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Postage Act 1801
(41 Geo 3 c.7, 24th March 1801)

An Act for repealing the Rates and Duties of Postage in Great Britain, and granting other Rates and Duties in lieu thereof, and on Letters conveyed to or from any Part of the United Kingdom from or to any Place out of the said Kingdom, and by Packet Boats from or to the Ports of Holyhead and Milford Haven.
[ 24th March 1801 ]

Most Gracious Sovereign,

WE, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled, being desirous of raising the necessary Supplies to defray Your Majesty's Publick Expences, and of making a permanent Addition to the Publick Revenue; and thinking it expedient that the Rates of Postage established by an Act made in the Ninth Year of the Reign of Her late Majesty Queen Anne, and by Four several Acts of the Fifth, Twenty-fourth, Thirty-fourth, and Thirty-seventh Year of Your Majesty's Reign, should be repealed, and that other Rates of Postage should be granted; have therefore freely and voluntarily resolved to give and grant unto Your Majesty, the Rates and Duties here-in-after mentioned; and do therefore most humbly beseech Your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it 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 the several Rates of Postage established within Great Britain by 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 Dominions, and for settling a weekly Sum out of the Revenues thereof for the Service of the War, and other Her Majesty's Occasions; and by another Act, made in the Fifth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, An Act to alter certain Rates of Postage; and to amend, explain, and enlarge several Provisions in an Act made in the Ninth Year of the Reign of Queen Anne, and in other Acts relating to the Revenue of the Post Office; and by another Act, made in the Twenty-fourth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, An Act for granting to His Majesty certain additional Rates of Postage for Conveyance of Letters and Packets by the Post within the Kingdom of Great Britain; for preventing Frauds in the Revenue, carried on by the Conveyance of certain Goods in Letters and Packets; and for further preventing Frauds and Abuses in relation to the sending and receiving of Letters and Packets free from Postage: and by another Act, made in the Thirty-seventh Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, An Act for altering certain Rates of Postage for Conveyance of Letters in England and Scotland respectively, and of Packets to and from Great Britain from and to Portugal and the British Colonies in America respectively; and for setting apart, at the Receipt of the Exchequer for a certain Period out of the Revenues of the Post Office, the annual Sum of Forty thousand Pounds, towards defraying the encreased Charge occasioned by any Loan raised or Stock created, by any Act or Acts passed in the Thirty-fifth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty; and also the Rate or Sum of One Penny established for the Conveyance of Letters and Packets by the Carriage called The Penny Post from any Place to any other Place, being respectively within the Cities of London and Westminster, the Borough of Southwark, and the respective Suburbs thereof, and of Letters put into the Penny Post Office to be forwarded by the General Post, by an Act made in the Thirty-fourth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, An Act for regulating the Portage and Conveyance of Letters by the Carriage called The Penny Post, shall, from and after the Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and one, cease and determine, save and except in all Cases relating to the demanding, recovering, receiving, paying, or accounting for any Arrears thereof respectively, which may, on the said Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and one remain unpaid, or any Fine, Penalty, or Forfeiture respecting the same, which shall have been incurred at any Time before the said Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and one.

II. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the said Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and one, it shall be lawful for His Majesty's Postmaster-General, and his Deputy and Deputies by him thereunto sufficiently authorized, 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 Letters and Packets which he shall convey, carry, or send Post within Great Britain, according to the several Rates and Sums herein-after mentioned, the same being rated by the Letter, or by the Ounce; (that is to say),

For the Port and Conveyance of Letters by the General Post, not exceeding Fifteen measured Miles within Great Britain, for every single Letter Three-pence; for every double Letter Sixpence; for every treble Letter, or other Letter under an Ounce in Weight, Nine-pence; and for every Ounce in Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, One Shilling; and so in Proportion for every other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce:

For the Port and Conveyance of Letters by the Post above Fifteen measured Miles, and not exceeding Thirty Miles, within Great Britain, for every single Letter Four-pence; for every double Letter Eight-pence; for every treble Letter, or other Letter under an Ounce in Weight, One Shilling; and for every Ounce in Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, One Shilling and Four-pence; and so in Proportion for every other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce:

For the Port and Conveyance of Letters by the Post above Thirty measured Miles, and not exceeding Fifty Miles, within Great Britain, for every single Letter Five-pence; for every double Letter Ten-pence; for every treble Letter, or other Letter under an Ounce in Weight, One Shilling and Three-pence; and for every Ounce in Weight and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, One Shilling and Eight-pence; and so in Proportion for every other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce:

For the Port and Conveyance of Letters by the Post above Fifty measured Miles, and not exceeding Eighty Miles, within Great Britain, for every single Letter Sixpence; for every double Letter One Shilling; for every treble Letter, or other Letter under an Ounce in Weight, One Shilling and Sixpence; and for every Ounce in Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, Two Shillings and Sixpence; and so in Proportion for every other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce:

For the Port and Conveyance of Letters by the Post above Eighty measured Miles, and not exceeding One hundred and twenty Miles, within Great Britain, for every single Letter Seven-pence; for every double Letter One Shilling and Two-pence; for every treble Letter, or other Letter under an Ounce in Weight, One Shilling and Nine-pence; and for every Ounce in Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, Two Shillings and Four-pence, and so in Proportion for every other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce:

For the Port and Conveyance of Letters by the Post above One hundred and twenty measured Miles, and not exceeding One hundred and seventy Miles, within Great Britain, for every single Letter Eight-pence; for every double Letter One Shilling and Four-pence; for every treble Letter, or other Letter under an Ounce in Weight, Two Shillings; and for every Ounce in Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, Two Shillings and Eight-pence; and so in Proportion for every other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce:

For the Port and Conveyance of Letters by the Post above One hundred and seventy measured Miles, and not exceeding Two hundred and thirty Miles, within Great Britain, for every single Letter Nine-pence; for every double Letter One Shilling and Sixpence; for every treble Letter or other Letter under an Ounce in Weight, Two Shillings and Three-pence; and for every Ounce in Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, Three Shillings; and so in Proportion for every other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce:

For the Port and Conveyance of Letters by the Post above Two hundred and thirty measured Miles, and not exceeding Three hundred Miles, within Great Britain, for every single Letter Ten pence; for every double Letter One Shilling and Eight-pence; for every treble Letter or other Letter under an Ounce in Weight, Two Shillings and Sixpence; and for every Ounce in Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, Three Shillings and Four-pence; and so in Proportion for every other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce:

For the Port and Conveyance of every single Letter by the Post, for every Distance of One hundred measured Miles above Three hundred Miles which such Letter shall be so carried or conveyed within Great Britain, a further Sum of One Penny; for every double Letter, a like further Sum of Two-pence; for every treble Letter or other Letter under an Ounce in Weight, a like further Sum of Three-pence; and for every Ounce in Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, a like further Sum of Four-pence; and so in Proportion for every other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce:

And where such Distance above Three hundred measured Miles shall not amount to One hundred Miles, the like further Sum for every single Letter One Penny; for every double Letter, the like further Sum of Two-pence; for every treble Letter or other Letter under an Ounce in Weight, the like further Sum of Three-pence; for every Ounce in Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, the like further Sum of Four-pence; and so in Proportion for every other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce:

And where the Distance above Three hundred measured Miles hall exceed One hundred Miles, and so progressively for any like Excess of Distance of One hundred Miles, the like further Sum for every single Letter One Penny; for every double Letter, the like further Sum of Two-pence; for every treble Letter or other Letter under an Ounce in Weight, the like further Sum of Three-pence; for every Ounce in Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, the like further Sum of Four-pence; and so in Proportion for every other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce:

For the Port and Conveyance of Letters by the Post to or from any Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, from or to any Places out of the said Kingdom not within His Majesty's Dominions, in Addition to all other Rates now payable, for every single Letter Four-pence; for every double Letter Eight-pence; for every treble Letter or other Letter under an Ounce in Weight, One Shilling; and for every Ounce in Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, One Shilling and Four-pence; and so in Proportion for every other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce.

III. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for His Majesty's Postmaster-General, and his Deputy and Deputies, Officer and Officers, to demand, have, receive, and take for the Conveyance of every Letter originally sent by the Post heretofore known by the Name of The Penny Post, (and not first passing by the General Post), the Postage whereof shall not be paid on putting the same into the Office of the said Post, the several Rates or Sums of Money herein-after mentioned; (that is to say,) for the Conveyance of every Letter sent by the said Post from any Place within the Cities of London and Westminster, the Borough of Southwark, and the respective Suburbs thereof to any other Place within the same Cities and Borough and the Suburbs thereof, the Sum of Two-pence; for the Conveyance of every Letter put into such last-mentioned Post Office to be forwarded by the General Post, the Sum of Two-pence.

IV. And be it further enacted, That from and after the said Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and one, all Merchants' Accounts, Bills of Exchange, Invoices, and Bills of Lading whatever, shall be rated, taxed, and paid for, as so many several Letters, or by the Ounce, according to the respective Rates by this Act made payable on Letters and Packets conveyed by the General Post.

V. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the passing of this Act, it shall be lawful to and for His Majesty's Postmaster-General in his Discretion, to undertake, at the Expence of the Revenue of the Post Office, the Conveyance and Delivery of Letters directed to Persons abiding in Towns, Villages, and Places (not being Post Towns) from the respective Post Towns to which such Letters shall be carried by the Post in the usual Manner; and also the Collection and Conveyance of Letters in and from such Towns, Villages, and Places, in order to be sent by the Post; and to take such Sum and Sums of Money for the Use of His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, for such respective extra Service to be performed, as shall and may from Time to Time be mutually agreed upon by and between the Postmaster-General and the Inhabitants respectively.

VI. Provided always nevertheless, and be it further enacted, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to hinder or prevent the Inhabitants of any such Towns, Villages, and Places respectively, from carrying one carrying or re-carrying, or employing any Messenger, Servant, or other Person to carry or re-carry any Letters or Packets, to or from the Post Town in such Manner as they have heretofore been accustomed and are by Law authorized; any Thing herein contained to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.

VII. And be it further enacted, That the Monies to arise and be received for such extra Services as aforesaid shall, after paying the Expences incurred, be applied in such Manner as the present Rates of Postage are by Law applicable.

VIII. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the passing of this Act, it shall be lawful to and for His Majesty's Postmaster-General, in his Discretion, to enter into any Agreement or Agreements with, or to take Security from, any Person or Persons applying to him for that Purpose, for indemnifying His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, in Whole or in Part, and for such Time as the Postmaster-General may think necessary, against the Expences which shall or may be incurred beyond the Rates of Postage, by extending the Conveyance of Letters by Post to or from any Places where such Conveyance shall be extended at the Request of such Person or Persons, and it shall appear doubtful to the said Postmaster whether by extending the said Conveyance an additional Expence to the Revenue may not be incurred.

IX. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the said Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and one, it shall be lawful to and for His Majesty's Postmaster-General, and his Deputy and Deputies, by him thereunto sufficiently authorized, 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 Packet Boats from or to the Ports of Holyhead or Milford Haven, to or from any Ports in Ireland, over and above all the Rates payable for such Letters or Packets, a Packet Postage, according to the Rates or Sums herein-after mentioned; that is to say, for every single Letter Two-pence; for every double Letter Four-pence; for every treble Letter, or other Letter less than an Ounce in Weight, Sixpence; and for every Ounce in Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight, Eight-pence; and so in Proportion for every Letter or Packet exceeding an Ounce in Weight.

X. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That nothing herein contained shall increase or alter, or be construed to increase or alter, the Amount or Manner of charging the Rates of Postage upon single Letters to be sent by the Post, by or to Seamen or Privates employed in His Majesty's Navy, Army, Militia, Fencible Regiments, Artillery, or Marines, upon their own private Concerns only, whilst such Seamen and Privates shall be employed in the Publick Service as aforesaid, made payable by an Act passed in the Thirty-fifth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, An Act for further regulating the sending and receiving Letters free from the Duty of Postage; for allowing Non-commissioned Officers, Seamen, and Private Men, in the Navy and Army, whilst on Service, to send and receive Letters at a low Rate of Postage; and for permitting Patterns and Samples of Goods to be transmitted by the Post at an easier Rate than is now allowed by Law; any Thing herein-before contained to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding.

XI. Provided also, and be it further enacted, That nothing herein contained shall increase or alter, or be construed to increase or alter, the Amount or Manner of charging the Rate of Postage upon Letters, Packets, or Covers, containing Patterns of Cloth, Silk, Stuff, or other Goods, or Samples of other Sort of Things, not exceeding One Ounce in Weight, made payable by the said last-mentioned Act, passed in the Thirty-fifth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty; any Thing herein-before contained to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding.

XII. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the said Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and one, all and every the Clauses, Provisions, Powers, Privileges, Advantages, Disabilities, Penalties, and Methods, for the Recovery of the same, and all other Matters and Things in force at the Time of passing this Act, and contained in the said Act made in the Ninth Year of the Reign of Her said late Majesty Queen Anne, or in any other of the before-mentioned Acts of Parliament, or in any other Act or Acts of Parliament, so far as the same relate to the Post Office (and not repealed or altered by this Act), shall continue in force, and shall be applied and extended, and shall be construed to apply and extend, to this present Act, as fully and effectually, to all Intents and Purposes, as if the fame had been particularly repeated and re-enacted in the Body of this present Act.

XIII. And be it further enacted, That the several Rates and Duties herein-before granted, together with such other Rates and Duties of the Revenue of the Post Office as shall be by Law payable and received after the said Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and one, shall be paid from Time to Time into the Hands of the Receiver-General for the Time being of the Revenue of the Post Office, who shall pay (the same the necessary Charges for collecting, paying, and accounting for the same being first deducted) into the Receipt of His Majesty's Exchequer on such Days and Times, and in such Manner, as the Rates and Duties hereby repealed were by any Law in force at and immediately before the passing of this Act directed to be paid, and the said Money so to be paid into the said Receipt as aforesaid shall be carried to and made Part of the Consolidated Fund.

XIV. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That out of the Monies arising by the said Rates and Duties hereby imposed, and such other Rates and Duties of the Revenue of the Post Office as shall be by Law payable after the said Fifth Day of April, after setting apart quarterly the several Sums of One hundred and two thousand six hundred and thirty-nine Pounds, and of Ten thousand Pounds, in the Manner and for the Purposes directed by the said Act passed in the Thirty-seventh Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, the further Sum of Forty-nine thousand six hundred and two Pounds, being One-Fourth Part of the annual average Produce for Three Years, ending on the Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred, of the Remainder of the Rates and Duties granted by the said last-mentioned Act, and directed thereby to be set apart, or so much thereof as shall be sufficient, shall, according to the said last-mentioned Act, be set apart as an Addition made to the Publick Revenue for the Purposes therein-mentioned; and after setting apart the several Sums above-mentioned, or so much as shall be sufficient, the Remainder of the said Revenue shall, during the Period of Ten Years after the passing of this Act, be entered in the Books in the Receipt of His Majesty's Exchequer, distinctly and apart from all other Branches of the Publick Revenue; and that the said Remainder of the said Rates to be set apart, or so much thereof as shall be sufficient, shall be deemed an Addition made to the Revenue, for the Purpose of defraying the encreased Charge occasioned by any Loan made, or Stock created or to be created, for the Service of Great Britain, by virtue of any Act or Acts passed or to be passed in this Session of Parliament; and that there shall be provided and kept in the Office of the Auditor of the said Receipt, during the said Period of Ten Years, a Book or Books, in which the said Remainder of the said Revenue shall, together with the Monies arising from any other Duties granted or to be granted in this Session of Parliament, for the Purpose of defraying such encreased Charge as aforesaid, be entered separate and apart from all other Monies paid or payable to His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, upon any Account whatever.

XV. And be it further enacted, That if any Person or Persons shall, at any Time or Times, be sued, molested, or prosecuted for any Thing by him, her, or them done or executed in pursuance of this Act, or of any Clause, Matter, or Thing herein contained, such Person and Persons shall and may plead the General Issue, and give the special Matter in Evidence for his or their Defence; and if, upon the Trial, a Verdict shall pass for the Defendant or Defendants, or the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs shall become nonsuited, then such Defendant or Defendants shall have Treble Costs awarded to him, her, or them, against such Plaintiff or Plaintiffs.

XVI. And be it further enacted, That this Act may be altered, varied, or repealed by any Act or Acts to be made in this present Session of Parliament.