Page 129 - British Post Office Notices 1666 to 1799

1760-1769

signed on the Outside by any Member of either House of the Parliament of Great Britain, and whereof the whole
Superscription shall be of his own Hand-writing, or which shall be directed to a Member of either House, at any of the
Places of his usual Residence, or at the Place where he shall actually be at the Time of the Delivery thereof, or at either
House of Parliament.
All Letters and Packets, not exceeding the Weight of Two Ounces, sent from and to any Places within Ireland, during
the Sitting of Parliament, or within Forty Days before or after any Summons or Prorogation, which shall be signed on the
Outside by any Member of either House of the Parliament of Ireland, and whereof the whole Superscription shall be of his
own Hand-writing, or which shall be directed to a Member of either House, from any Part of Great Britain or Ireland, at
any. of the Places of his usual Residence, or at the Place where he shall actually be at the Time of the Delivery thereof, or at
either House of Parliament.
All such Letters and Packets as shall be sent from and to certain Persons by virtue of their Offices, under such
Conditions, Restrictions and Limitations, as in the said Act is particularly expressed.
It is likewise Enacted, That all printed Votes, or Proceedings in Parliament, or printed News-Papers, sent without
Covers, or in Covers open at the Sides, signed on the Outside thereof, by the Hand of any Member of Parliament, in such
Manner as hath been heretofore practised; or directed to any Member at any Place whereof he shall have given Notice in
Writing to the Postmaster-General, or to his Deputy at Edinbwgh or Dublin respectively, shall pass free of Postage.
And also, That the Clerks in the Offices of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, and certain Officers in the
Office of His Majesty's Postmaster-General, may continue to Frank such printed Votes, and Proceedings in Parliament, and
printed News-Papers, in the Manner they have heretofore been accustomed, provided they be sent without Covers, or in
Covers open at the Sides.
It is fwther Enacted, That any Officer employed under the Postmaster-General, shall have Power to examine and
search any Packet sent without a Cover, or in a Cover open at the Sides, in order to discover whether any other Paper or
. Thing whatsoever be inclosed or concealed in or with such printed Votes, Proceedings in Parliament, and printed News-
Papers; and in case any such other Paper or Thing whatsoever, shall be found in or with such printed Paper, or in case
there shall be any Writing, other than the Superscription upon such printed Paper, or upon the Cover thereof, the whole of
such Packet shall be charged with the Duty of Postage.
And it is further Enacted, That if any Person shall, after the First Day of June next, counterfeit the Hand-writing of any
Person whatsoever in the Superscription of any Letter, or Packet, to be sent by the Post, in order thereby to avoid the
Payment of the Duty of Postage, every Person so offending, shall be deemed guilty of Felony, and be transported for Seven
Years.
AND WHEREAS many letters directed to Members, are, in the huny of Business, charged with Postage, chiefly for want
of the Wor~, Member of Parliament, being added to the Superscription, it is therefore desired, that all Persons c01responding
with Members, would make that Addition, or distinguish them by M.P. at the Comer; and in Case any Letter or Packet, not
exceeding the Weight of Two Ounces, should after every Precaution, happen to be charged, all Postmasters are hereby directed,
immediately to remit the Postage to such Member, who is desired to return the Cover, when it can be conveniently done, as a
Voucher to the Postmaster, in passing of his Accounts with this Office
AND WHEREAS great Numbers of Letters are privately collected and delivered contrary to Law, to the Prejudice of the
Revenue of this Office, all Carriers, Coachmen, Watennen, Jf'henymen, Dispersers of News-Papers, Higglers, and all other
Persons whatsoever, hereafter detected in the illegal collecting, conveying, or delivering of Letters, and Packets, will be
prosecuted with the utmost Severity. The Penalty is FivE POUNDS for every Letter so collected or delivered contrary to Law, and
ONE HUNDRED PoUNDs,for every Week such Practice is continued,· one Moiety to his Majesty, and the other to the Infonner.
ANTHONY TODD, Secretary.

- 6 4 0 4 NEWS (General Post-Office, June 8, 1764)

PUBLIC Notice is hereby given, That the Mail, which was to have been made up at this Office, on Thursday next, for
his Majesty's Islands in the West-Indies, Pensacola, St. Augustine, Savanna, and Charles-Town, will not be dispatched from
hence until Thursday the Uth of July, as the Hillsborough Packet Boat, being a new Ship, cannot be compleated in Time to
sail with a Mail of this Month.
ANTHONY TODD, Secretary.

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