Between London and the following Places by way of France; (videlicet,) Italy, Sicily, Venetian Lombardy, Malta, the Ionian Islands, Greece, Turkey, the Levant, the Archipelago, Syria, or Egypt17
Between London and Holland14
Between London and Belgium14
Between London and Switzerland18
Between London and Germany18
Between London and Denmark18
Between London and Sweden and other Parts of the North of Germany18
Between London and Spain otherwise than by way of France22
Between London and the following Countries through Belgium or Holland or Germany; (videlicet,) Italy, Sicily, Venetian Lombardy, Malta, the Ionian Islands, Greece, Turkey, the Levant, the Archipelago, Syria, or Egypt18

Nevertheless all Foreign Letters herein rated between London and a Place abroad which shall be sent to or from any Place in the United Kingdom without coming to or passing through London shall be charged as if they had been sent from or to London (Letters from or to France only excepted):

And the Rates of Foreign Postage for every Single Letter transmitted by Packet Boats exclusively shall be as follows:
s.d.
Between a Port in the United Kingdom and Lisbon or any other Port in Portugal17
Between a Port in the United Kingdom and the Town or Fortress of Gibraltar111
Between a Port in the United Kingdom and the Island of Malta, the Ionian Islands, the Kingdom of Greece, or any Port in Syria or Egypt23
Between the Town or Fortress of Gibraltar (not having been first conveyed thither from the United Kingdom) and the Island of Malta, the Ionian Islands, Greece, Syria, or Egypt08
Between a Port in the United Kingdom and the Island of Madeira18
Between a Port in the United Kingdom and any Port in the Island of Cuba in the West Indies or any Port in Columbia or Mexico21
Between any Ports in the British Possessions in the West Indies and any Port in Columbia or Mexico10
Between any Port in the United Kingdom and Brazil27
Between any Port in the United Kingdom and Buenos Ayres or any other Ports on the Continent of South America (other than Columbia, Brazil, or Mexico)25
Between any Port in the United Kingdom and any Ports in the Island of Saint Domingo13

And the foregoing Rates shall be in addition to any Inland. or other Postage for Transmission within the United Kingdom, except that Letters herein rated between London and a Place abroad shall not be charged any Inland Rate for the Distance between London and the Outport at which the Packet Boats conveying the same shall be stationed, but for the Distance any such Letters shall be conveyed to London (when going Outwards) or from London (when coming Inwards) the Inland Rates shall be payable:

Nevertheless the Inland Rates on any such Foreign Letters shall be subject to the following Reductions; (that is to say,)

For every Letter between London and France, or between London and any Country on the Continent of Europe, Malta, Sicily, the Ionian Isles, Turkey, Levant, or the Archipelago (passing through France, Belgium, Holland, or Germany, or between London and Spain otherwise than through France):

s.d.
If put in the Post Office beyond Twenty Miles from London, or delivered by the Post Office at any Place exceeding that Distance from London, on each Single Letter02
If put in the Post Office or delivered by the Post Office at any Place not exceeding twenty Miles from London, on each Single Letter01

And a proportionate Reduction in both Cases for Double, Treble, and Ounce Letters:

And for every Letter sent by Packet Boat to Portugal or Gibraltar, or the British Dominions in America or the West Indies (except Cuba and Saint Domingo), or Malta, or the Ionian Isles, or the Kingdom of Greece, Syria or Egypt, Madeira or Brazil, or received by Packet Boats from those Places, the Inland Rate for every Single Letter shall be reduced One Penny, with a proportionate Reduction for Double, Treble, and Ounce Letters; but no Reduction shall be made on Letters sent to or received from Buenos Ayres, Columbia, Mexico, Cuba, or Saint Domingo.

XIV. And for the Regulation of the Communication by Post with Foreign Countries, be it enacted, That in all Cases in which there shall be a Treaty between the Postmaster General and the Post Office of a Foreign Country for collecting and accounting for the British Postage on Foreign Letters sent by the Post from the United Kingdom to that Foreign Country, or to any other Foreign Country, the Postmaster General may, so long as the Treaty or Agreement shall continue in force, receive upon any such Foreign Letter, from the Sender, the Postage both British and Foreign in one entire Sum, and upon Foreign Letters addressed to Places within Her Majesty's Dominions may, whether there shall be any such Treaty or not, charge the Foreign Postage in addition to the British Postage, and he may account for and pay over to the Foreign Countries entitled to receive the same the Amount of all such Foreign Postage; and it shall be optional with the Sender of a Foreign Letter to a Foreign Country included in such Treaty, or to which the same shall extend, either to pay the British and Foreign Postage thereof in one entire Sum, or to send the Letter without paying any Postage either British or Foreign, or he may otherwise pay the British Postage only; and, subject to this Enactment, the Postmaster General may cause the Postage of all Letters sent out of the United Kingdom to be paid on being put into, the Post Office.

XV. And be it enacted, That the Foreign Postage marked on a Letter brought into the United Kingdom shall in all Courts of Justice and other Places be received as conclusive Evidence of the Amount of Foreign Postage payable in respect of such Letter, in addition to the British Postage, and such Foreign Postage shall be recoverable within the United Kingdom and other Her Majesty's Dominions as Postage due to Her Majesty.

XVI. And be it enacted, That the Postmaster General may at any Time reduce all or any of the British Rates of Postage on Foreign Letters to such Extent as the Lords of the Treasury shall from Time to Time direct.

XVII. And whereas it may be expedient that Packet Boats should be established to Her Majesty's Colonies and Foreign Parts where Rates of Postage have not hitherto been authorized, and at a Time when Parliament may not be sitting; be it enacted, That from the Establishment of any such Packet Boats, the Postmaster General may, with the Consent of the Lords of the Treasury, charge for all Letters conveyed by such Packet Boats to the new Packet Port the Rates payable for Letters transmitted between the United Kingdom and the Packet Port nearest to any such new Packet Port: Provided nevertheless, that in the then next Session of Parliament such Packet Rates to such new Packet Port shall be authorized by Law.

XVIII. And be it enacted, That the Postmaster General may contract for the Conveyance of Mails of Letters by British Vessels between any Places whatsoever, and may forward the same accordingly, and charge for such Conveyance the Packet Rates of Postage.

XIX. And be it enacted, That the Postmaster General may collect and receive Letters directed to any Place in the United Kingdom, or any other Place within Her Majesty's Dominions or any Foreign Countries (the Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, the Mauritius, and the East Indies excepted), and may forward the same by any Vessels, although not Packet Boats or Ships by which he shall have contracted for the Conveyance of Mails, and may charge for all Letters delivered to the Post Office for Conveyance in that Manner at the Time of such Delivery the following Rates of Postage; (that is to say,)

s.d.
For every Single Letter, except between Great Britain and Ireland, posted at the Port from which the Ship shall sail or at which she touches, a Rate of08
If posted at any other Part of the United Kingdom10
And between Great Britain and Ireland, or any Port or Place in Great Britain or Ireland, in addition to any Inland Rates, for every Single Letter08

XX. And be it enacted, That the Postmaster General may charge for every Single Letter brought into the United Kingdom by Vessels other than Packet Boats from Places within Her Majesty's Dominions, and any Kingdoms and Countries beyond the Seas (the Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, the Mauritius, and the East Indies excepted), a Sea Postage, in addition to any Inland Rates, of Eightpence.

XXI. And be it enacted, That for every Letter which shall be brought into the United Kingdom by any Vessel arriving from Ceylon, the Mauritius, the East Indies, or the Cape of Good Hope the following Sea Postage, in addition to any Inland Postage, shall be payable; (that is to say,)

s.d.
For every Letter not exceeding the Weight of Three Ounces04
If exceeding the Weight of Three Ounces10 per Ounce.

XXII. And be it enacted, That for Letters delivered to the Post Office to be sent out to Ceylon, the Mauritius, the East Indies, or the Cape of Good Hope, by Ships and Vessels other than Packet Boats, shall be payable, in addition to Inland Rates,

s.d.
For every Letter not exceeding Three Ounces a Sea Postage of02
If exceeding that Weight10 per Ounce.

XXIII. And be it enacted, That the following Persons shall have their Letters free from Sea Postage, (that is to say,) the Owners, Charterers, or Consignees (resident in the United Kingdom) of Vessels Inward-bound, and the Owners, Consignees, or Shippers of Goods on board Vessels Inward-bound; but the Letters brought by any One Vessel to any One such Person shall not collectively exceed Six Ounces in Weight (except in the Case of Letters brought by Vessels coming from Ceylon, the Mauritius, the East Indies, or the Cape of Good Hope, for an Owner, Charterer, or Consignee of such Vessel, in which Case they may be collectively Twenty Ounces in Weight); and the Owner, Charterer, or Consignee shall be described as such on the Address and Superscription, and in the Case of Owners, Shippers, or Consignees of Goods, it shall also appear by the Ship's Manifest that they have Goods on board the Vessel; and the Persons hereby exempted shall be entitled to have their Letters which corne within the above Conditions before the Master of the Vessel delivers the other Letters in his Charge to the. Post Office.

XXIV. And for encouraging Masters of Vessels not being Post Office Packets to undertake the Conveyance of Letters between Places in the United Kingdom and between the United Kingdom and Places beyond the Seas, and for regulating the Conveyance and Delivery of such Letters, be it enacted, That the Postmaster General may allow to the Masters thereof Twopence for each Letter which they shall receive from the Post Office when Outward-bound, and Twopence for each Letter which they shall deliver to the Post Office at the first Port at which they touch or arrive or with which they communicate when Inward-bound; and if from unforeseen Circumstances the Master cannot upon delivering his Letters at an Outport receive the Money to which he is entitled he shall be paid by means of an Order of the Postmaster General at such other Place as may be convenient; but the Allowance hereby provided shall not extend to Masters of Vessels bound to Ceylon, the Mauritius, the East Indies, or the Cape of Good Hope, who shall carry Post Letters outward withour being entitled to Remuneration; and every Master of a Vessel bound outward to Ceylon, the Mauritius, the East Indies, or the Cape of Good Hope shall receive on board his Vessel every Post Letter Bag tendered to him for Conveyance and having received the same shall deliver it on his Arrival at the Port or Place of his Destination without Delay; and every Master of a Vessel bound inward. shall cause all Letters on board his Vessel, except those belonging to the Owners of the Vessel or of the Goods on board which do not exceed the prescribed Weights, and except Letters exceeding the Weight of Three Ounces, to be collected, and enclosed in some Bag or other Envelope, and to be sealed with his Seal, and to be addressed to any of Her Majesty's Deputy Postmasters in Great Britain or Ireland, that they may be in readiness to send on Shore by his own Boat, or by the Pilot Boat, or by. any other safe or convenient Means, in order that the same may be delivered at the first regular Post Office which can be communicated with, and shall likewise cause all Letters exceeding the Weight of Three Ounces (except such as may be obtained by Owners, Charterers, Consignees, and Shippers of the Vessel or of the Goods on board thereof, as aforesaid) to be collected, and enclosed in some Bag, Box, or other Envelope, to be sealed and addressed as aforesaid, and shall deliver the same at the regular Port or Place where the Vessel shall report; and shall at such Port or Place sign a Declaration, in the Presence of the Person authorized by the Postmaster General at such Port or Place, who shall also sign the same; and the Declaration shall be in the Form or to the Effect following; (that is to say,)

'I A.B., Commander of the [state the Name of the Ship or Vessel], arrived from [state the Place], do, as required by Law,, solemnly declare, That I have to the best of my Knowledge and Belief delivered or caused to be delivered to the Post Office every Letter, Bag, Package, or Parcel of Letters that were on board the [state the Name of the Ship], except such Letters as are exempted by Law.'

And no Collector,, Comptroller, or principal Officer of the Customs shall permit such Vessel to report till such Declaration shall be made and produced;, and no Vessel shall be permitted by any Officer of Customs to break Bulk or to make Entry in any Port of the British Dominions until all Letters on board the same shall be delivered to the Post Office where Posts are or hereafter may be established, and from whence such Letters may be despatched by Post, except such Letters, Commissions, and other Matters and Things as are exempted by the Post Office Acts from the exclusive Privilege of the Postmaster General, and, also except all such Letters as shall: be brought by a Vessel liable to the Performance of Quarantine, all which last-mentioned Letters shall be delivered by the Persons having Possession thereof to the Persons appointed to superintend the Quarantine, that all proper Precautions may be by them taken before the Delivery thereof, and when due Care has been had therein the said Letters shall be by them despatched in the usual Manner by the Post; and the principal Officer of Customs at every Port shall search every Vessel for Letters which may be on board contrary to the, Post Office Acts, and may seize all such Letters, and forward them to the nearest Post Office, and the Officer who, shall so seize and send them shall be entitled to a Moiety of the Penalties which may be recovered for any such Offence; and in case an Officer of Her Majesty's Customs shall find a Letter superscribed as the Letter of an Owner or Charterer, or Consignee or Shipper, exceeding the Weight herein-before limited, then the Officer shall seize so many of, the Letters as shall reduce the Remainder within the proper Weight and he shall take the same to the nearest Post Office; and the Postmaster of the Place shall pay to the Officer delivering the same Two Shillings. and Sixpence for every Post Letter so seized; and the Post. master General may appoint any Person to demand from the Masters of Vessels arriving at or off a Port of the United Kingdom all Letters on board the same not exempted by the Post Office Acts, and the Master of any such Vessel shall forthwith deliver all Letters on board to such Person, on his demanding the same.

XXV. And whereas it may be expedient that certain Post Letters should be registered; be it enacted, That in case the Postmaster General shall at any Time deem it expedient that any Post Letters should be registered by the Post Office, the Postmaster General may charge for each Letter so registered such Rate of Postage, in addition to any other Rates payable under the Post Office Acts, as the Postmaster General, with the Consent of the Lords of the Treasury, shall from Time to Time direct (but such Registration shall not render the Postmaster General or the Post Office Revenue in any Manner liable for the Loss of any such Post Letters or the Contents thereof); and all registered Letters shall be delivered to the Post Office, and also be delivered by the Post Office at or between such Hours in the Day and under all such Regulations in every respect as the Postmaster General shall from Time to Time appoint, and the Postmaster General may therein require such Registration Rate to be paid on the Letter being put into the Post Office.

XXVI. And for computing the several Rates of Postage by the General Post, be it enacted, That every Post Letter (not a Foreign Letter) consisting of One Sheet or a single Piece of Paper under the Weight of One Ounce shall be charged as a Single Letter; every Letter consisting of Two Sheets or Two Pieces of Paper, or containing any Inclosure, shall be charged with Double the Rate of a Single Letter; and every Letter consisting of Three Sheets or Three Pieces of Paper, or containing Two Inclosures, shall be charged with Treble the Rate of a Single Letter; and, no Letter shall be charged at a higher, Rate than a Treble Letter, unless it be One Ounce in Weight, and in that Case, whether it be a Single or Double or Treble Letter, it shall be charged for One Ounce Four Times the Postage of a Single Letter, and for every Quarter of an Ounce beyond that Weight the Postage of a Single Letter; and all additional Rates of Postage shall be chargeable in like Manner: And the Postage of Foreign Letters shall be computed thus;--- Letters between the United Kingdom and France, or between the United Kingdom and any other Country, Island, or Place, passing through France, shall be charged for every Letter consisting of One single Piece of Paper not exceeding One Ounce in Weight; and for any Letter, whatever may be the Number of Inclosures, not exceeding One Quarter of an Ounce in Weight, the Postage of a Single Letter; and for every Letter containing One Inclosure only, and not exceeding One Ounce in Weight, the Postage of a Double Letter; and for every Letter containing more than One Inclosure, whatever the Number of such Inclosures may be, exceeding One Quarter of an Ounce, but not exceeding One Half of an Ounce in Weight, the Postage of a Double Letter; and for every such last-mentioned Letter exceeding Half an Ounce and not exceeding One Ounce in Weight the Postage of a Treble Letter; and for every such Letter exceeding One Ounce in Weight the Postage of Four Single Letters; and for every Quarter of an Ounce above that Weight the Postage of a Single Letter: And the Postage of all other Foreign Letters shall be charged and computed thus;--- for every Single Letter not exceeding the Weight of an Ounce a Single Postage; for every Letter containing One Inclosure only Double the Postage of a Single Letter; and for every Treble Letter Treble the Postage of a Single Letter; and for every Ounce in Weight Four Times the Postage of a Single Letter; and for every Quarter of an Ounce above that Weight the Postage of a Single Letter: And with respect both to British and Foreign Letters, all Merchants Accounts, Bills of Exchange, Stamped Receipts, Invoices, Bills of Lading, and Proceedings at Law, written on One and the same Piece of Paper with a Letter, shall be allowed without Rate in the Price of the Letter; and any Piece or Sheet of Paper upon which Letters to several and distinct Persons shall be written shall not be chargeable with a higher Rate of Postage than if One Letter only were written upon such Sheet or Piece of Paper.

XXVII. And to the end that all Post Letters may be charged with Postage according to the Distance they are respectively carried by the Post, and for preventing Disputes touching the same, be it enacted, That the Postmaster General may appoint Persons to survey or measure, by the Wheel or otherwise, all the Post Roads which are now established or which shall hereafter be established in any Part of Great Britain or Ireland and other Her Majesty's Dominions; but before the Surveys shall be made the Persons appointed shall be sworn to perform the same according to the best of their Skill and Judgment; and the Oath shall be administered by a Justice of the Peace, who shall make a Certificate thereof in Writing, which Certificate shall be entered without Fee or Charge in the General Post Office of London, and in the chief Post Offices of Edinburgh and Dublin, and in the chief Post Offices established in any of Her Majesty's Dominions; and such Surveyors shall cause fair Surveys or Books to be made out, one of each whereof shall be left with Her Majesty's Postmaster General in London, and another of each shall be left at the chief Post Office in Edinburgh with the Postmaster General's Secretary there, and another of each of such Surveys or Books shall be left at the chief Post Office in Dublin with the Postmaster General's Secretary there, and another of each of such Surveys or Books shall be left at each of the chief Post Offices established in any other of Her Majesty's Dominions with the respective Deputies or Agents of the Postmaster General there, to remain in the said Post Offices; and each of such Surveys or Books shall be signed by the Person making the same. and he shall make Oath of the Truth of such Surveys; and such Oath shall be administered by a Justice of the Peace on Application to that Effect; and a Certificate of such Surveyor having sworn to the Truth thereof shall be signed by the Postmaster General, or by his Secretary or Deputy in such chief Post Office; and the Books and Surveys so verified shall determine the Distances on all the Post Roads surveyed; and in case of Suspicion of Error, or wrong Admeasurement the Postmaster General may cause new Surveys to be made, and the last Survey which shall be made, and shall be verified and attested in the Manner hereby prescribed, shall in all Courts of Justice be Evidence of the Distances on such Post Roads, and all Rates granted by this Act for Post Letters shall be paid according to such Surveys.

XXVIII. And be it enacted, That the Articles enumerated in the following Table may be sent free of Postage, or at a reduced Rate of Postage, according to the Rates therein set forth:---

Printed British Newspapers:

Within the United Kingdom:
By the General Post from one Post Town to another within the United KingdomFree.
By the General Post, and delivered by any Penny or Twopenny PostFree.
By any Penny or Twopenny Post, and afterwards passing by the General Post from one Post Town to anotherFree.
By any Penny or Twopenny Post, and not passing or intended to pass by the General Post1d. each.
By the General Post of a Post Town. addressed to a Person within the Limits of that Place or its Suburbs1d. each.
Between Places within the United Kingdom:
By private Ships1d. each.
Between the United Kingdom and Her Majesty's Colonies:
By Packet Boats to any of Her Majesty's Colonies and Possessions beyond the SeasFree.
By private Ships1d. each.

Printed Colonial Newspapers:

Brought into the United Kingdom by Packet BoatsFree.
Directed to a Place in any of Her Majesty's Colonies beyond the Seas, to pass through the United Kingdom and to be forwarded by Packet BoatsFree.
Brought into the United Kingdom by private Ships, and delivered by the Master at the Post Office1d. each.

Newspapers between Foreign Countries and the United Kingdom:

Printed British Newspapers:
Either by Packet Boats or private Ships, between any Foreign Port (not in Her Majesty's Colonies or Possessions) and the United Kingdom2d. each.
When British Newspapers are allowed to pass by Post in a Foreign Country free, then British Newspapers addressed to such Foreign Country may he transmitted to any Foreign Port by Packet BoatsFree
If transmitted by private Ships1d. each.
Printed Foreign Newspapers:
Brought into the United Kingdom by Packet Boats or private Ships2d. each.
If British Newspapers are allowed to pass by Post, free, in a Foreign Country:
Newspapers printed in that Country brought by Packet Boat to the United KingdomFree.
If brought by private Vessels1d. each.

Newspapers between the Colonies and Foreign Countries through the United Kingdom:

If sent by private Ships1d. each.
Colonial Newspapers sent by Packet Boat through the United Kingdom to a Foreign State (subject to the Consent of the Lords of the Treasury)Free.
Foreign Newspapers sent by Packet Boat through the United Kingdom to the Colonies (subject to the like Consent)Free.

Parliamentary Proceedings

Printed Votes and Proceedings of the Imperial Parliament sent to Her Majesty's Colonies by Packet Boat:
If not exceeding an Ounced each.
For every additional Ounced.
Printed Votes and Proceedings of the Colonial Legislature sent to the United Kingdom by Packet Boat:
If not exceeding an Ounced. each.
For every additional Ounced.

Printed Prices Current:

To Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, the Mauritius, and the East Indies:
For each Packet not exceeding an Ounce1d.
For each Packet exceeding an Ounce per Ounce1d.

Periodical Publications:

Pamphlets, Magazines, Reviews, and other periodical Publications posted at Falmouth may be transmitted by Packet Boat to any of Her Majesty's Colonies at a Rate for each Publication:s.d.
Not exceeding Six Ounces in Weight10
For every Ounce beyond that Weight03

Unstamped Publications:

Unstamped printed Publications may be sent at such a Rate or annual Sum as the Postmaster General (with the Consent of the Lords of the Treasury) shall agree upon with the Editor, Proprietor, or Publisher.

Bankers Parcels:

Packets delivered at the General Post Office, London, containing re-issuable Cash Notes only, issued by Country Bankers under Licence, and payable at their Agents in London (and which shall have been paid by them), for Conveyance to the Place where the Notes were issued (within Great Britain), subject to the Conditions hereinafter mentioned One Fourth of the Postage for a Packet of that Size.

Patterns:

Packets or Covers containing Patterns or Samples, being open at the Sides, and not exceeding One Ounce, and without any Letter or Writing in, upon, or within any such Packet or Cover, other than the Name of the Sender, his Place of Abode, the Prices of the Articles contained therein, and the Name and Address of the Person to whom the Packet or Cover shall be sentThe Postage of a Single Letter.
Letters not open at the Sides containing Patterns or Samples, and not exceeding One Ounce in WeightPostage of a Double Letter.

XXIX. And be it enacted, That although Newspapers may be sent by the Post, and thereupon are subject to the Rate of Postage set forth in the above Table, it shall not be compulsory to send them by Post.

XXX. And be it enacted, That no printed Paper, whether Newspaper, Votes and Proceedings in Parliament, or other Publication or Thing contained in the above Table, excepting Bankers Parcels and Pattern Letters, shall be sent by Post, either free or at a reduced Rate of Postage, unless the following Conditions shall be observed:

First, It shall be sent without a Cover. or in a Cover open at the Sides.
Second, There shall be no Words or Communication printed on the Paper after its Publication, or upon the Cover thereof, nor any Writing or Marks upon it or upon the Cover of it, except the Name and Address of the Person to whom sent:
Third, There shall be no Paper or Thing inclosed in or with any such Paper or Publication:
Fourth, And the said printed Papers and Publications shall be put into the Post Office at such Hours in the Day and under all such Regulations as the Postmaster General may appoint, including therein the Payment of Postage on such as are going out of the United Kingdom when put into the Post Office, if the Postmaster General shall so require:
Fifth, All Foreign Newspapers brought into the United Kingdom under this Act to be printed in the Language of the Country from which they shall have been forwarded.

XXXI. And be it enacted, That the Postmaster General may examine any printed Paper or Packet which shall be sent by the Post without a Cover, or in a Cover open at the Sides, in order to discover whether it is contrary in any respect to the Conditions hereby required to be observed, and also in the Case of Newspapers to ascertain in what Language the Newspapers brought into the United Kingdom from any Foreign Country shall be printed and published, and also in order to discover whether the Newspapers printed and published in the United Kingdom are duly stamped; and in case any One of the required Conditions has not been fulfilled the whole of every such Paper shall be charged with Treble the Duty of Postage, except as to Foreign Newspapers not printed, in the Language of the Country from which they shall have been forwarded, which shall he charged with full Postage as Letters; and as to every such Paper going out of the United Kingdom, the Postmaster General may either detain the Paper, or forward the same by the Post charged with Treble the Duty of Postage; and in case a Newspaper printed in the United Kingdom and transmitted by the Post under this Act shall appear not to have been duly stamped the same shall be stopped, and sent to the Commissioners of Stamps either at London or Dublin, as the Case may be.

XXXII. And be it enacted, That in all Cases in which a Question shall arise whether a printed Paper is entitled to the Privileges of a Newspaper or other Publication hereby privileged, so far as respects the Transmission thereof by the Post under the Post Office Acts, the Question shall be referred to the Determination of the Postmaster General, whose Decision, with the Concurrence of the Lords of the Treasury, shall be final.

XXXIII. And for providing for the Transmission of Newspapers between the United Kingdom and Foreign Countries free of Postage, when satisfactory Proof shall be laid before the Postmaster General that British Newspapers, addressed either to a Person or to a Place within a Foreign Country, and also that Newspapers addressed to a Person or to a Place in the United Kingdom from such Foreign Country, are respectively allowed to pass by the Post within that Country free of Postage, be it enacted, That the Postmaster General may, with the Consent of the Lords of the Treasury, transmit by Post British Newspapers addressed to a Person, or to a Place in such Foreign Country from the United Kingdom to any Port out of the United Kingdom other than Her Majesty's Colonies and Possessions, free from Postage; and he may, with the like Consent, receive from such Foreign Country Foreign Newspapers free from Postage; or he may, with the like Consent, charge for every Newspaper transmitted to or received from a Foreign Country, a Rate of Postage which he may consider equivalent to the Rates of Postage payable in that Country on Newspapers either transmitted from or received in that Country; but in all Cases, whether the Newspaper be transmitted free or otherwise, subject to a Sea Postage of One Penny payable on the Newspaper being put into the Post Office for every Newspaper delivered at the Post Office to be conveyed by Vessels not, being Post Office Packets, and also to a like Postage for every Newspaper received by Vessels not Post Office Packets addressed to a Person or to a Place within the United Kingdom.

XXXIV. And whereas Circumstances may arise which may render it expedient again to impose the Rates of Twopence on Newspapers; be it enacted, That the Postmaster General, with the Consent of the Lords of the Treasury, may again impose the respective Rates of Twopence both on Newspapers received from and sent to Foreign Countries.

XXXV. And be it enacted, That the Postmaster General may, with the Consent of the Lords of the Treasury, extend this Act,, so far as it relates to Newspapers sent between the United Kingdom and any Foreign Country, to Colonial Newspapers sent through the United Kingdom to a Foreign Country, and to Foreign Newspapers sent through the United Kingdom to any Foreign Country or to any of Her Majesty's Colonies and Possessions beyond the Seas.

XXXVI. And be it enacted, That every British Newspaper sent by the Post out of the United Kingdom shall in all Cases he put into a Post Office or Receiving Office in the United Kingdom within Seven Days next after the Day on which the same shall be published, the Day of Publication to be ascertained by the Date of such Paper; and in case a Paper shall be put into a Post Office after the Expiration of such Seven Days the Postmaster General may either detain the Paper, or forward it by Post charged with full Postage as a Letter.

XXXVII. And be it enacted, That in case any Person to whom a printed Newspaper brought into the United Kingdom shall be directed shall have removed from the Place to which it shall be directed before the Delivery thereof at that Place, it may (provided it shall not have been opened) be re-directed, and forwarded by Post, to such Person at any other Place within the United Kingdom, free of Charge for such extra Conveyance; but if the Newspaper shall have been opened it shall be charged with the Rate of a Single Letter from the Place of Re-direction to the Place at which it shall be ultimately delivered.

XXXVIII. And be it enacted, That the Postmaster General may allow the Masters of Vessels other than Packet Boats One Penny on every printed Newspaper, Foreign or Colonial, brought into the United Kingdom from a Port, or Place out of the United Kingdom, and delivered by them at the Post Office of the Post Town at which they shall touch or arrive; and the like Sum of One Penny on every printed Newspaper delivered by the Postmaster General to any such Masters for Conveyance to a Port or Place out of the United Kingdom, or between any Places within the United Kingdom under the Post Office Acts.

XXXIX. And be it enacted, That the Postmaster General, in his Discretion, may receive at the General Post Office in London, Packets containing re-issuable Cash Notes only, issued by Country Bankers under annual Licence, and payable at the Houses of the respective Agents in London (and which Notes, shall have been paid by such Agents in London), for Conveyance by Post within Great Britain, at his Discretion, to the Bank in the Place at which such Cash Notes were first issued, and to no other Place, at One Fourth the usual Postage for a Packet of that Size ; but no Packet shall be conveyed under this Provision unless it shall exceed Six Ounces in Weight, and be superscribed "Re-issuable Country Bank Notes only," and shall be certified by the Signature of the Agent or Agents of such Country Bank, or One of them, in his or their own Handwriting, and shall contain no Writing or Communication, or Matter or Thing, except Cash Notes; and such Packets shall be delivered at the General Post Office in London at such Hours in the Day and under all such Regulations as the Postmaster General shall appoint, and shall also be delivered by the Deputy Postmaster in the Country under all such Regulations and Restrictions as the Postmaster General shall from Time to Time think fit to appoint; and the Postmaster General may detain, and in the Presence of the Sender thereof or in his Absence in case of Non-attendance after Notice in Writing left at his usual Place of Abode or Place of Business requiring his Attendance., may open and examine the same, in order to discover whether any Writing, Communication, Matter, or Thing other than re-issuable Notes only shall be contained therein, and in case upon Examination thereof it shall be discovered that any Writing. Communication, Matter, or Thing other than re-issuable Notes shall be contained therein, then the Postmaster General may retain the Packet until the Penalty imposed by the Post Office Acts upon the Sender for offending herein shall be paid.

XL. And be it enacted, That the following Classes of Persons may both send and receive Single Letters by the Post on their own private Concerns only, at the reduced Postage of One Penny for each Single Letter; (videlicet,)

Every Seaman employed in Her Majesty's Navy within Her Majesty's Dominions, whether at home or abroad, whilst such Seaman shall be actually employed in Her Majesty's Service:
Every Serjeant, Corporal, Drummer, Trumpeter, Fifer, and Private Soldier in Her Majesty's Regular Forces, Militia. Fencible Regiments, Artillery, or Royal Marines within Her Majesty's Dominions, whether at home or abroad, whilst actually employed in Her Majesty's Service:
Every Seaman employed in Her Majesty's Navy in the East Indies, or at Ceylon, the Mauritius, Saint Helena, or the Cape of Good Hope:
Every Serjeant, Corporal, Drummer. Trumpeter, Fifer, and Private Soldier in Her Majesty's Regular Forces, Militia, Fencible Regiments, Artillery, or Royal Marines, whilst actually employed in Her Majesty's Service in the East Indies, or at Ceylon, the Mauritius, Saint Helena, or the Cape of Good Hope:
Every Serjeant, Corporal, Drummer, Trumpeter, Fifer, and Private Soldier in the Service of the East India Company, whilst actually employed in the Service of the Company:

But the Letters of Commissioned Officers or Warrant Officers, either in the Army or Navy, or Midshipmen or Master's Mates of the Navy, are not included in this Provision:

And with respect to Letters sent by any such privileged Persons the following Conditions shall be observed; (that is to, say,) the Postage shall be paid on putting the Letter into a Post Office established under the Authority of the Postmaster General, and upon such Letter shall be superscribed the Name of the Writer, and his Class or Description in the Vessel, Regiment, Corps, or Detachment to which he shall belong; and upon every such Letter there shall be written in the Handwriting of and signed by the Officer having at the Time the Command of the Vessel, or of the Regiment, Corps, or Detachment to which the privileged Person belongs, the Name of such Officer, and the Name of such Vessel, or of such Regiment, Corps, or Detachment:

And with respect to Letters received by the Post by any of the said privileged Persons, the following Conditions shall be observed:--- The Postage of each Letter shall be paid upon putting it into a Post Office established under the Authority of the Postmaster General, and it shall be directed to the privileged Person, specifying on the Superscription thereof the Vessel, or the Regiment, Corps, or Detachment to which he shall belong. and the Deputy Postmaster of the Place to which such Letter shall be sent to be delivered shall not deliver such Letter to any Person except the Person hereby privileged to whom it shall be directed, or to some Person appointed to receive the same, by Writing under the Hand of the Officer in Command:

But whenever any of the abovementioned privileged Persons shall be employed in Her Majesty's Service, or in the Service of the East India Company, in the East Indies, or at Ceylon, the Mauritius, Saint Helena, or the Cape of Good Hope, the Letters sent by them shall be charged to the Party receiving them with an additional Sea-postage of Two-pence each, as well as the Inland Postage of One Penny, making the whole Three-pence, unless the Letters are delivered into a Post Office of the United Kingdom free of Expence to the Post Office, in which Case they shall be charged the Inland Postage of One Penny only:

And the privileged Letters of Persons privileged under this Enactment shall be exempt from the Payment of the local Rates of Postage by Penny or Twopenny Posts, when they have passed through or when they are intended to pass through the General Post.

XLI. And be it enacted, That in all Cases in which a Letter addressed to a Commissioned Officer of the Army, Navy, or Ordnance, or any of the Departments belonging thereto respectively, at a Place where such Officer shall have been employed on actual Service, shall be forwarded by the Post, and before the Delivery of the Letter the Officer shall have removed from that Place to another Place in the Execution of his Duty, the Letter shall be forwarded to the latter Place, and shall not be charged with more than the Postage payable for the Letter at the Place to which it was originally addressed.

XLII. And he it enacted, That all the Provisions of this Act shall be construed according to the respective Interpretations of the Terms and Expressions contained in an Act passed in the present Session, intituled An Act for consolidating the Laws relative to Offences against the Post Office of the United Kingdom, and for regulating the judicial Administration of the Post Office Laws, and for explaining certain Terms and Expressions employed in those Laws, so far as those Interpretations are not repugnant to the Subject, or inconsistent with the Context of such Provisions.

XLIII. And be it enacted. That this Act may be repealed or altered during the present Session of Parliament.