"A calculation what charge will carry the post from Newcastle in
Pennsylvania to James' City in Virginia about 400 miles."
The memorial of Thomas Neale, Esq.:
Also another memorial from him, showing that he had deputed Andrew
Hamilton, Esq., to erect post offices, who had at the said Thomas
Neale's charge, settled them 700 miles in length on the continent of
America, the accounts for which were then laid before their Lordships;
also that the deputy-post-master had come over to afford information,
and proposed the method contained in the enclosed memorial to support
the post.
The said memorial of Andrew Hamilton, setting out the good effects of
the Post Office, and suggesting various improvements:
He states:--"The method at present used to get letters transported to
America is this: the masters bound thither, put up bags in coffee
houses, wherein the letters are put, and for which one penny per letter
is usually paid, and two pence if it exceed a single letter. This is
liable to several abuses. First, any one under pretence that he wants to
have his letters up again, may come to those bags and take out other
men's letters, and thereby discover the secrets of the merchants; and
'tis in their power entirely to withdraw 'em. 2^ndly Several masters,
upon their arrival, often keep up letters till they have disposed of
their loading and are ready to sail again, and then drop them to the
great hurt of those concerned, which inconveniences would be prevented,
if letters were delivered from the Post Office in mails, and likewise
delivered by them in mails into the Post Office where they arrive," etc.