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of; and all letters brought to any post-office, half an hour before the time of making up the mail at fuch office, fhall be forwarded therein; except at fuch post-offices, where, in the opi nion of the Poftmafter-General, it requires more time for making up the mail, and which he fhall accordingly prefcribe; but this fhall, in no cafe, exceed one hour.

Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That from and after the firft day of June next, the Allowance Postmaster-General shall be allowed, for his to post- fervices, at the rate of two thoufand four hunmafter-general and dred dollars per annum, his affiftant, at the his affiftant rate of one thoufand two hundred dollars per

Rates of postage.

annum, and the Poftmafter-General fhall be allowed four clerks, whofe compenfation fhall be regulated in fuch manner, as not to exceed five hundred dollars per annum to each: All the abovementioned compenfations to be paid quarterly out of the revenues of the poft-office; and no fees or perquifites fhall be received by any perfon employed in the general poft-office, on account of the duties to be performed, in virtue of his appointment.

Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the deputy postmasters and perfons authorized by the Poftmafter General, fhall demand and receive for the conveyance of letters and packets, except fuch as are hereinafter excepted, the following rates of postage: For every single letter conveyed by land, not exceeding thirty miles, fix cents; over thirty miles and not exceeding fixty, eight cents; over fixty, and not exceeding one hundred, ten cents; over one hundred miles, and not exceeding one hundred and fifty, twelve cents and a half; over one hundred and fifty miles, and not exceeding two hundred, fifteen cents; over two hundred

fing by fea.

miles, and not exceeding two hundred and fifty, seventeen cents; over two hundred and fifty miles, and not exceeding three hundred and fifty, twenty cents; over three hundred and fifty miles, and not exceeding four hun dred and fifty, twenty-two cents; and more than four hundred and fifty miles, twenty-five cents; and for every double letter, double the faid rates; for every triple letter, triple; and for every packet weighing one ounce avoirdupois, at the rate of four fingle letters; and in that proportion for any greater weight. Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That for Rates of all letters and packets paffing by fea, to and letters paffrom the United States, or from one port to another therein, in packet-boats or vessels, the property of, or provided by the United States, poftage fhall be charged as follows: For every fingle letter, eight cents; for for every double letter, fixteen cents; for every triple letter, or packet, twenty-four cents; and for every letter or packet brought into the United States, or carried from one port therein to another, by fea, in any private fhip or veffel, four cents, if delivered at the place where the same shall arrive; and if directed to be delivered at any other place, with the addition of like postage, as other letters are made fubject to the payment of, by this act.

ing beyond

Sec. 11. And be it further enacted, That if Penalty on any deputy postmaster, or other perfon autho- demanding rized by the Postmaster-General to receive the or receivpostages of letters, fhall fraudulently demand tipulated or receive any rate of postage, or any gratuity poltage. or reward, other than is provided by this aft, for the postage of letters or packets, on conviction thereof, he fhall forfeit, for every fuch offence, one hundred dollars, and shall be ren

Duty of

dered incapable of holding any office or appointment under the United States.

Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, That no mafters of fhip or veffel arriving at any port within the veffels pre- United States, where a poft-office is establishmaking re- ed, fhall be permitted to report, make entry,

vious to

port, &c.

Duty of collectors he rein.

of postmasters on receipt of

ters.

or break bulk, until the master or commander fhall have delivered to the poftmaster, all letters directed to any perfon or persons within the United States, which, under his care, or within his power, fhall be brought in fuch fhip or vessel, except fuch as are directed to the owner or confignee of the ship or veffel, and except alfo fuch as are directed to be delivered at the port of delivery, to which fuch fhip or veffel may be bound. And it fhall be the duty of the collector, or other officer of the port empowered to receive entries of fhips or vef fels, to require from every mafter or commander of fuch fhip or veffel, an oath or affirmation, purporting that he has delivered all fuch letters, except as aforefaid.

Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That the postmasters, to whom fuch letters may be deforeign let livered, fhall pay to the mafter, commander or other perfon delivering the fame, except the commanders of foreign packets, two cents for each letter or packet, and shall obtain from the perfon delivering the fame, a certificate fpecifying the number of letters and packets, with the name of the ship or veffel, and the place from whence fhe last failed; which certificate, together with a receipt for the money, fhall be, with his quarterly accounts, tranfmitted to the Poftmafter-General, who fhall credit him with the amount.

Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, That if any person, other than the Postmaster-Gene

fending a

ral, or his deputies, or perfons by them em- Penalty on ployed, fhall be concerned in fetting up, or perfons of maintaining any foot or horfe-poft, ftage-wag- gainft this gon, or other stage-carriage, on any established act. poft-road, or any packet-boat or other veffel, to ply regularly from one place to another, between which, a regular communication by water fhall be established by the United States, and fhall receive any letter or packet, other than newspapers, magazines or pamphlets, and carry the fame by fuch foot or horfe-post, stagewaggon or other ftage-carriage, packet-boat or veffel, (excepting only fuch letter or letters as may be directed to the owner or owners of fuch conveyance, and relating to the fame, or to the perfon, to whom any package or bundle in fuch conveyance is intended to be delivered) every perfon, fo offending, fhall forfeit, for every fuch offence, the fum of fifty dollars: Provided, That it fhall be lawful for any person to fend letters or packets by a special meffenger.

account

master-ge

ters.

Sec. 15. And be it further enacted, That the deputy-poftmasters and other agents of the Deputies to Poftmafter-General, fhall duly account, and with postanfwer to him, for all way-letters, which fhall neral for come to their hands: And for this purpose, way-letthe post-riders and other carriers of the mail, receiving any way-letter or letters (and it shall be their duty to receive them, if presented more than two miles from a poft-office) fhall deliver the fame, together with the poftage, if paid, at the first poft-office, to which they fhall afterwards arrive, where the poftmaster fhall duly enter the fame, and fpecify the number and rate or rates in the poft-bill, adding to the fate of each way-letter, one cent, which fhall be paid by the deputy-poftmafter, to the mailVOL. III.

carrier from whom fuch way-letter fhall be received. And that letters, directed to persons living between poft-offices, may be delivered, and the postage thereof duly collected, it fhall be the duty of the carriers of the mail, to take charge of, and deliver all fuch letters, as fhall, for that purpose, be committed to them, by any deputy-poftmafter, and collect the postage thereof, which fhall be paid over to fuch deputy-postmaster, on demand: And for every letter, fo delivered, the mail-carrier delivering the fame, fhall be allowed to demand and receive two cents, to his own ufe, befides the ordinary postage. And if any deputy-poftmaster, or other agent of the Poftmafter-General, shall neglect fo to account, he or they fo offending, neglecting fhall, on conviction thereof, forfeit for every to account fuch offence, a fum not exceeding fifty dollars: for way-letders. Provided, That no mail-carriers fhall make fuch deliveries at any place not on the postroad Provided alfo, That the receipt and delivery of letters on the way, between postoffices, fhall not be required of the mail-carriers, in cafes where, in the opinion of the Poft mafter-General, the time or manner of carrying the mail, or the speed of conveyance, is incompatible with fuch receipts and deliveries.

Penalty on

deputies

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Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, That if any perfon employed in any of the departments of the general poft-office, fhall unlawfully detain, delay or open any letter, packet, bag or mail of letters, with which he shall be entrufted, or which fhall have come to his poffeffion, and which are intended to be conveyed by poft; or if any fuch perfon fhall fecrete, embezzle or destroy any letter or packet entrus ted to him, as aforefaid, and which shall not contain any fecurity for, or affurance relating

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