Ship letters. Establishment of a special rate. 4d inwards & half the packet rates outwards (39 G3 c76)

NOTICE is hereby given, That on and after the 10th of September, their Lordships the Postmaster-General will proceed to carry into execution the purpose of an Act, intitled "An Act for the more secure conveyance of Ship Letters, and for granting to his Majesty certain rates of Postage thereon;" by which it is enacted, "That it shall and may be lawful for his Majesty's Postmaster-General and his Deputies, in his and their discretion, to collect and receive Letters and Packets of Letters, directed within his Majesty's dominions, and also to any of the kingdoms and countries beyond the seas, and to forward the same by any ships or vessels that he in his discretion shall think fit, (although not packet boats).

"And also that it shall be lawful for such Postmaster-General, and his Deputies, to demand and take for every letter and packet which shall be delivered to him or his Deputies for conveyance in the manner before specified, a sum not less than one half part of the duties payable by law for such letters and packets if the same were conveyed by packet boats. And in cases where no rate of postage is already established, then to demand and take for such letters and packets, rates as near as the same can be ascertained, equal to one half of what is now paid for letters sent beyond the seas.

"And that it shall be lawful for such Postmaster-General to demand and take for every letter and packet which shall be brought by ships and vessels (other than packet boats) from places within his Majesty's dominions, and from all countries beyond the seas into Great Britain, to be conveyed by Inland Postage or carriage, Fourpence 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 ship or vessels, it shall be lawful for the Postmaster-General to allow all such Masters the sum of Twopence a letter or packet upon all such letters and packets as they shall have or take on board such vessel or vessels, provided such letters and packets shall have been delivered to them from the Post Office; - And in like manner on their arrival from parts beyond the seas, on their delivering unto the Deputy or Deputies of the Postmaster-General for such place or post town at which they shall touch or arrive, it shall be lawful to pay such Masters of ships and vessels Twopence a letter or packet, for all such letters and packets as they shall have on board, provided that such letters and packets shall have been regularly delivered unto the Masters by the Deputies of the Postmaster-General, or any other persons to be authorised by him at the place or post town from whence such ships or vessels have sailed or departed.

An Office, to be called a SHIP LETTER OFFICE, will therefore be opened at the GENERAL POST OFFICE, on the 10th of September, where attendance will be given from 10 in the morning until 6 in the afternoon, (Sundays excepted) to receive such letters as may be brought for conveyance under this Act, and to give all necessary information to the Public. Letters will also be received and bags made up at the following Coffee-Houses: Lloyd's, Jamaica and New England.

FRANCIS FREELING, Sec.