[69] Martin's _Bench and Bar of Philadelphia_, pp. 126-130.
"Considering that maintenance of speedy correspondence is good for trade
and is best carried on by public post, Be it enacted, that there be a
General Letter Office erected and established in Philadelphia to send
letters to colonies planted in America or in any of the King's Kingdoms
in foreign lands." Rates were regulated by bulk, as well as by distance,
a sheet of paper being accounted as a single letter and a packet equal
to three letters, at the least; the post of a single letter from
Philadelphia to Boston or Rhode Island was 18d., to Piscataqua and other
parts east of Boston 2s., to New York 8d., to Maryland and Virginia 18d.
if by post, if by private person to the office 4d., all letters for the
proprietary or for the governor to be free. The fine for a neglectful
ferryman was L5, for any one who should presume to carry letters for
hire or set up or employ any post, L40.
"Whereas, letters to merchants were often delayed and given to
untrustworthy persons who may open them and get trade secrets,"
shipmasters were ordered to give letters only to the postmaster or to
his assistants.
In 1701 (June 23d), in response to a petition from Patrick Robinson in
behalf of Col. Andrew Hamilton, "Postmaster General in America and
Gov{r} of the Jerseys," praying for the payment from the "publick stock"
of the L20 per year for three years, which had been allowed him by the
act of 1697, the treasurer was ordered to pay the sum as soon as there
was sufficient money in his hands.
April 11th, 1706,[70] a grant was given a certain Hugh Huddy to
establish stages from Burlington to Perth Amboy, and April 4th, 1709, an
act for the encouragement of the post office was passed by the New
Jersey assembly. The masters of the offices were to be appointed from
time to time by the postmaster-general. No other persons were to
receive, dispatch or deliver letters or packets except such as were sent
by masters or merchants in ships of which, or of the cargo of which,
they were entirely or in part owners, or "except letters to be sent by
any private Friend or Friends in their ways of journey or Travel, or by
any Messenger or Messengers sent of purpose for or concerning the
private affairs of any person or persons."[71] The rates were fixed
according to bulk as well as distance, the post of every single letter
from Europe, the West Indies and other parts beyond the seas, was four
pence half-penny, all letters to be accounted single if they did not
exceed one sheet of paper. The postage on each "pacquet" of letters from
these places was 9d. a "pacquet" being accounted three sheets, at the
least. The post of every letter from Boston not exceeding one sheet of
paper, was 1s. 3d., the post of every letter not exceeding two sheets,
2s. 6d., and the post of every "pacquet of letters or other things
whatsoever, 2s. 6d. for every ounce, Troy weight, and for the post of
every letter not exceeding one sheet of paper, for any place not
exceeding one hundred and fifty miles, 9d., and so in proportion to the
bulk." Carrying letters for hire, or setting up or employing any foot,
post, horse or paquet boat for carrying letters or paquets or providing
and maintaining horses or furniture for the horsing of any through post,
was punishable by a fine of L100 current money for every several
offence, one-third to go to the governor, one-third to the use of the
colony and the remaining third to the informer. Any ferryman neglecting,
delaying or refusing to convey posts forfeited L5.
[70] _Pennsylvania Magazine_, Vol. IX., p. 444.
[71] Copied from the original.
As late as 1791 there were only six post offices in the colony, and none
south of Trenton.[72]
[72] _Pennsylvania Magazine_, Vol. IX., p. 444.
The Maryland archives contain no reference to a post before 1710.
In March, 1661/2, the following act[73] was passed by the Virginia
assembly: "Whereas the remotenesse of diverse places in the country from
James Citty and the necessity of communicating diverse businesses to
the utmost lymitts of itt, would (if messengers were purposely prest)
put the country to an annuall greate expense for prevention whereof, Be
it enacted that all letters superscribed for the service of his Majesty
or publique shall be imediately conveyed from plantation to plantation
to the place and person they are directed to under the penalty of 350
pounds of tobacco to each defaulter."
[73] Hening's _Statutes at Large_, Vol. II., p. 109.
March 2d, 1692/3,[74] an act was passed for encouraging the erection of
a post office in each county of the colony, Thomas Neale and his
deputies to settle and establish the post at their own cost. Rates were
to vary according to bulk and distance, state letters and public orders
of the governor and council were to be sent free, and merchants were not
to be prohibited from sending letters by the masters of vessels or
others. The act was to be in force during the term granted by their
majesties' letters patent to Thomas Neale.
[74] Hening's _Statutes at Large_, Vol. III., pp. 112, 115.
Cooper's _Statutes at Large of South Carolina_[75] records an enactment
regarding the post, of September 10th, 1702, by John Grenville, Esq.,
Pallatine, and the other lords and proprietors of the province of
Carolina with the consent of the other members of the General Assembly.
A certain Ed. Bourne was appointed postmaster and ordered to fix an
exact list of letters received and dispatched in some public place in
his house for thirty days, for each packet or letter receiving one-half
royal, and for any neglect of duty forfeiting 40s. July 12th, 1707, an
act[76] to erect a general post office was ratified and continued for
two years.
[75] Cooper's _Statutes at Large_, Vol. II., pp. 188-89.
[76] Cooper's _Statutes at Large_, Vol. II, p. 308.