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Postage Act 1827
(7 & 8 Geo 4 c.21, 28th May 1827)

An Act to amend the Laws relating to the Duties of Postage in Great Britain and Ireland.
[ 28th May 1827 ]

WHEREAS by the Laws now in force imposing certain Rates of Postage in Great Britain and Ireland respectively, Letters conveyed by the Post from Places in Great Britain to Places in Ireland, or from Places in Ireland to Places in Great Britain, are, by reason of the separate Rates payable in each of those Parts of the United Kingdom, charged to higher Amount upon the whole than Letters conveyed the same Distances in Great Britain would be charged: And whereas it is expedient that such Difference of Charge, affecting exclusively the Correspondence between Great Britain Ireland, should no longer exist; 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 from and after the Fifth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven, in lieu of all Duties of Postage granted and made payable under any Act or Acts in force in Great Britain and Ireland respectively, upon Letters so conveyed from either of these Parts of the United Kingdom to the other, there shall be levied and paid the like Rates of Postage, according to the Distances which such Letters are conveyed, as would be payable on the Conveyance of Letters from Place to Place in Great Britain, in addition to the separate Rates of Packet Postage now payable, and also to the several Rates of Duty payable under the Acts for building the Menai and Conway Bridges respectively; the whole being according to the Schedule (A) to this Act annexed.

II. And be it further enacted, That from and after the Fifth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven, no other Packet Postage shall in any Case be demanded or paid or payable for Letters or Packets between Great Britain and Ireland, other than such as is specified and set forth in the Schedule (A.) to this Act annexed; and that from and after the said Fifth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven, all Rates or Duties of Packet Postage between Great Britain and Ireland, under any Act or Acts passed at any Time before the passing of this Act, shall cease and determine, and shall be and are hereby repealed, and shall no longer be paid or payable; any thing in any Act or Acts to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding.

III. And Whereas certain Rates of Postage upon Letters and Packets conveyed by the Post to and from Places within Ireland were granted by an Act of the Fifty fourth Year of His late Majesty King George the Third, intituled An Act to repeal certain Duties upon Letters and Packets sent by the Post within Ireland, and to grant other Duties in lieu thereof; and such Rates of Postage were made payable in Irish Currency: And Whereas by an Act passed in the Sixth Year of His present Majesty's Reign intituled An Act to provide for the Assimilation of the Currency and Monies of Account throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, certain Provisions are made for the Payment of Sums under the Amount of Twelve Pence of the Currency of Ireland, by an equivalent Number of British Pence, Halfpence, and Farthings, some of which are not generally in Circulation in Ireland; and in order to avoid the Inconvenience of collecting the Rates of Postage in Ireland according to the Directions of the said last-recited Act, it is expedient that such Rates of Postage should be in future charged and collected in the Currency of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; Be it therefore enacted, That the several Rates of Postage upon Letters and Packets sent and conveyed to and from Places within Ireland, which by the said hereinbefore recited Act of the Fifty fourth Year of the Reign of His said late Majesty are made payable, according to the several Amounts thereof, in Irish Currency, shall, from and after the said Fifth Day of July, be charged, levied, collected, and paid and payable, according to the several Amounts thereof, in the Currency and lawful Money of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, according to the Schedule (B.) to this Act annexed.

IV. And be it further enacted, That from and after the Fifth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven, it shall be lawful 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 and receive for the Conveyance of printed Votes and Proceedings in Parliament, by Packet Boats, from Great Britain and Ireland to any of His Majesty's Colonies and Possessions beyond the Seas, after the Rate of One Penny Halfpenny, and no more, for every Ounce Weight thereof, and so in proportion, in lieu of any Sum payable under any Act or Acts in force immediately before the passing of this Act, any thing in any Act or Acts to the contrary notwithstanding; the same to be paid when the said printed Votes and Proceedings shall be put into the Post Office; provided every such printed Vote and Proceeding shall be without a Cover, or in a Cover open at the Sides; and that there be no Writing thereon other than the Superscription; and that there be no other Paper or Thing inclosed or concealed therein.

V. And be it further enacted, That from and after the Fifth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven, it shall and may be lawful for His Majesty's Postmaster General, and his Deputy and Deputies, in His Majesty's Colonies and Possessions beyond the Seas, to receive any Votes, Proceedings, or other Public Papers, printed by Order or under the Authority of the Legislative Assemblies of any such Colonies or Possessions, for Conveyance by Packet Boats to Great Britain and Ireland; and for His Majesty's Postmaster General, and his Deputy or Deputies, in Great Britain and Ireland, to and for the Use of His Majesty, his Heirs, and Successors, to demand and receive for the Conveyance of every such Vote, Proceeding, or other printed Paper, after the Rate of One Penny Halfpenny for every Ounce Weight thereof, and so in proportion; to be paid on Delivery thereof to the Person or Persons to whom the same shall be addressed in Great Britain or Ireland; provided every such Paper shall be without a Cover, or in a Cover open at the Sides, and that there be no Writing thereon other than the Superscription; and that there be no other Paper or Thing inclosed or concealed therein.

VI. And Whereas Newspapers printed within His Majesty's Colonies and Possessions beyond the Seas, brought into Great Britain and Ireland by Ships other than Packets, and sent to the Post Office of the Port or Place at which the Letters brought by such Ships are landed, are now liable to the same Rates and Duties of Postage as Letters; and it is expedient that the Law in this respect should be amended; Be it therefore enacted, That from and after the Fifth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven, it shall be lawful for His Majesty's Postmaster General in Great Britain and Ireland, and for his Deputy and Deputies, for the Use of His Majesty, His Heirs, and Successors, to demand and receive, for the Conveyance of every such Paper by any Ship other than a Packet, and delivered by the Commander of any such Ship at any Post Office with the Ship's Letters, the Sum, of Three Pence, on the Delivery thereof to the Person or Persons to whom the same shall be addressed; provided every such Paper be sent without a Cover, or in a Cover open at the Sides; and that there be no Writing thereon other than the Superscription; and that there be no other Paper or Thing inclosed or concealed therein.

VII. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for His Majesty's Postmaster General, and his Deputy or Deputies, to receive at the Port of Falmouth any Pamphlet, Magazine, Review, or other periodical Publication, for Conveyance by Packet Boat to any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations; and to demand, have, receive, and take for the Conveyance of every such Pamphlet, Magazine, Review, or Publication, not exceeding Six Ounces in Weight, the Sum of One Shilling, and the further Sum of Three Pence per Ounce for any Weight beyond the Weight of Six Ounces; every Fraction of an Ounce to be charged as One Ounce: Provided always, that every such Pamphlet, Magazine, Review, and Publication be sent without a Cover, or in a Cover open at the Sides; and that there be no Writing thereon other than the Superscription; and that there be no other Paper or Thing inclosed or concealed therein.

VIII. And Whereas Letters from or to any Place in Great Britain, sent to or directed from Howth near Dublin, or Dunmore near Waterford, are contained in the Mails landed at or dispatched from Dublin and Waterford, respectively, and are carried in such Mail to and from Dublin and Waterford, from and to Howth and Dunmore, and are by such means subject to increased Postage, although no Benefit is derived from such Conveyance; Be it therefore enacted, That from and after the fifth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven, Letters and Packets from or to any Place in Great Britain, directed to or sent from Howth or Dunmore, or within the Delivery and Vicinity thereof respectively, shall not be chargeable with or subject or liable to any Increase of Postage in respect of being so carried to or from Dublin or Waterford, nor to any other or greater Amount of Postage than according to the actual Distance between Howth and Dunmore respectively, and the Town or Place in Great Britain from or to which they shall be sent, according to the Rates specified in Table (A.) annexed to this Act.

IX. And be it further enacted, That from and after the Fifth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven, it shall and may be lawful for the Postmaster General of Great Britain, and he is hereby authorized and empowered, to apply to the Revenue of the Post Office of Great Britain the Amount of all Rates of Postage received in Great Britain upon Letters sent from or to Ireland; and that in like Manner it shall be lawful for the Postmaster General of Ireland, and he is hereby authorized and empowered, to apply to the Revenue of the Post Office of Ireland the Amount of all Rates of Postage received in Ireland upon Letters and Packets sent from or to Great Britain; and that all Sums so received shall be paid and applied as the Revenue of Postage arising in Great Britain or Ireland respectively; any thing in any Act or Acts, or any Law, Usage, or Custom, to the contrary notwithstanding.

X. And be it further enacted, That from and after the Fifth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven, so much of an Act made in the Parliament of Great Britain in the Twenty fourth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Third, intituled An Act for establishing certain Regulations concerning the Portage and Conveyance of Letters and Packets by the Post between Great Britain and Ireland, whereby it is enacted, that there shall be allowed in account from the General Letter Office or Post Office in Great Britain to the Revenue of the Post Office in Ireland, a Sum not exceeding Four thousand Pounds per Annum; and also an Act made in the Fifty fifth Year of the Reign of His said late Majesty, intituled An Act to increase the Allowance to the Post Office in Ireland in respect of Packet Boats to Great Britain, shall be and the same are hereby repealed.

XI. And be it further enacted, That the Monies to arise by the several Rates and Duties made payable by this Act, except the Monies which shall be necessary to defray such Expence as shall be incurred in the Management and Collection of the same, shall be paid into the Receipt of the Exchequer at Westminster and Dublin, and shall be carried to and made Part of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

XII. And be it further enacted, That from and after the passing of this Act, every printed Newspaper or other printed Paper liable to the Stamp Duty, and for the Conveyance of which any Duty of Postage is chargeable under any Act or Acts in force in Great Britain or Ireland, shall and may in all Cases be put into the Post Office or Receiving Office of or for the Town or Place in Great Britain or Ireland in or at which such Newspaper shall be published, on any Day 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, any thing in any Act to the contrary notwithstanding; and in case any such Paper shall be put into any Post Office at any Time after the Expiration of such Seven Days, such Paper shall be charged with a Rate of Postage equal to that of a Single Letter sent by the Post from the Place where such Paper was published to the Place to which such Paper shall be addressed.

XIII. And Whereas, by the Laws in force, Merchants' Accounts, Bills of Exchange, Invoices, Bills of Lading, and Proceedings at Law, written on one and the same Piece of Paper with a Letter, and also several Letters to several and distinct Persons, written upon one and the same Piece of Paper, are liable to be rated, taxed, and paid for as so many several and distinct Letters; and it is expedient that the Laws in this respect should be altered; Be it therefore enacted, That from and after the passing of this Act, 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 and taken without Rate in the Price of the Letter; and that any Piece or Sheet of Paper upon which Letters to several and distinct Persons shall be written, shall not be charged or chargeable with any higher Rate of Postage in Great Britain or Ireland than if One Letter only were written upon such Sheet or Piece of Paper; any thing in any Act or Acts to the contrary notwithstanding.

XIV. And for the more effectually preventing the Detention of Letters on board Ships and Vessels coming to Great Britain and Ireland from Parts beyond the Seas, and the Injury and Inconvenience resulting to Merchants and others therefrom, be it enacted, That it shall be lawful to and for any Person or Persons, thereunto duly authorized and appointed by the Postmaster General of Great Britain or by the Postmaster General of Ireland, to demand and receive from the Master, Commander, or other Person having the Charge of any Ship or Vessel arriving at or off any Port in Great Britain or Ireland, all such Letters and Packets on board the same as are not exempted by Law; and the Master or Commander, or other Person having the Charge of any such Ship or Vessel, is hereby required forthwith to deliver such Letters and Packets to the Person or Persons authorized to demand and receive the same; and it shall be lawful for the Master, Commander, or other Person having the Charge of such Ship or Vessel, to retain on board any Letters or Packets exceeding the Weight of Three Ounces, until his Arrival at the regular Port or Place of Discharge of such Vessel, any thing in any Act or Acts to the contrary notwithstanding; and in case any Letter or Packet not exceeding the Weight of Three Ounces, not being exempted by Law, shall be found on board any such Ship or Vessel, or in the Possession of the Master or Commander, or of any of the Passengers or Crew, at any Time after the Time when Letters shall have been demanded or delivered as aforesaid, every and any Penalty payable by Law in respect of Letters found in the Possession of the Master of any Ship or Vessel after delivering his Letters at the Post Office of any Port at which he may touch prior to his arriving at the Port where the Ship or Vessel is to report, or in the Possession of any of the Crew, or in the Possession or Baggage of any Passenger on board, shall attach and be payable in respect of every Letter or Packet, not exceeding the Weight of Three Ounces, which shall be so found after such Demand and Delivery as is required by this Act; and every such Penalty shall be paid and payable by Person or Persons in whose Possession or Baggage any such Letter or Packet shall be discovered, and may be sued for, recovered, and applied in such Manner as is directed with respect to such Penalties by any Act or Acts in force in Great Britain or Ireland relating to the Duties of Postage.

XV. And be it further enacted, That whenever it shall that any Letter shall be addressed to any Commissioned Officer of the Army, Navy, or Ordnance, or any of the Departments belonging thereto respectively, at any Place where such Officer shall have been employed on actual Service, and that before Delivery of such Letter such Officer shall have removed from such Place in the Execution of his Duty in the Public Service, such Letter shall not be charged with any Postage for the Conveyance of the same to any Place at which such Letter be ultimately delivered, above or beyond the Rate of payable for the same on Delivery at the Place to which such Letter was originally directed.

XVI. And be it further enacted, That all the Powers, Provisions, Privileges, Advantages, Disabilities, Penalties, Forfeitures and Distribution thereof, and all Clauses and other Matters and Things contained in any Act or Acts in force at the Time of the passing of this Act, relating to the Post Office, or any Rates or Duties payable on the Port or Conveyance of Letters or Packets in Great Britain and Ireland, and not repealed or altered by this Act, shall, so far as the same are applicable, continue in force, and be applied and extended, and shall be construed to apply and extend to this present Act, and to the Rates and Duties hereby made payable, as fully and effectually to all Intents and Purposes as if the same had been particularly repeated and re-enacted in the Body of this Act.

XVII. Provided always, and be it enacted, That so much and such Parts of an Act made in the Fifty fifth Year of the Reign His late Majesty, intituled An Act to regulate the Postage of Ship Letters to and from Ireland, as except or refer to Great Britain, shall be and the same are hereby repealed.

XVIII. And Whereas by an Act made in the Fifty third Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Third, among other Things, for making further Regulations for securing the Duties on Letters and Packets sent by the Post in Ireland, certain Penalties or Forfeitures of Ten Pounds are imposed for certain Offences against the said Act: And Whereas Doubts have arisen whether the said Penalties continue in force, and are recoverable according to the Directions of the said Act; Be it therefore declared and enacted, That the said Act, and the said Penalties thereby inflicted, are and shall remain and continue in force; and that such Penalties of Ten Pounds shall and may be recovered, on Conviction of the Offender, in manner by the said recited Act directed; any thing in any Act or Acts to the contrary notwithstanding.

XIX. And be it further enacted, That this Act may be amended, altered, or repealed by any Act or Acts to be passed in this present Session of Parliament.

SCHEDULE (A.)

RATES of POSTAGE to be taken in the Currency of the United Kingdom for the Port and Conveyance of Letters and Packets by the Post from any Place in Great Britain to any Place in Ireland, or from any Place in Ireland to any Place in Great Britain.

If the Distance of such Places shall not exceed 15 Miles, British Measure

  • Single Letter: 0s 4d
  • Double Letter: 0s 8d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 1s 0d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 1s 4d

If such Distance shall exceed 15 and shall not exceed 20 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 0s 5d
  • Double Letter: 0s 10d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 1s 3d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 1s 8d

If such Distance shall exceed 20 and shall not exceed 30 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 0s 6d
  • Double Letter: 1s 0d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 1s 6d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 2s 0d

If such Distance shall exceed 30 and shall not exceed 50 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 0s 7d
  • Double Letter: 1s 2d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 1s 9d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 2s 4d

If such Distance shall exceed 50 and shall not exceed 80 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 0s 8d
  • Double Letter: 1s 4d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 2s 0d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 2s 8d

If such Distance shall exceed 80 and shall not exceed 120 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 0s 9d
  • Double Letter: 1s 6d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 2s 3d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 3s 0d

If such Distance shall exceed 120 and shall not exceed 170 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 0s 10d
  • Double Letter: 1s 8d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 2s 6d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 3s 4d

If such Distance shall exceed 170 and shall not exceed 230 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 0s 11d
  • Double Letter: 1s 10d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 2s 9d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 3s 8d

If such Distance shall exceed 230 and shall not exceed 300 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 1s 0d
  • Double Letter: 2s 0d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 3s 0d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 4s 0d

If such Distance shall exceed 300 and shall not exceed 400 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 1s 1d
  • Double Letter: 2s 2d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 3s 3d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 4s 4d

If such Distance shall exceed 400 and shall not exceed 500 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 1s 2d
  • Double Letter: 2s 4d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 3s 6d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 4s 8d

If such Distance shall exceed 500 and shall not exceed 600 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 1s 3d
  • Double Letter: 2s 6d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 3s 9d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 5s 0d

If such Distance shall exceed 600 and shall not exceed 700 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 1s 4d
  • Double Letter: 2s 8d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 4s 0d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 5s 4d

If such Distance shall exceed 700 such Miles

  • Single Letter: 1s 5d
  • Double Letter: 2s 10d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 4s 3d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 5s 8d

Letters and Packets conveyed by Packet Boats between the Ports of Portpatrick and Donaghadee, a Packet Postage over and above all other Rates

  • Single Letter: 0s 4d
  • Double Letter: 0s 8d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 1s 0d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 1s 4d

Letters and Packets conveyed by Packet Boats from or to Holyhead or Milford Haven, to or from any Port in Ireland, a Packet Postage over and above all other Rates

  • Single Letter: 0s 2d
  • Double Letter: 0s 4d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 0s 6d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 0s 8d

Letters and Packets conveyed by Packet Boats to or from Liverpool, from or to Dublin, any other Port in Ireland, a Packet Postage over and above all other Rates. Provided that no Letter sent by way of Liverpool shall be chargeable with higher Rate of Postage than if it were sent by way of Holyhead

  • Single Letter: 0s 8d
  • Double Letter: 1s 4d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 2s 0d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 2s 8d

Letters and Packets to and from any Part of Great Britain or Ireland, by way of Dublin and Holyhead, in addition to all other Rates (Menai Bridge)

  • Single Letter: 0s 1d
  • Double Letter: 0s 2d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 0s 3d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 0s 4d

Letters and Packets to and from any Part of Great Britain or Ireland, by way of Conway and Chester, in addition to all other Rates (Conway Bridge). And so in proportion in all the aforesaid Cases for any other Letter or Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce

  • Single Letter: 0s 1d
  • Double Letter: 0s 2d
  • Treble Letter, or other, under an Ounce Weight: 0s 3d
  • For every Ounce Weight, and for every Packet not exceeding an Ounce in Weight: 0s 4d

SCHEDULE (B.)

RATES of POSTAGE to be taken in the Currency of the United Kingdom for the Port and Conveyance of Letters by the Post to and from Places within Ireland, instead of the Rates in Irish Currency under 54 Geo. 3 c. 119.

For every Single Letter or Piece of Paper, from the Office in Ireland where such Letter or Piece of Paper shall be put in:

To any Distance within Ireland not exceeding 7 Miles, Irish Measure: 0s 2d

To any Distance exceeding 7 Miles, and not exceeding 15 Miles: 0s 3d

To any Distance exceeding 15 Miles, and not exceeding 25 Miles: 0s 4d

To any Distance exceeding 25 Miles, and not exceeding 35 Miles: 0s 5d

To any Distance exceeding 35 Miles, and not exceeding 45 Miles: 0s 6d

To any Distance exceeding 45 Miles, and not exceeding 55 Miles: 0s 7d

To any Distance exceeding 55 Miles, and not exceeding 65 Miles: 0s 8d

To any Distance exceeding 65 Miles, and not exceeding 95 Miles: 0s 9d

To any Distance exceeding 95 Miles, and not exceeding 120 Miles: 0s 10d

To any Distance exceeding 120 Miles, and not exceeding 150 Miles: 0s 11d

To any Distance exceeding 150 Miles, and not exceeding 200 Miles: 1s 0d

To any Distance exceeding 200 Miles, and not exceeding 250 Miles: 1s 1d

To any Distance exceeding 250 Miles, and not exceeding 300 Miles: 1s 2d

For every Distance of 100 Miles, Irish Measure, above 300 Miles, a further Sum of: 0s 1d

And for the Port and Conveyance of any Double Letter, Double the said Sums respectively; and for every Treble Letter, Treble the said Sums respectively; and so in proportion for any greater Weight than One Ounce, reckoning every Quarter of an Ounce equal to a Single Letter.