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Rates of Postage on certain Foreign, Colonial, and other Letters (1st September 1840)

WARRANT of the British Treasury, regulating the Rates of Postage payable on certain Foreign, Colonial, and other Letters, &c. 1st September, 1840.

Whereas by an Act, passed in the last session of Parliament, intituled "An Act for the regulation of the Duties of Postage," power is given to the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, by warrant under their hands, to alter and fix any of the rates of British or inland postage, payable by law on the transmission by the post of Foreign or Colonial letters or newspapers, or any other printed papers, and to subject the same to rates of postage according to the weight thereof, and a scale of weight to be contained in such warrant; and, from time to time, by warrant as aforesaid, to alter or repeal any such altered rates, and make and establish any new or other rates in lieu thereof; and, by warrant as aforesaid, to appoint at what time the rates that might be payable were to be paid; and it is provided, that the power thereby given to alter and fix rates of postage should extend to any increase or reduction or remission of postage; and whereas it is expedient to regulate and fix the rates of postage on letters transmitted by the post to and from Foreign countries through the United Kingdom; now we, the Undersigned, being three of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, do, in exercise of the power or authority in us for such purpose vested in and by the said Act, direct, that on every letter, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, transmitted by the post through the United Kingdom, between any of the Foreign countries or places mentioned in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th schedules hereto, or between any of such Foreign countries or places and any of Her Majesty's Colonies through the United Kingdom, there shall be charged and taken for the conveyance of any such letter, in lieu of the rates of postage payable thereon by the said Act, the rates of postage heretofore charged on such letters being the several and respective rates of postage following, that is to say: on all such letters passing between France and any of the countries or places mentioned in the 1st schedule hereto, through the United Kingdom, there shall be charged and taken the rate of British postage set opposite the name of every such country or place in such schedule; and on all such letters passing between Germany (via France), or Holland, or Belgium, and any of the countries or places mentioned in the 2nd schedule hereto, through the United Kingdom, there shall be charged and taken the rate of British postage set opposite the name of every such country or place in such last-mentioned schedule; and on all such letters passing between Germany (not via France), Denmark, Sweden, or other parts of the North of Europe, or any country through Belgium, or Holland, or Germany, and any of the countries or places mentioned in the 3rd schedule hereto, through the United Kingdom, there shall be charged and taken the rate of British postage set opposite the name of every such country or place in such last-mentioned schedule; and on all such letters passing between Switzerland (via France) and any of the countries or places mentioned in the 4th schedule hereto, through the United Kingdom, there shall be charged and taken the rate of British postage set opposite the name of every such country or place in such last-mentioned schedule; and on all such letters passing between Spain, Italy, Sicily, Venetian Lombardy, Turkey, the Levant, or the Archipelago (all via France), and any of the countries or places mentioned in the 5th schedule hereto, through the United Kingdom, there shall be charged and taken the rate of British postage set opposite the name of every such country or place in such last-mentioned schedule.

And we further direct, that on every letter, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, transmitted by the post between British North America or the United States of America, and any of the countries or places mentioned in the 6th schedule hereto, through any part of the United Kingdom without passing through London, there shall be charged and taken for the transmission of such letter the rates of British postage heretofore charged thereon, being the rate set opposite the name of every such country or place in the same schedule; and on every letter transmitted by the post between the West Indies and any of the countries or places mentioned in the 7th schedule hereto, through any part of the United Kingdom without passing through London, there shall be charged and taken for the transmission of such letter the rate of British postage heretofore chargeable thereon, being the rate set opposite the name of every such country or place in the same schedule; and on every letter transmitted by the post between Gibraltar and any of the Foreign countries or places mentioned in the 8th schedule hereto, through any part of the United Kingdom without passing through London, there shall be charged and taken for the conveyance of such letter the rates of British postage heretofore chargeable thereon, being the rate set opposite the name of every such country or place in the same schedule; and on every letter transmitted by the post between Malta, the Ionian Isles, Greece, Syria, Egypt, or the East Indies (not via France), and any of the Foreign countries or places mentioned in the 9th schedule hereto, through any part of the United Kingdom without passing through London, there shall be charged and taken for the conveyance of such letter the rate of British postage heretofore chargeable thereon, being the rate set opposite the name of every such country or place in the same schedule.

And we further direct, that on every letter, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, passing through the United Kingdom, between Foreign countries, or between any Foreign country and Her Majesty's Colonies, which shall be forwarded to the United Kingdom by packet-boat, and from the United Kingdom by private ship, or forwarded to the United Kingdom by private ship, and from the United Kingdom by packet-boat, there shall be charged and taken for the conveyance of every such letter by private ship an uniform rate of 8 pence, and for the conveyance thereof by packet-boat the rate payable on such letter under the said Act; letters of this description to and from France excepted, on which shall be charged a rate of 1 shilling on every such letter sent from France, and a rate of 1 shilling and 6 pence on every such letter sent to France.

And we further direct, that no letter shall be transmitted by the post through the United Kingdom, unless the British postage chargeable thereon be paid before the same be sent out of the United Kingdom, or unless there be a Treaty between the Postmaster-General and the Post Office of the Foreign country from which it shall have been forwarded, or to which it shall be addressed, for collecting and accounting for the British postage on such letters, or unless such letters should be addressed to any of Her Majesty's Colonies in which post offices are or shall be established by or under the authority of the Postmaster-General.

And whereas by the said Act it is declared, that it shall be lawful for Her Majesty's Postmaster-General to charge on all letters conveyed by the post between places within any of Her Majesty's Colonies, or conveyed by packet-boats between one part of Her Majesty's dominions and another part of the same dominions, or between Her Majesty's dominions and Foreign parts, or between one port in any Foreign country and another port in the same, or any other Foreign country where post communications shall be established, and where rates of postage have not hitherto been authorized by law; and also to charge on all letters conveyed by any vessels to or from any of the Colonies, or between any of the Colonies, or between any of the Colonies and a Foreign port; and on all letters which shall be brought by the master of any vessel to the post office in any of the Colonies, such rates of postage as the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, by warrant under their hands, shall, from time to time, direct:

Now we hereby direct, that on every letter, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, conveyed by any vessel between any of Her Majesty's Colonies, or between any of the said Colonies and any Foreign port, not passing through the United Kingdom, there shall be charged and taken a sea postage of 4 pence; and the Postmaster-General may allow to the masters of any such vessels, by way of gratuity, a sum, not exceeding 2 pence, for each letter so conveyed by them as last aforesaid, for and on behalf of the post office; but no such gratuities shall be payable in respect of any letters on which gratuities will otherwise by law be payable under the said Act.

And we further direct, that on every letter, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, conveyed by any of Her Majesty's packet-boats between any Foreign ports in South America, or between the island of Madeira and the Canary Islands, or between the island of Madeira and the Canary Islands and any port in South America, there shall be charged and taken a packet rate of 1 shilling.

And we further direct, that on every letter transmitted as is mentioned in this warrant, exceeding half an ounce in weight, there shall be charged and taken progressive and additional rates of postage according to the scale of weight and number of rates in the said Act contained as to letters, estimating and charging each additional rate at the sum which any such letter would be charged with under this warrant, if not exceeding half an ounce in weight.

And we further direct, that on all printed prices current and printed commercial lists conveyed by packet boat, or by any vessel from any of Her Majesty's Colonies, addressed to any place within the United Kingdom, there shall be charged and taken a rate of postage of 1 penny each; and on all such printed prices current and commercial lists, passing through the United Kingdom, there shall be charged and taken a rate of British postage of 2 pence each; and on all printed prices current and commercial lists, sent from France or China to any place within the United Kingdom, there shall be charged and taken a rate of British postage of 1 penny each; and on all printed prices current and commercial lists, sent from any Foreign country, except France and China, to the United Kingdom, or from any of Her Majesty's Colonies through France to the United Kingdom, there shall be charged and taken a rate of British postage of 2 pence each.

And we further declare, that on all printed votes and proceedings of the Imperial Parliament, sent from any part of the United Kingdom to any of Her Majesty's Colonies by private vessels, and on all printed votes and proceedings of the Colonial Legislatures, sent to the United Kingdom by private vessels, there shall be charged and paid the rates of British postage following, that is to say:

If not exceeding 4 ounces in weight, a rate of 2 pence.
If exceeding 4 ounces and not exceeding 8 ounces in weight, a rate of 4 pence.
If exceeding 8 ounces in weight and not exceeding 12 ounces in weight, a rate of 6 pence.
And if exceeding 12 ounces and not exceeding 16 ounces in weight, a rate of 8 pence.
And for every additional 4 ounces in weight, above the weight of 16 ounces, there shall be charged and paid an additional rate of 2 pence, and any lesser weight than 4 ounces shall be charged as 4 ounces.

And we further direct, that all printed prices current, commercial lists, printed votes and proceedings of Parliament, and the Colonial Legislatures, received within or sent out of the United Kingdom under this warrant, shall be subject, as well to all the regulations and conditions prescribed by the said Act, in respect of printed papers sent by the post, as also to all such other regulations as the Postmaster-General, with the consent of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, may, from time to time, make in respect of any paper or packet of such a description; and the Postmaster-General may allow to the masters of any vessels, by way of gratuity, a sum, not exceeding 1 penny, for each printed price current and commercial list; and each packet of printed votes and proceedings of Parliament, or the Colonial Legislatures, conveyed by them for and on behalf of the post office.

Provided always, that it shall be lawful for the Postmaster-General (if he shall see fit) to delay the transmission of any such printed votes or proceedings of Parliament, or the Colonial Legislatures, for any space, not exceeding 24 hours from the time at which the same would otherwise have been forwarded.

And we direct, that any gratuities, authorized by this warrant to masters of vessels for letters and printed papers conveyed by them for or on behalf of the post office, shall be paid at such times and places, and under all such regulations and restrictions, as the Postmaster-General shall in his discretion think fit.

And we further direct, that it shall in all cases be optional with the parties sending any printed prices current, commercial lists, printed votes or proceedings of Parliament, by the post to places out of the United Kingdom, in pursuance of this warrant, to forward the same free of postage, by means of a proper stamp or stamps thereon or affixed thereto, in manner in the said Act provided, or to forward the same in like manner as the same might otherwise have been forwarded under the said Act and this present warrant; but, nevertheless, in case any printed prices current, commercial lists, printed votes or proceedings of Parliament, addressed to places out of the United Kingdom, shall have thereon or affixed thereto any stamp or stamps, being less in amount or value than the rates of postage to which such prices current, commercial lists, votes, or proceedings would be liable under the said Act and this present warrant, such prices current, commercial lists, printed votes or proceedings of Parliament, if the postage thereon be required by the Postmaster-General to be paid when posted, shall not, in any case, be forwarded by the post, but shall, so far as may be practicable, be returned to the senders thereof, through the Dead Letter Office; and if the postage on such printed prices current, commercial lists, printed votes or proceedings, be not so required to be paid when posted, the same may be forwarded charged with such postage as if no stamp had been thereon or affixed thereto.

And whereas by the said Act it is provided, that no letter exceeding 16 ounces in weight, shall be forwarded by the post between places within the United Kingdom, except petitions and addresses to Her Majesty, and petitions to either Houses of Parliament, and except in such other cases, and subject to such regulations and restrictions, as the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, by warrant under their hands, shall, from time to time, direct.

Now we hereby direct, that the following letters and parcels maybe forwarded by the post between places with in the United Kingdom, although exceeding 16 ounces in weight, that is to say:

1st. Bankers' parcels delivered at the General Post Office in London, containing reissuable cash notes issued by country bankers under annual licence, and payable at the houses of the respective agents in London (and which notes shall have been paid by such agents); but no packet shall be conveyed under this provision unless it shall be superscribed "reissuable country bank notes," and shall be certified by the signature of the agent or agents of such country bank, or one of them, in his or their own hand writing; and such packets shall be delivered at the General Post Office in London at such hours in the day, and under all such regulations, as the Postmaster-General shall appoint.

2nd. Deeds, law proceedings, and law papers, posted at such places, within such hours, and under all such regulations as the Postmaster-General shall appoint.

3rd, Letters to and from places beyond the seas.

And lastly, letters to and from any of the Government offices or departments, or any public officer who, on the 1st day of January, 1840, had the privilege of franking by virtue of his office.

And we further direct, that the terms and expressions used in this present warrant shall be construed to have the like meaning, in all respects, as they would have had if inserted in the said Act.

And we further direct, that this warrant shall come into operation on the 2nd day of September, 1840.

Provided lastly, and we hereby declare and direct, that it shall be lawful for the Commissioners, for the time being, of Her Majesty's Treasury, or any three of them, by warrant under their hands, at any time hereafter, to alter or repeal any of the rates hereby altered, or the regulations hereby made, and to make and establish any new or other rates or regulations in lieu thereof, and, from time to time, to appoint at what time the rates that may be payable are to be paid.


FIRST SCHEDULE.

Between France and the countries and places hereinafter mentioned, that is to say:

s. d.
Spain 22
British North America and the United States of America 10
Gibraltar 26
Malta, the Ionian Islands, Greece, Syria, Egypt, and the East Indies 26
Portugal 27
Madeira 28
Brazil 37
Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Peru 36
Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba 32
St. Domingo 24
Jamaica and the West Indies 23

SECOND SCHEDULE.

Between Germany (via France), or Holland, or Belgium, and the countries and places hereinafter mentioned, that is to say:

s. d.
Spain (not via France) 36
British North America and the United States of America 24
Gibraltar 310
Malta, the Ionian Islands, Greece, Syria, Egypt, and the East Indies 310
Portugal 310
Madeira 311
Brazil 410
Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Peru 49
Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba 45
St. Domingo 37
Jamaica and the West Indies 36

THIRD SCHEDULE.

Between Germany (not via France), Denmark, Sweden, or other parts of the North of Europe, or any country through Belgium, or Holland, or Germany, and the countries and places hereinafter mentioned, that is to say:

s. d.
Spain (not via France) 310
British North America and the United States of America 28
Gibraltar 42
Malta, the Ionian Islands, Greece, Syria, Egypt, and the East Indies 42
Portugal 42
Madeira 43
Brazil 52
Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Peru 51
Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba 49
St. Domingo 311
Jamaica and the West Indies 310

FOURTH SCHEDULE.

Between Switzerland (via France) and the countries and places hereinafter mentioned, that is to say:

s. d.
Spain 34
British North America and the United States of America 22
Gibraltar 38
Malta, the Ionian Islands, Greece, Syria, Egypt, and the East Indies 38
Portugal 38
Madeira 39
Brazil 48
Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Peru 47
Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba 43
St. Domingo 35
Jamaica and the West Indies 34

FIFTH SCHEDULE.

Between Spain, Italy, Sicily, Venetian Lombardy, Turkey, the Levant, or the Archipelago (all via France), and the countries and places hereinafter mentioned, that is to say:

s. d.
Spain 39
British North America and the United States of America 27
Gibraltar 41
Malta, the Ionian Islands, Greece, Syria, Egypt, and the East Indies 41
Portugal 41
Madeira 42
Brazil 51
Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Peru 50
Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba 48
St. Domingo 310
Jamaica and the West Indies 39

SIXTH SCHEDULE.

Rates of postage to be charged on letters arriving at any port in the United Kingdom and forwarded thence, without passing through London, between British North America, or the United States of America, and the countries and places hereinafter mentioned, that is to say:

s. d.
Spain 32
Portugal 27
Brazil 37
Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Peru 35
Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba 31
St. Domingo 23

SEVENTH SCHEDULE.

Rates of postage to be charged on letters arriving at any port in the United Kingdom, and forwarded thence, without passing through London, between the West Indies and the countries and places hereinafter mentioned, that is to say:

s. d.
Spain 35
Portugal 210
Brazil 310
Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Peru 38
Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba 34
St. Domingo 26

EIGHTH SCHEDULE.

Rates of postage to be charged on letters arriving at any port in the United Kingdom, and forwarded thence, without passing through London, between Gibraltar and the countries and places hereinafter mentioned, that is to say:

s. d.
United States of America 211
Brazil 46
Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Peru 44
Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba 40
St. Domingo 32

NINTH SCHEDULE.

Rates of postage to be charged on letters arriving at any port in the United Kingdom, and forwarded thence, without passing through London, between Malta, the Ionian Islands, Greece, Syria, Egypt, or the East Indies (not via France), and the countries and places hereinafter mentioned, that is to say:

s. d.
United States of America 33
Brazil 410
Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Peru 48
Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba 44
St. Domingo 36

Dated this 1st day of September, 1840.

MELBOURNE.
F. BARING.
THOS. WYSE.