+Source.+--_Calendar of Treasury Papers_, 1697-1701-02, pp. 289-290.
Report of Sir R. Cotton, Knt., and Sir Tho. Frankland, postmasters,
addressed to the Lords of the Treasury, on the memorials of Thomas Neale
and Andrew Hamilton, Esqrs., stating that the latter had established a
regular post to pass weekly from Boston to "New York in New England,"
and from New York to Newcastle in Pennsylvania, that the profits had
every year increased so as to defray all charges except his salary; that
the Attorney and Solicitor-General were of opinion the King could settle
the rates for letters carried beyond sea &c.; advising the appointment
of an officer to take charge of all the letters directed to the
plantations, and send them in sealed bags, to be delivered to the
deputy-postmaster in the first port where the ship should arrive, the
master receiving a penny for each letter under his care, and upon such
officers being established, a public notice should be given that no
other person presume to make any collection of letters for those parts;
they were of opinion that the rate for inland letters proposed by Mr.
Hamilton was too high, "it having been found by experience in the office
here, that the easy and cheap corresponding doth encourage people to
write letters, and that this revenue was but little in proportion to
what it now is till the postage of letters was reduced from six pence to
three pence;" it would require £1,200 further charge than that already
expended, to enlarge the post through Virginia and Maryland, etc. Dated
27 April, 1699.