Postage Act 1808
(48 Geo 3 c.90, 23rd June 1808)

An Act to enable the Commissioners for auditing Publick Accounts, and the Commissioners for the Affairs of Barracks respectively, to send and receive Letters and Packets on the Business of their Offices free of Postage.
[23d June 1808]

'WHEREAS the Commissioners for auditing the publick Accounts, and the Commissioners for Affairs of Barracks by virtue of their Offices, necessarily send and receive many Letters and Packets relating to the publick Service of this Kingdom; and it is therefore expedient to permit such Letters and Packets to be sent and received free from the Duty of Postage;' Be it therefore enacted by the King'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 all Letters and Packets addressed to the Commissioners for auditing the publick Accounts, and all Letters and Packets addressed to the Commissioners for the Affairs of Barracks respectively for the Time being, upon any Business or Affairs relating to the Duties of the Offices of the said Commissioners respectively, shall be free from the Duty of Postage; and also that all Letters and Packets sent by the Secretary of the Commissioners for auditing publick Accounts, or by the Secretary of the Commissioners for the Affairs of Barracks respectively, or in the Absence of such Secretaries respectively, then by the Chief Clerk of such Secretary for the Time being, upon any Business or Affairs relating to the Duties of the said Commissioners respectively in Manner and Form herein-after directed, shall be sent free from the said Duty of Postage; and all Letters and Packets relating to the Duties of the said Commissioners respectively, which shall be forwarded by the said respective Secretaries or their Chief Clerks respectively as aforesaid, shall be under Covers, with the Words 'Pursuant to Act of Parliament,' and 'Auditor's Office,' if sent from the Office of the Commissioners for auditing the publick Accounts, and 'Barrack Office,' if sent from the Office of the Commissioners for the Affairs of Barracks, printed upon the same; and the Secretary or some Chief Clerk in the Office from which such Letters and Packets shall be sent, to be nominated from Time to Time for that Purpose by such Commissioners, or the major Part of them respectively, in and for each of such Offices, and whose Appointment for that Purpose shall be transmitted to the Post Office, shall write his Name under the same, and they and each of them are and is hereby strictly prohibited from inclosing or sending under such Covers any Writing, Paper, or Parcel whatsoever, excepting such as relate to the Duties of the said Commissioners respectively.

II. And be it further enacted, That if any such Secretary or Clerk as aforesaid respectively shall presume to send or convey under any of the Covers aforesaid, any Writing, Paper, or Parcel other than those relating to the Duties of such Commissioners respectively, he shall for every such Offence forfeit and pay the Sum of One hundred Pounds, to be recovered with full Costs of Suit by any Person or Persons by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint, or Information in any of His Majesty's Courts of Record at Westminster, wherein no Essoign, Privilege, Protection, Wager of Law, or more than One Imparlance shall be allowed; One Moiety of which Penalty shall go to the Person who shall sue for the same, and the other Moiety thereof to and for the Use of His Majesty.