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Postage Act 1815
(55 Geo 3 c.153, 11th July 1815)

An Act for granting certain Rates on the Postage of Letters to and from Great Britain, The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius, and The East Indies; and for making certain Regulations respecting the Postage of Ship Letters, and of Letters in Great Britain.
[ 11th July 1815 ]

WHEREAS it is expedient, for the Extension and Improvement of Commerce and Correspondence, and of His Majesty's Revenue, that Vessels be employed by His Majesty's Postmaster General for the Conveyance of the Public Dispatches of Government, and also the Mails of Letters and Packets he tween this Kingdom, The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius and The East Indies; and that such Vessels should, in certain cases, be permitted to carry Goods on Freight; 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 at any time after the passing of this Act, it shall and may be lawful to and for His Majesty's Postmaster General, with the Consent of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, or any Three or more of them, to establish Vessels for the Conveyance of the Public Dispatches of Government, and also Mails of Letters, and Passengers, between this Country, The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius and The East Indies; and that from and after the Establishment of such Vessels, it shall and may be lawful to and for His Majesty's Postmaster General, and his Deputy and Deputies, to and for the Use of His Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, to demand, have, receive and take, for the Port and Conveyance of all and every the Letters and Packets that shall be carried or conveyed by such Vessels from the Port of London, or from any other Port in Great Britain, to The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius, or to any Port or Place within the Limits of the Charter of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to The East Indies (save and except the Dominions of the Emperor of China), according to the Rates and Sums, in Sterling Money, hereinafter mentioned, the same being rated either by the Letter or by the Ounce; that is to say,

For every Single Letter, Three Shillings and Six pence:
For every Double Letter, Seven Shillings:
For every Treble Letter, Ten Shillings and Six pence:
And for every Ounce in Weight, Fourteen Shillings; and so in Proportion for Letters and Packets above the Weight of an Ounce:

And for the Port and Conveyance of all and every the Letters and Packets that shall be carried or conveyed by such Vessels from any Port or Place in The East Indies, within the Limits of the said United Company's Charter (save and except the Dominions of the Emperor of China ), or from The Cape of Good Hope, or The Mauritius, to the Port of London, or to any other Port in Great Britain, the Rates and Duties following; that is to say,

For every Single Letter, Three Shillings and Six pence:
For every Double Letter, Seven Shillings:
For every Treble Letter, Ten Shillings and Six pence:
And for every Ounce in Weight Fourteen Shillings; and so in Proportion for Letters and Packets above the Weight of an Ounce:

And for the Port and Conveyance of all and every the Letters and Packets that shall be carried or conveyed by such Vessels between The Cape of Good Hope, or The Mauritius, and any Part of the Continent of Asia, and between The Cape of Good Hope, or The Mauritius, or the Continent of Asia, and all intermediate Places, and between all the intermediate Places respectively, the Rates and Duties following; that is to say,

For every Single Letter, One Shilling and Nine pence:
For every Double Letter, Three Shi lings and Six pence:
For every Treble Letter, Five Shillings and Three pence:
And for every Ounce in Weight, Seven Shillings; and so in Proportion for Letters and Packets above the Weight of an Ounce.

II. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for any Person or Persons to send and receive by any Mails dispatched to and from The East Indies, The Mauritius, and The Cape of Good Hope, any Newspaper or printed Prices Current, and also any printed Papers liable to the Stamp Duties, and duly stamped, paying for the same Three pence for each Packet, not exceeding One Ounce; and for each Packet exceeding One Ounce, at the Rate of Three pence per Ounce; and provided that the same be sent in Covers open at the Side or Ends.

III. And inasmuch as it may on some Occasions be of Advantage to Correspondence, that Letters and Packets should be sent to and from The East Indies and The Cape of Good Hope, by His Majesty's Ships of War and Store Ships, and by the Ships in the Service of the said United Company sailing between this Country and India, and The Cape Of Good Hope, and by Ship employed in the Private Trade to and from India;

Be it therefore further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the Postmaster General in his Discretion, by and with the Consent of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to make up and send Mails of Letters to and from any Port or Place in The East Indies, within the Limits of the said United Company's Charter (save and except the Dominions of the Emperor of China), and to and from The Cape of Good Hope, by any of His Majesty's Ships of War and Store Ships, or by any of the Ships in the Service of the said United Company, or by Ships employed in the Private Trade to and from India; and that when and so often as Mails of Letters shall be so conveyed, it shall and may be lawful to and for the Postmaster General and his Deputies, for the Use of His Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, to demand, have, receive and take the same Rates and Duties, as if the Letters were conveyed by Vessels or Packet Boats, to be established under the Authority of this Act.

IV. And be it further enacted, That the Commander of any such Ship of War, with the Consent and Permission of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and the Commander of any such Ship in the Service of the said United Company, with the Consent of the said Company, and the Commander of any Ship employed in the Private Trade to and from India, with the Consent of his Owners, is hereby authorized and required to receive on board his Ship, such Mails of Letter and Packets, and to convey and deliver the same accordingly; and such Commanders respectively shall not incur or be liable to any Penalty for receiving on board or conveying such Letter and Packets in manner aforesaid; any Law or Statute to the contrary notwithstanding.

V. And be it further enacted, That it shall not be lawful for the said United Company, or the Commander of any Ship in the Service of the said Company, or any Commander of any Ship in the Private Trade to and from India, to charge, demand or receive any Rate or Rate of Postage for any Mails of Letters, other and except any such Postage as may be legally due to the said Company for the Inland Postage, or conveyance of any such Letter in India, or for any sealed Bags, Packages or Parcels of Letters, which may at any time be forwarded by the Postmaster General, by the Ships of the said United Company, or by any such Private Ship.

VI. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Postmaster General, whenever the Ships of the said United Company, or any Private Ships, are employed as Packets, to pay the said United Company, and the Owners of any such Private Ships, for the Freight or Conveyance of any such Mails of Letters, such reasonable Sum, and in such manner, as shall be authorized and directed by the Lords of the Treasury, or any Three of them.

VII. And be it further enacted, That a Mail shall be made up and dispatched to India once in every Month, as far as may be found practicable, either by the Vessels to be established and hired by the Postmaster General under the Authority of this Act, or by a Ship of War, or a Ship in the Service of the East India Company, or by a Ship employed in the Private Trade to and from India.

VIII.Manner as the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, or any Three or more of them, shall by Warrant in Writing direct (any Law or Statute to the contrary notwithstanding), to permit the Exportation on Freight, or on account of the Owners, or of the Public Service, in such Vessels or Packet Boars navigated according to Law, from the Port of London, or any Port or Ports within the Kingdom of Great Britain, or any intermediate Port between Great Britain and The East Indies, to all Ports and Places within the Limits of the Charter of the said United Company, and to the Islands of Saint Helena, The Mauritius and The Cape of Good Hope (save and except the Dominions of the Emperor of China) any Goods, Wares and Merchandize (Tea excepted) which can now or may at any times hereafter be legally exported; and also to permit the Importation on Freight, or on account of the Owners, or of the Public Service, in such Vessels or Packet Boats navigated according to Law, from all Ports and Places within the Limits of the said United Company's Charter, and from The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius and the Island of Saint Helena (save and except as aforesaid) into the Port of London, or any Port in Great Britain, of any Goods, Wares and Merchandize which are now or may at any time or times hereafter be legally imported; subject nevertheless to the several Restrictions, Conditions and Limitations in this Act contained.

IX. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to ship, carry or put on board, or permit or suffer to be shipped, carried or put on board such Vessels or Packet Boats, and any Ships or Vessels legally trading to and from The East Indies, such Quantity of Tea as shall be requisite for the Use of the Crew of any such Ship, during the Voyage, not exceeding Two Pounds for each Man on board; and in case there shall be found on board any such Ships or Vessels as aforesaid, on their Arrival at any Port or Place in the British Islands, or within Two hundred Miles of the same, any Tea exceeding in Quantity One hundred Pounds Weight, every Commander shall incur and be liable to a Penalty of Two Pounds for every Pound Weight of Tea exceeding such a Quantity.

X. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That it shall not be lawful to export or import any Goods, Wares or Merchandize in any Vessel or Packet Boat to be employed under the Authority of this Act, unless such Vessel or Packet Boat shall be of the Burthen of Three hundred and fifty Tons at the least.

XI. And be it further enacted, That if any Commander of any Vessel or Packet Boat to be established under the Authority of this Act, having received His Majesty's Mail on board, and having received his Clearance, shall wilfully neglect to sail and proceed on his Voyage within Twenty four Hours after the time of Receiving the Mail on board and his Clearance (Wind and Weather permitting), or shall wilfully deviate from be Course of his Voyage, such Commander for every such Neglect shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Five hundred Pounds: Provided always that it shall be lawful for the Court of Directors of the said United East India Company to give Directions to delay the Sailing of any Ship or Vessel belonging to and employed by the said Company, for a time to be limited or specified, giving Notice of such Directions to the Postmaster General within Twenty four Hours thereof.

XII. And be it further enacted, That for the Port and Conveyance of all and every the Letters and the Packets that shall be carried or conveyed by Vessels not employed as Packets from Great Britain, to The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius, and The East Indies, there shall be charged and payable a Sea Postage of One Shilling and Two pence a Single Letter, and so in Proportion for Packets; such Postage to be paid on Delivery of the Letters at The Cape, The Mauritius and The East Indies, as the case may be.

XIII. And be it further enacted, That if any Person shall send without Authority of the Postmaster General to The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius or The East Indies, any Letter or Packet, or if any Commander of any Ship or Vessel, or any other Person shall carry or convey any Letter or Packet without such Authority to The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius or The East Indies, every such Person so offending shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Five Pounds for every Letter so sent or conveyed.

XIV. And be it further enacted, That the Commander of any Ship sailing to The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius or The East Indies, is hereby authorized and required to take charge of and convey any Bags of Letters subject to the aforesaid Rate of One Shilling and Two pence, which shall be delivered to him by Order or Authority of the Postmaster General.

XV. And, for the Services performed by the Commanders of such Vessels, be it further enacted, That they shall be entitled to receive on their Arrival in Port, either in Great Britain or in India, on delivering at the Post Office all such Letters and Packets which they shall have on board, the Sum of Two pence for every Letter or Packet which he or they shall so deliver.

XVI. And be it further enacted, That for the Port and Conveyance of all and every the Letters and Packets that shall be carried or conveyed by Vessels not employed as Packets from The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius and The East Indies, to Great Britain, there shall be charged and payable a Sea Postage of Eight pence for each Single Letter, and so in Proportion for Packets.

XVII. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That for Twelve Months from and after the passing of this Aft, no Letter or Packet of whatever Weight or Description coming from The Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius or India, shall be chargeable with a higher Rate of Sea Postage than Five Shillings for such Letter or Packet; any thing to the contrary in this Act contained notwithstanding.

XVIII. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the Postmaster General in his Discretion, to establish Post Offices, and appoint Deputy Postmasters and other Officers, for the due Execution of this Act, in the United Kingdom, and in any of the Presidencies of the said United Company, and the same from time to time to remove and displace, and others to appoint in their Stead; and that all such Persons so to be appointed shall give Security to the Satisfaction of the Postmaster General or his Agents for the due Discharge of their respective Duties, and accounting for and paying unto the Treasurers of the said United Company, at their respective Presidencies, on account of the Revenue of the Post Office, all Sums which they shall respectively receive for the Port of Letters and Packets, or in any other manner whatsoever; and that no such Postmaster or other Person shall at any time retain in his Hands more than One thousand Pounds of the Public Money.

XIX. And be it further enacted, That the Treasurers of the said United Company, at their respective Presidencies shall and they are hereby authorized and required to receive all such Sums, and from time to time to remit the same to the Postmaster General, in such manner and under such Regulations as shall be agreed upon by the said United Company and the Postmaster General.

XX. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the President of the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India for the time being, to send and receive Letters and Packets to and from The East Indies free from the Duties of Postage; and that it shall be lawful for the Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs, and the Secretaries to the Treasury for the time being, to send and receive Letters and Packets to and from The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius and Ceylon, free from the Duty of Postage.

XXI. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Commissioners for the Affairs of India, receiving Salaries in virtue of such Office, and for the Secretary to the said Commissioners for the time being, to send and receive Letters and Packets to or from any Port or Place within the Limits of the Charter of the East India Company or The Cape of Good Hope, provided that the Letters and Packets so to be sent and received by such Commissioners or Secretary, by any one Packet or other Vessel, appointed to carry the Mail, do not collectively exceed the Weight of Five Ounces received, and Five Ounces sent, by each such Commissioners or by such Secretary.

XXII. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the said United Company for the time being, and for One Year after the said Chairman and Deputy Chairman shall have quitted their respective Offices, to send and receive Letters and Packets free from Postage, to and from The East Indies only; provided that such Letters and Packets shall be upon the Concerns of the said Company only, and provided that such Letters shall be addressed or superscribed wholly in the Hand Writing of the Chairman or Deputy Chairman, and his Name added thereto in his Hand Writing; and also that it shall be lawful for the Directors of the said Company to send and receive Letters and Packets to and from The East Indies only, addressed and superscribed in like manner, free from Postage for One Year from and after the passing of this Act, and no longer.

XXIII. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Directors of the said Company for the time being, to send and receive Letters and Packets free from Postage to and from The East Indies only, by the Ships of the said Company, provided that such Letters so to be sent and received do not collectively exceed the Weight of Five Ounces, by each Ship of the said Company; and that such Directors shall and may continue to send and receive such Letters and Packets for One Year after he or they shall have quitted the Direction.

XXIV. Provided always and be it further enacted, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend, to prevent such Public Officers who now send and receive Letters and Packets free of Postage, from sending and receiving Letters and Packets to and from The Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Saint Helena and The East Indies, in the same manner as they are now authorized by Law to send and Letters and Packets free from Postage.

XXV. And Whereas, by a certain Act of Parliament made and passed in the Forty sixth Year of Reign of His present Majesty, intituled An Act to amend Three Acts made in be Thirty fifth, Forty first and Forty second Years of His present Majesty, relating to be Conveyance of Letter and Packets by be Post, Seamen employed in His Majesty's Navy and Non Commissioned Officers in the Army, within any Part of His Majesty's Dominions, whilst actually employed in His Majesty's Service, were authorized to send and receive by the Post on his or their Private Concerns only, Single Letters, upon Payment of One Penny for each Letter, under the several Restrictions in the said Act contained: And Whereas it is expedient to extend the Provisions of the said Act to Seamen in the Navy, whilst actually employed in His Majesty's Service in The East Indies, and to Non Commissioned Officers in His Majesty's Army, whilst actually employed in His Majesty's Service in The East Indies, and also to the Seamen and Non Commissioned Officers in the Army actually employed in the Service of the East India Company; Be it therefore further enacted, That, from and after the passing of this Act, it shall and may be lawful to and for each and every Seaman employed in his Majesty's Navy within any part of The East Indies, and to and for every Serjeant, Corporal, Drummer, Trumpeter, Fifer and Private Soldier in His Majesty's Regular Forces, Militia, Fencible Regiments, Artillery or Royal Marines, whilst actually employed in His Majesty's Service in The East Indies. and also to and for every Seaman, whilst actually employed in the Service of the East India Company, and to and for every Serjeant, Corporal, Drummer, Trumpeter, Fifer and Private Soldier in the Service of the said Company, whilst actually employed in the Service of the said Company, and not otherwise, to receive by the Post on his own Private Concerns only, free from Postage, Single Letters; provided that the several Regulations and Restrictions contained in the said hereinbefore recited Act shall be complied with; and likewise to send Single Letters by the Post, on his own Private Concerns only, on Payment of One Penny upon putting the same into any Post Office, under the several Regulations and Restrictions in the hereinbefore recited Act contained.

XXVI. And be it further enacted, That all and every the Clauses, Powers, Advantages, Penalties and Methods for the Recovery of the same, contained in the said recited Act, so far as relates to Soldiers and Seamen's letters, shall be applied and extended, and shall be construed to apply and extend to this Act, as fully and effectually to all Intents and Purposes, as if the same had been particularly repeated and re-enacted in this present Act.

XXVII. And Whereas it is expedient to alter and amend an Act passed in the Fifty fourth Year of Reign of His present Most Gracious Majesty, intituled An Act for making certain Regulations respecting the Postage of Ship Letters, and of Letters in Great Britain; Be it therefore further enacted, That so much of the said Act as authorizes the Postmaster General to take a Rate of Six pence a Letter for Single Letters, and so on in Proportion for Letters brought by Vessels other than Packet Boats from Places within His Majesty's Dominions, and from Kingdoms and Countries beyond the Seas into Great Britain; and as authorizes Persons Places within His Majesty's Dominions and Countries beyond the Seas to receive from the Masters of Vessels coming from thence into Great Britain, Letters and Packets which may be collected and brought by such Masters to them for the Purposes in the said Act mentioned, and to receive from such Masters at the Rate of Three Shillings for every Fifty Letters or Packets, and so in Proportion for a greater or lesser Number, and as directs the manner in which such Letters are to be transmitted to such Masters of Vessels to Great Britain; and so much of the said Act as authorizes the Masters of Vessels to collect Letters and Packets within His Majesty's Dominions and Countries beyond the Seas, for the Purposes in the said Act mentioned, and which directs the Sum of Three Shillings for every Fifty Letters, and so in Proportion for a greater or lesser Number, to be repaid to such Masters, and as authorizes the Payment of Two pence for every Letter to such Masters; and also so much of the said Act as imposes a Penalty of Five hundred Pounds upon any Master who shall open any Bag or Bags of Letters, or who shall take out of such Bag any Letter or Letters, or shall not duly deliver such Bag at the Place where he shall arrive; and likewise so much of the said Act as imposes a Penalty of Five Pounds upon any Person sending any Letter or Packet by any Ship or Vessel of which he shall not be Owner, without having the Official Mark of the Postage having been paid thereon, and as imposes a like Penalty upon any Master having on board or carrying any Letter not being the Letter of his Owners, without such Official Mark thereon; and so much of the said Act as authorizes the Collector, Comptroller or Principal Officers to administer an Oath to such Master, that he has not any Letters which have not paid the Rates of Postage on board his Ship or Vessel, not being the Letters of the Owners of his said Ship; and likewise so much os the said Act as directs, that on the Arrival of any Ship in Port, the Master shall sign a Declaration that, to the best of his Knowledge and Belief, he has delivered all the Letters, Bags or Parcels of Letters on board his Vessel, and as imposes a Penalty of Fifty Pounds upon any Master neglecting or refusing to make such Declaration; and likewise so much of the said Act as imposes a Penalty of Twenty Pounds upon any such Collector, Comptroller or principal Officer who shall permit any Ship or Vessel to break Bulk until the Requisites of the Act shall be complied with; and also so much of the said Act as directs the Mode of recovering the Pecuniary Penalties by the said Act imposed, and the Application of the same; and also so much of the said Act as renders Persons guilty of a Misdemeanor who shall forge or cause to be forged any Stamp, Mark of Postage or Designation upon any Letter, with Intent to avoid the Payment of the Rate of Postage, shall, from and after the First Day of August One thousand eight hundred and fifteen, be and the same are hereby repealed.

XXVIII. An be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the Postmaster General to demand, have, receive and take for every Letter which shall be brought by Ships and Vessels (other than Packet Boats) from Places within His Majesty's Dominions, and from any the Kingdoms and Places beyond the Seas, into Great Britain, except from The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius and The East Indies, a Sea Postage of Eight pence for every Single Letter, and so in Proportion for Packets, in addition to any Inland or Internal Postage which may arise upon the Inland Conveyance of such Letters and Packets; and for the Encouragement of the Masters of such Ships or Vessels, it shall be lawful for the Postmaster General to allow all such Masters the Sum of Two pence a Letter or Packet upon all such Letters and Packets as they respectively, on their arrival from Parts beyond the Seas, shall deliver unto the Deputy or Deputies of the Postmaster General, for such Place or Post Town at which they shall touch or arrive.

XXIX. Provided always and be it further enacted, That if any Master of any Ship or Vessel shall open any sealed Bag, Package or Parcel of Letters, with which he shall have been entrusted, or shall take out of such Bag, Package or Parcel any Letter or Letters whatsoever, or shall not duly deliver such Bag, Package or Parcel with the Letters at the Post Office on his arrival in Port, without wilful or unavoidable Delay after his Arrival, every such Master so offending shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Two hundred Pounds.

XXX. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Owners, Charterers or Consignees of Vessels, to send their Letters on board their own Ships, from any Port in Great Britain to The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius and The East Indies, free from the Sea Postage; provided that such Letters shall be endorsed with the Words “Owners or Charterers or Consignees Letter,” and the Christian and Surname, and Place of Abode, of the Owner, Charterer or Consignee, or the Firm of the Owners who shall be the Writer of the same; and provided that the Letter so sent and endorsed by any Owner or Owners, Charterer or Consignee, or the whole Number of Letters, if there shall be more than One Letter, from such Owner or Owners, Charterer or Consignee, shall not collectively exceed the Weight of Twenty Ounces.

XXXI. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Owners or Shippers of Goods to send Letters with their Goods on board any Ship or Vessel from any Port in Great Britain, to The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius and The East Indies free from the Ship Letter Postage; provided that such Letter shall be endorsed with the Christian and Surname of the Writer, or the Firm of the Writers, and with the Words ” Owners or Shippers of Goods ” shipped on board the [ state the Name of the Ship ] bound to [ state the Place ]; and provided the Letter or Packet of any such Owners or Shippers, or the whole Number of Letters, if there shall be more than One, from such Owners or Shippers, shall not collectively exceed the Weight of Six Ounces.

XXXII. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Owners, Charterers or Consignees of Vessels resident in Great Britain, to receive their Letters by their own Vessels from any Place within His Majesty's Dominions, or Countries beyond the Seas, free from the Sea Postage; provided that such Owners, Charterers or Consignees shall be described as such in the Address and Superscription of such Letters; and that such Letters to any One Owner, Charterers or Consignee, shall not, if coming from any Place in The East Indies, exceed collectively the Weight of Twenty Ounces; and if coming from any other Part beyond the Seas, exceed collectively the Weight of Six Ounces.

XXXIII. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Owners or Consignees of Goods on board Ships arriving from Abroad to receive Letters free from the Sea Postage by such Ships, provided that such Owners or Consignees shall be described as such in the Address and Superscription thereof; and provided it shall appear by the Ship's Manifest that such Persons actually have Goods on board such Ships, and that the Letter or Letters addressed to any One such owner or Consignee shall not collectively exceed the Weight of Six Ounces.

XXXIV. Provided always, That nothing in this Act shall extend to prevent the Letters of Owners, Consignees or Freighters of Ships arriving in this Country from The East Indies before the Tenth Day of October One thousand eight hundred and sixteen, to receive their Letters free of Postage as heretofore, although they may exceed the Weight herein limited, or may not be marked as directed by this Act.

XXXV. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this, or in any other Act contained, shall extend to charge with the Duty of Postage any Letters or Packets addressed by the Governors of His Majesty's Settlements of Ceylon, The Cape of Good Hope or The Mauritius, or by the Secretaries of these Governments respectively, to the Agents of those respective Governments residing in England, or by such Agents to such Governors or Secretaries: Provided always, that the Contents of such Letters and Packets relate bona fide to the Public Service, or Concerns of such Governments, and that they are superscribed by such Governor, Secretary or Agent respectively.

XXXVI. And be it further enacted. That in case any Collector, Comptroller or other Officer of His Majesty's Customs, find any Letter or Letters superscribed as the Letters of such Owners, Charterers, Consignees or Shippers, exceeding the Number or Weight limited by this Act then it shall and may be lawful for such Collector, Comptroller or other Officer to seize so many of the Letters as shall reduce the Remainder within the proper Weight, and shall take the same to the nearest Post Office, and the Postmaster of the Place shall pay to the Officer delivering the same at the Rate of Two Shillings and Six pence for each Letter or Packet so seized.

XXXVII. And be it further enacted, That the Rates of Postage for the Conveyance of Letters and Packets by Packet Boats, or Ships or Vessels employed as Packet Boats, to any Part of His Majesty's Dominions and Countries beyond the Seas, excepting The East Indies, shall and may with the Consent of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, or any Three of them, either be received at the Post Office in Great Britain, upon forwarding the same, or by the Deputy or Deputies of the Postmaster General upon their Delivery.

XXXVIII. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Collector, Comptroller or other Officer of His Majesty's Customs, at any Port or Place whatsoever, and he is hereby authorized to require a Declaration from any Commander of any Ship or Vessel sailing to The Cape of Good Hope, The Mauritius or The East Indies, that he has not nor will take any Letters on board his Ship which have not been delivered to him by Authority of the Postmaster General, or which are not exempted from Postage by this Act; which Declaration shall be in the Form, or to the Effect following:

I A. B. Commander of the [ state the Name of the Ship or Vessel ] bound to [ state the Place ] do, as required by Law, solemnly declare, That I have not to the best of my Knowledge and Belief on board my Ship or Vessel, nor will I take any Letters which have not been delivered to me by Authority of the Postmaster General, or which are not exempted from Postage.

And in case any such Commander shall make a false or untrue Declaration he shall, for every such Offence, forfeit and pay the Sum of Fifty Pounds.

XXXIX. And be it further enacted, That on the Arrival of any Ship or Vessel in any Port where there is a Post Office, or at the Port of its Destination, the Master shall immediately send to the same all the Bags, Packages or Parcels of Letters, and all other Letters on board his Ship, and shall, to the utmost of his Power, procure all his Crew and Passengers to send any Letters which may be in their Possession, except such Letters as are exempted by this Act; and the Master shall at the same time, or at the Port or Place where the Ship or Vessel shall report, sign a Declaration in the Presence of the Person authorized by the Postmaster General at Port or Place, who shall also sign the same: which 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 at the Post Office at [ state the Place ] 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 this Act.

And that until such Declaration shall be made and produced to the Collector, Comptroller or Principal Officer of the Customs, he or they shall not permit such Ship or Vessel to report.

XL. And be it further enacted, That if any Master of any Ship or Vessel shall wilfully refuse or neglet to make the several Declarations by this Act required, or to produce the last mentioned Declaration, he shall forfeit and pay for every such Offence, the Sum of Fifty Pounds.

XLI. And be it further enacted, That if any Collector, Comptroller or Principal Officer, hereby required prohibit any Ship or Vessel reporting until the Requisites of this Act shall be complied with, shall permit such Ship or Vessel, to report such Collector, Comptroller or Officer, so permitting such Ship or Vessel to report, shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Two hundred Pounds.

XLII. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for such Collector, Comptroller or Officer, at any Port or Place whatsoever, who, in the due Execution of his Duty as a Revenue Officer, shall discover any Letters or Packets on board any Vessel in any Port or Place whatsoever, contrary to the Provision of this Act, to seize and take all such Letters and Packets, and to forward the same to the Postmaster General or his Deputy, at the Port or Place; and that the Officer seizing and sending the same shall be entitled to Moiety of the Penalty which may be recovered for any such Offence; and that in all cases of such Seizure Proof shall lie on the Person in whose Possession or Baggage the Letters or Packets shall be found that Provisions of this Act have been complied with.

XLIII. And be it further enacted, That in case any Bags, Packages or Parcels of Letters shall be brought by any Ship of War, the Commander thereof shall cause the same and all Letters which may be on board (except the Public Dispatches of Government) to be immediately sent to the Post Office at the First Port where he shall arrive; and such Commander shall, for all such Letters, be entitled to receive the same Allowances as payable to Masters of Ships or Vessels.

XLIV. And be it further enacted, That in case it shall happen from any unforeseen circumstances, that Master of any Ship or Vessel, or the Commander of any Ship of War, shall, upon delivering his Bags, Packages or Parcels of Letters, be prevented from receiving the Money to which he shall be entitled, such Master or Commander shall nevertheless be paid the same, by the Order of the Postmaster General, at such other Places as may be most convenient.

XLV. And be it further enacted, That the Rates of Postage hereinbefore mentioned for the Conveyance of Letters and Packets by the said Packet Boats, Ships or Vessels from any Port in Great Britain, to any in The East Indies, shall be received by the Deputies of the Postmaster General, upon their Delivery in India, and that the Rates of Postage for the Conveyance of Letters from any Port or Place in The East Indies to Great Britain shall be received at the Option of the Parties sending the same, or upon their Delivery in Great Britain or Ireland, by the Deputies of the Postmaster General in India upon forwarding the same.

XLVI. And be it further enacted, That if after the Master of any Vessel shall have delivered his Letters at the Post Office of any Port at which he may touch, prior to his arriving at that Port where the Ship or Vessel is to report, any Letter or Packet not exempted by this Act, shall be found on board his Vessel, in his Possession, or in the Possession of any of his Crew, or any Passenger on board, every such Person knowingly having such Letter or Packet in his Possession or in his Baggage, shall forfeit and pay for every Letter the Sum of Five Pounds.

XLVII. And be it further enacted, That if any Person whatsoever shall falsely superscribe any Letter as being the Owner, Charterer or Consignee of the Vessel conveying the same, or the Owner, Shipper or Consignee of the Goods shipped in the Vessel, every such Person and Persons so offending shall, for every such Offence, forfeit and pay the Sum of Ten Pounds.

XLVIII. And be it further enacted, That One Moiety of the several Pecuniary Penalties hereby imposed shall be payable to the Use of His Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, and the other Moiety to any Person who shall and will inform and sue for the same, to be recovered with full Costs of Suit, by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint or Information, in any of His Majesty's Courts of Record in Great Britain, or in the Colony or Place where the Offence shall be committed, wherein no Essoin, Protection or Privilege, or Wager of Law shall be admitted.

XLIX. And be it further enacted, That if at any time hereafter (Sic. After Establishment, if Three Months elapse without dispatching Public Mail, any Person may carry Letters without being subject to Penalties of Act) the Establishment of such Vessels as aforesaid, a Space of Three Calendar Months shall have elapsed without any Public Mail having been dispatched from Great Britain to The Cape of Good Hope and The Mauritius, and the several Presidencies of Fort William, Fort Saint George and Bombay in The East Indies, it shall be lawful for any Person to send, or take on board, and carry any Letters or Packets from Great Britain to such of the said Places to which no Mail shall have been so dispatched during the time aforesaid, or from such of the Places aforesaid from which no Mail shall have been so dispatched to Great Britain, without being subject therefore to any of the Penalties, Forfeitures, Payments or Restrictions in this Act contained, until some Public Mail shall have been again dispatched from Great Britain to such Place, or from such Place to Great Britain.

L. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend to any Letters or Packets to or from China, but that they may be sent and carried as heretofore has been used; any thing to the contrary herein contained notwithstanding.

LI. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That no Person or Persons shall incur or become liable to any of the Penalties by this Act imposed, so far as the same shall relate to Letters to be sent to and from India, unless the Provisions hereinbefore contained, as to establishing Vessels for the Conveyance of Mails of Letters to The East Indies, shall be carried into Effect within Six Months from the passing of this Act.

LII. And be it further enacted, That in any Action or Suit against any Person or Persons, for collecting, carrying, conveying, delivering or sending Letters or Packets contrary to the Provisions in an Act made in the Ninth Year of the Reign of Her late Majesty Queen Anne intituled An Act for establishing a General Post Office for all Her Majesty's Dominion, and for settling a weekly Sum out of the Revenues thereof for the Service of War, and other Her Majesty's Occasions, or contrary to the Provisions in an Act made in the Forty second Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled An Act for amending so much of an Act, passed in the Seventh Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, as relates to the secreting, embezzling or destroying any Letter or Packet sent by the Post, and for the better Protection of such Letters and Packets, and for more effectually preventing Letters and Packets being sent otherwise than by the Post, or in either of them, or contrary to the Provisions of this Act, the Proof shall lie on the Person or Persons against whom such Action or Suit shall be brought, for delivering or sending Letters or Packets, that the same were delivered or sent according to the Provisions contained in the said last mentioned Acts, or one of them, or according to the Provisions contained in this present Act.

LIII. And be it further enacted, That the Monies to arise by the several Rates and Duties as aforesaid (except the Monies which shall be necessary to defray such Expences as shall be incurred in the Management and Collection of the same), shall be paid into the Receipt of the Exchequer at Westminster, and carried to and made Part of the Conolidated Fund of Great Britain.

LIV. And be it further enacted, That if any Action or Suit shall be commenced against any Person or Persons, for any thing done in pursuance of this Act, the same shall be commenced within Twelve Months after the Fact committed, and not afterwards; and the Defendant or Defendants in such Action or Suit shall and may plead the General Issue, and give this Act and the Special Matter in Evidence, and that the same was done in pursuance and by the Authority of this Act; and if it shall appear so to be done, or that such Action or Suit shall be commenced after the time before limited for bringing the same, that then the Jury shall find for the Defendant or Defendants; and upon a Verdict for the Defendant, or if the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs shall he nonsuited, or discontinue his, her or their Action or Suit, after the Defendant or Defendants shall have appeared, or if, upon Demurrer, Judgment shall be given against the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs, the Defendant or Defendants shall and may recover Treble Costs, and have the like remedy for the same as any Defendant or Defendants hath or have in any other cases by Law.