II.

General Court Records. January 6—1673-4.

"Whereas the publick occasions of the Country doe frequently require that messengers be sent post and as yet no stated allowance is settled in such cases,-It is ordered by this Court and the authority thereof that from henceforth every person so sent upon the publicke service of the country shall be allowed by the Treasurer after the rate of 3d. a mile to the place to which he is sent, in money, as full satisfaction for the expense of horse and man. And no inholder shall take of any such messenger or others travayling upon publicke service more then 2s. pr bushall for oates and 4d. for hay, day and night."

III.

The petition of sundry Merchants respecting Letters.

To the Honourable General Court now sitting in BOSTON.

May 23d, 1677.

We whose names are under written, hearing many complaints made by Merchants and others, and several of us being sensible of the loss of letters; whereby Merchants especially, with their friends and employers in forraigne parts are greatly damnified; many times the letters imposted and throwne upon the Exchange so that who will may take them up; no person without some satisfaction being willing to trouble their houses therewith; so that letters of great moment are frequently lost-our humble request, therefore, to this Honoured Court is, that they will please to depute some meet person to take in and convey Letters according to direction; and the Honoured Court sett the prices on letters, and state that affaire. And if this Honoured Court please, we suppose Lt. Richard Way may be a fit person for that service.

William Brattle,
Thomas Deane,
Hezekiah Usher,
John Usher,

Sampson Sheafe,
Edward Shippen,
Richard Knight,

John Hubbard,

Charles Lidget,
Benjamin Davis,
John Fayerweather,
John Frost
Richard Crisp,

Edward Drinker,

Henry Derings,

John Clarke,

John Pynchon, Jr.

The Deputies have granted the petitioners their desire herein; and, in Richard Way's roome doe make choice of Mr. John Hayward, the scrivener, to be the man, the Honored Magistrates consenting hereunto.

General Court Records. 1677, Dec. 28.

In answer to the request of severall merchants of Boston declaring that they have heard many complaints made by merchants and others that have been sensible of the losse of letters, whereby merchants with their friends and imployers in forreign parts are greatly damnified; many times letters are thrown upon the exchange that who will may take them up &c, therefore humbly desire this Court to depute some meete person to take in and convey letters according to their direction. This Court judgeth it meete to grant the petitioners request herein and haue made choyce of Mr. John Hayward, the Scrivener, to be the person for that service.

V.

An act encouraging a Post Office.

Whereas their most excellent Magesties, by their letters patents under the great seale of England bearing date the 17th day of February, in the yeare of our Lord 1691, have given unto Thomas Neale Esq., his Executors, Administrators and assignes, full power and authority to erect, settle, and establish within the chief ports of their Magesties' Colonies and Plantations in America an office or offices for the receiving and dispatching Letters and pacquets; and to

receive, send, and deliver the same under such rates and sums of money as the planters shall agree to give, and to hold and enjoy the same for the terme of twenty one years; with such powers and clauses as are necessary on that behalf, as by the letters patents reference being thereunto had may more fully and largely appear; and whereas Andrew Hamilton Esq. is deputed and constituted to govern and manage the said General Post Office for and throughout all their Magesties Plantations and Colonies in the main land or continent of America and the Islands adjoining thereunto, persuant to the directions of the said Letters Patents; and whereas he the said Andrew Hamilton hath made application to his Excellency and Council, and Representatives, convened in General Assembly, that they would ascertaine and establish such rates and sums of money upon Letters and Pacquetts that shall be received and dispatched by the said Office or Officer, for the effectual encouragement of the said General Post Office and for the quicker maintenance of mutual correspondence amongst all the neighbouring Colonies and Plantations aforesaid, and that trade and commerce may be the better preserved; Be it therefore enacted by the Governor and Council and Representatives convened in General Assembly, and by the authority of the same, that there be from henceforth A GENERAL LETTER OFFICE erected and established in some convenient place within the town of Boston, from whence all letters and pacquets whatsoever may be with speed and expedition sent into any part of the neighbouring colonies and plantations or the main land and continent of America, or unto any of their Magesties kingdoms and dominions beyond the seas; at which said office all returns and ansuers may be likewise received; and that one Master of the said General Letter Office shall from time to time be appointed by the said Andrew Hamilton, which said Master of the Office, or his servant or agent, and no other person or persons whatsoever, shall from time to time have the receiving, takeing up, ordering, dispatching, and sending post or with speed, and delivering of letters and pacquets whatsoever, which shall from time to time be sent to and from all and every the adjacent Colonies and Plantations on this main land and continent of America or any other their majesties kingdoms and dominions be

yond the seas, where he the said Post Master general, shall settle or cause to be settled posts or running messengers for that purpose, except such letters of Merchants and Masters which shall be sent by any Masters of Ships, boat, or other vessels of merchandize by any other person employed by them for the carriage of such letters aforesaid according to the respective directions, and also except letters to be sent by any private friend or friends in their way of journey or travel, or by any messenger or messengers sent on purpose for or concerning the private affairs of any person or persons.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that it shall and may be lawful to and for the Post Master General aforesaid, and his Deputy or Deputies by him thereunto sufficiently authorized, to demand, have, receive and take for the postage and conveyance of all such letters which he shall so convey, carry, or send post, as aforesaid, according to the several rates and sums of current money of this Province hereafter mentioned, not to exceed the same; that is to say, for the post of every single letter from Europe, the West Indies, or other parts beyond the seas, two pence; and all letters are to be accounted single, though they contain Bills of lading, Gazettes, Invoices, &c. and for each pacquet of letters from the places aforesaid, four pence; and a pacquet shall be accounted three letters for the least; and for the post of every single letter from Rhode Island to Boston, or from Boston to Rhode Island, six pence; and so in proportion to the greatness and quantity of letters; and for the post of each single letter from the post road in Connecticut Colony to Boston, nine pence; and so in proportion as aforesaid; and for the post of each single letter from the City of NewYork, twelve pence; and so in proportion as aforesaid; and for the post of each single letter from the Provinces of East or West Jersey or Pennsylvania, fifteen pence; and so in proportion as aforesaid and for the post of each single letter from Maryland or Virginia, two shillings, and so in proportion as aforesaid. And for the post of each single letter from Salem, three pence; from Ipswich, Newbury, or other places eastward of Salem within this Province, four pence; and from Piscataqua, six pence; and so in proportion as aforesaid. And if any letters or

pacquets shall lie and remain in the office uncalled for, by the space of forty eight hours, the Post Master then sending them forth to the respective houses of the persons to whom they are directed, shall have and receive one penny. more for each letter or pacquet.

And be it further resolved by the Authority aforesaid, that no person or persons whatsoever, or body politic or corporate, other than the Post Master general aforesaid, shall presume to carry, recarry, or deliver letters for hire other than as before expressed, or to set up or employ any footpost, horse-post, or pacquet boat whatsoever, for the carrying, conveying, and bearing of any letters or pacquets, by sea or land within this Province, or shall hire or maintain horses and furniture for the equipping of any persons riding post with a guide and horn, as is usual in their majesties' realm of England, upon the pain of forfeiting the sum of forty pounds current money of this Province for every several of fence against the tenor of this present Act, to be sued and recovered in any Court of record within this Province, by bill, plaint or information; wherein no essoyene, protection, or wager of law shall be allowed; one half of the said forfeiture to their majesties, towards the support of the government of this Province and the contingent charges thereof; and the other half to the Post Master General, who shall sue and prosecute for the same.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all letters and pacquets, that by any master of any Ship or vessel, or any of his company, or any passenger therein, shall or may be brought to this port of Boston other than such letters as are before excepted, shall, by such Master, passenger, or other person, be forthwith delivered to the Post Master of Boston for the time being, or unto his servants or agents, by him or them to be delivered according to the several and respective directions of the same, the said Post Master, or his servants paying to the Master of any such ship or vessel so delivering in his letters, a half penny for every letter or pacquet.

And it is further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that the Post Master General, his officers or servants, shall continue constant posts for the carriage of letters to the several places and stages above mentioned, and shall seasonably and faithfully deliver forth the letters according