Falmouth Packet Archives 1688-1850 | home
The American Post Office
1692: New York City - Boston Boston Post Road opens
1693: Boston Postmaster, Richard Fairbanks
1722:
8 Jan, Monday. NEC: "Mr. James Franklin," writing as "Lucilius," p. 1, began a series of attacks on Philip Musgrave for doing a miserable job as postmaster. In a poem and a preface, James charged Musgrave with high-handed behavior, erratic business hours, keeping customers interminably waiting, opening letters to examine their contents, and even stealing money from letters. [ Calendar 19]
15 Jan, Monday. NEC: "Mr. Thomas Fleet" as "Tom Tram," satirized Philip Musgrave with a mock travel allegory supposedly depicting Robinson Crusoe's island. There the people "live by Trade and Merchandizing both by Sea and Land ... and consequently have occasion for Posts to carry our Letters." Though their town is the "Metropolis of the Island, yet we have such a poor careless, lazy, gump-headed (and being in a Passion, he had almost said knavish) Post-Master, as is not to be found in the whole Lunar World." Claiming to be in haste to return to his own regions, Tom Tram advised the islanders to "draw up a Memorial of their Grievances, and send it to the Post-Master General." The series of pieces using Defoe's Crusoe as an imaginary location began with Cotton Mather's News from Robinson Crusoe's Island (1720). Franklin knew all the pieces using Defoe, and he may have recalled them when he entitled a projected April? 1764 skit: "A Letter from a Gentleman in Crusoe's Island," P 11:184.
22 January, Captain Taylor: "The Difference," he argued, "between F[rankli]n and M[usgrav]e, is not about the Gazette but about the P[o]st-M[aste]r's being defective in his Office." [LeMay]
1731: 15 July, Pennsylvania Gazette, advertisement warned ship captains to deliver letters only to the postmaster. [Ref: Ship letters]
1734: Andrew Bradford, the Philadelphia postmaster, forbade the post riders to carry Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette. Franklin had bribed the riders to do so, and complained to Alexander Spotswood, Postmaster General of British North America.
[qf: http://www.english.udel.edu/lemay/franklin/citizen.html ]
Pennsylvania Gazette, 23 Jan. 1735, Thursday, Benjamin Franklin advertised, "By the Indulgence" of Postmaster General Alexander Spotswood, he was "allow'd to send the Gazettes by the Post, Postage-free, to all Parts of the Post-Road from Virginia to New England: So that all Gentlemen and others, living on the Post Roads, may have this Paper sent them by every Post, as usual before the late
Obstruction." [ref to Andrew Bradford]
1737: Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin, postmaster
April 26, 1744 The Pennsylvania Gazette. Philadelphia.
The Hon. Elliott Benger, Esq.; of Virginia, is appointed Postmaster General of all his Majesty's Dominions in America.
1753 Benjamin Franklin appointed joint deputy postmaster general of North America August 10, having solicited the appointment from England.
1755 Benjamin Franklin sets up postal communications for Major-General Edward Braddock, commander of British forces in North America; confers with Braddock at Frederick, Maryland, April 22-23, undertaking to supply Braddock's forces with wagons for their march against French at Fort Duquesne.
September 11, 1755 The Pennsylvania Gazette
LIST of LETTERS in the POST OFFICE, at the Corner of Church Alley, in Third street, Philadelphia
February 12, 1756 The Pennsylvania Gazette. Philadelphia, February 12, 1756.GENERAL POST OFFICE.
PUBLICK NOTICE is hereby given, That the first of the Pacquet Boats provided and established, at Falmouth, in England, for carrying on a regular monthly Correspondence between Great Britain and His Majesty's several Colonies on the Continent of North America, arrived at New York, on the third Instant, and will stay no longer then twenty Days, from that Time, unless his Majesty's Service should absolutely require it.
Letters and Pacquets for England, or other Parts of Europe, will be taken in at the several Post Offices on this Continent. Those taken in at the Offices distant from New York, will be forwarded thither by Post, and from thence to London, whence they will be sent to the respective Places they are directed to.
The full Postage from New York to London of all Letters and Pacquets, sent by the Pacquet Boats, must be paid at the Time they are put into the Post Office, according to the Rates settled by Act of Parliament, viz. For a single Letter Four Penny Weight of Silver, and so in Proportion for double and treble Letters, and for Pacquets. And all such as are put into the several Post Offices on this Continent, distant from New York, must over and above the Rates paid from New York to London, pay the full Inland Postage to New York; without which they cannot be forwarded.
By Command of the Postmasters General. WILLIAM FRANKLIN, Comptroller.
February 19, 1756 The Pennsylvania Gazette. GENERAL POST OFFICE, London, November 6, 1755
And whereas his Majesty's Postmaster General has settled and established Pacquet Boats at Falmouth, to carry, re-carry and convey letters and packets to and from England, to and from the Islands of Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, Monserrat, Nevis, and St. Christophers; and also to and from his Majesty's several colonies on the continent of North America, by way of New York.
[The New York service began in 1755 (Earl of Halifax, John Morris, sailed from Falmouth 13 Dec.1754, returning on 6 June1755) - the same year that the West Indian route reopened. The new route began with "trial vessels" so that the Post-Office would have some idea on which to base a contract. They were to be of 200 tons and the first vessel was to cost £700 for the round trip. Normally the packet-boats remained in New York Harbour about 3 weeks. The voyages were intended to be monthly, but only 4 voyages were made in the first 2 years. In 1757, after the war was on, the packets were held up for months. Benjamin Franklin was delayed on a voyage to England, whilst Deputy Postmaster-General for North America.]
February 19, 1756 The Pennsylvania Gazette
ALL persons in his majesty's colonies in North America, may be furnished by Mr. Potts, comptroller of the General Post Office, London, with the under mentioned News papers, to be
sent regularly by every packet boat, so as to contain the freshest advices to the very time that each of them sail from Falmouth, at the following prices.
The General Advertiser, Daily Advertiser, the London Courant, or any daily paper, at 5d. each 6 L.10 s
The General Evening Post, St. James Evening Post, Whitehall Evening Post, or any other, at 6d. each 3 L. 8 s.
The Spectator, or any Weekly Journal, at 9d. each 1 L. 19 s.
The Gentleman of London Magazine, at 2s. 6d. each 1 L. 10s
The London Gazette, at 9d. per sheet, at two per week, and all additional sheets to the said Gazette, at 6d. each 3L. 18s.
The French Hague Gazette, at 8d. each, being three papers per week, is 5 L. 4 s.
Wilcock West Indian Intelligencer, at 2s. 6d. each, 1 L. 10 s.
To be delivered by the commanders of the several packet boats, free of all other charges.
Here we can see how records of the packets and the dispatches they carried, would have been well reported in the press of the day, even to the extent of locally repeating another publication. Whilst very useful, it is sometimes difficult to deduce sailing dates accurately from newspaper reports, such as; "since my last, arrived.....
In 1764 the two Deputy Postmasters-General for North America were Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Foxcroft. They made an elaborate survey of the land communications in the hope of bringing such distant colonies as Quebec and the Carolinas into regular connection with New York. Governor Murray in Canada and the merchants up the St. Lawrence wanted a monthly [coastal] service from New York immediately following the arrival of the packet-boat.
[Robinson, Howard. Carrying British Mails Overseas, Allen & Unwin (1964) (p.49)]
October 18, 1764 The Pennsylvania Gazette. Post Office, Philadelphia.
THE Public are hereby informed, that the Post Office is removed to the House of the Subscriber, between Doctor William Shippen, and Mr. Valentine Standley, in Market street, where due Attendance is given to deliver and receive Letters, &c. By
PETER FRANKLIN, Deputy Postmaster. [Benjamin Franklin's only brother, he died in 1766, age 74.]
Suffolk County, Long Island:
New York was a key location not only because of its fine harbor but because it separated the colonies of New England and the Middle Atlantic. Communication within Suffolk and with the outside world was almost nonexistent. There was no postal service so that messages had to be slowly passed along by coastal sailing vessels or given to horse and rider who might pass a particular place on the way to his destination. Because of lively trade with Connecticut, people in Eastern Suffolk often knew more about what was going on across the Sound than in a neighboring town on the Island. A postal route was setup in 1764 by which a rider carrying mail would set out every two weeks along the north shore returning to New York along the south shore. It was not until 1793 that Suffolk had its first post office.
May 16, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette: NEW YORK, May 6.
Benjamin Baron, Esquire, formerly Secretary to Sir Charles Hardy, when Governor here, is appointed Postmaster General of the southern district of North America, and will keep the General Post Office at Charlestown, South Carolina.
October 24, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette. CHARLESTOWN, South Carolina.
Sept. 4. Benjamin Barons, Esq.; appointed Postmaster General for the southern district, is arrived from London at Georgia, on his way to this town.
SM 17/3/1766: At Bilboa, the BOSTON pacquet, Kennedy for Boston.
This appears to indicate a regular Spanish Packet service operated from (at least) Boston.
February 2, 1769 The Pennsylvania Gazette. General Post Office, New York, January 20, 1769.
PUBLIC Notice is hereby given, That the Mail for Falmouth will be made up at this Office on Saturday, the 4th of February next, and will continue to be made up in the same manner upon the first Saturday in every Month, and the Packet Boat ordered to sail with it the next Day.[source courtesy of searching Penn.Gaz. (by subscription) at www.accessible.com ]
Great Inconveniences have arisen to the Public by returning Letters for the Postage, it is now left at the Option of the Writer to pay or not beforehand, to any Part of His Majesty's Dominions, either in Europe or America, except Gibraltar or Port Mahon.[does anyone know why?]
All Persons, however, are particularly to take Notice, that Letters and Packets from any Part of America, for all Places beyond the Seas, not in His Majesty's Dominions, are to pay at the Office where they are put in, the full Post to London, besides the foreign Rates they may be chargeable with, to prevent the Necessity of their being opened and returned for the Postage.
By Command of the Deputy Post Master General, JAMES PARKER, Secretary.
July 26, 1770 The Pennsylvania Gazette. Philadelphia, July 26, 1770.
THE DEPUTY POSTMASTERS of the Northern District of NORTH AMERICA, are requested to send their Accounts, for the future, to THOMAS FOXCROFT, Deputy Postmaster of this Place.
December 6, 1770. The Pennsylvania Gazette. PHILADELPHIA, December 6.
We hear that the Mails for FALMOUTH, for the future, will be made up at New York the first Tuesday, in each Month, instead of the first Saturday. And that the fifth PACKET from FALMOUTH, was added to that Station, and will sail in her proper Course.
December 13, 1770 The Pennsylvania Gazette. NEW YORK, December 10.
ALEXANDER COLDEN, Esq.; of this City, is appointed Secretary and Comptroller of the General Post office for the Northern District of North America, in the Room of JAMES PARKER, Esq.; Printer, deceased.
February 6, 1772 The Pennsylvania Gazette. General Post Office, New York, Nov. 1, 1771.
NOTICE is hereby given, that on account of the new regulation of the post from Canada, which is to arrive every Tuesday evening at this office; and the weekly post from the eastward and southward, arriving every Wednesday; the mail going from hence by the Packets, will, for the future, be closed at twelve o'clock at night, on the first Wednesday in every month (being the same time it closes at the General Post Office in London, for America) and a Packet dispatched therewith, the next day for Falmouth. By Command of the Deputy Post Master General, ALEXANDER COLDEN, Secretary.
April 20, 1774 The Pennsylvania Gazette:
The faithful services of Dr. Benjamin Franklin to his American constituents have been most graciously requited, by the Ministers taking from him the office of Postmaster General of North America, which he held jointly with John Foxcroft, Esq.; who is to remain sole Postmaster General of that department.
Thanks for the ease of tracing the above digitised references are due to: www.accessible.com
SM 14 February, 1774: London February 9th. Parliamentary Proceedings
The place lately held by Dr. Franklin, of Post-Master in America, from which his Majesty was pleased to dismiss him on Saturday last, is given to Mr. J. Garnier.
(Same issue) Falmouth Feb. 11. Sailed, Lord Hyde, Jeffries (sic) to New York.
"1774
The colonists viewed the Royal [George II] Post Office with suspicion.
Franklin was dismissed by the Crown for actions sympathetic to the cause of the colonies.
Shortly after, William Goddard , a printer and newspaper publisher (whose father had been postmaster of New London, Connecticut, under Franklin) set up a Constitutional Post for inter-colonial mail service. Colonies funded it by subscription, and net revenues were to be used to improve the postal service rather than to be paid back to the subscribers.
After the Boston riots in September 1774, the colonies began to separate from the mother country. A Continental Congress was organized at Philadelphia in May 1775 to establish an independent government. One of the first questions before the delegates was how to convey and deliver the mail. On 13 May, 1775, the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts appointed a committee to establish a postal system.
Benjamin Franklin, newly returned from England, (9 May, 1775) was appointed chairman of the Committee of Investigation to establish a postal system. The report of the Committee, providing for the appointment of a postmaster general for the 13 American colonies, was considered by the Continental Congress on 25 and 26 July.
On 26 July, 1775, Franklin was appointed Postmaster General, the first appointed under the Continental Congress; the establishment of the organization that became the United States Postal Service nearly two centuries later traces back to this date. Richard Bache, Franklin's son-in-law, was named Comptroller, and William Goddard was appointed Surveyor.
Franklin served until November 7, 1776. America's present Postal Service descends in an unbroken line from the system he planned and placed in operation, and history rightfully accords him major credit for establishing the basis of the postal service that has performed magnificently for the American people.
By 1775, when the Continental Congress met at Philadelphia, Goddard's colonial post was flourishing, and 30 post offices operated between Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Williamsburg.
November 27, 1776 The Pennsylvania Gazette. PHILADELPHIA, November 27.
Richard Bache, Esq.; is appointed Postmaster General, and Peter Baynton, Esq.; Postmaster for this city.
=================
1782:FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1782
AN ORDINANCE FOR REGULATING THE POST OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Whereas the communication of intelligence with regularity and despatch, from one part to another of these United States, is essentially requisite to the safety as well as the commercial interest thereof; and the United States in Congress assembled, being, by the Articles of Confederation, vested with the sole and exclusive right and power of establishing and regulating post offices throughout all these United States: and whereas it is become necessary to revise the several regulations heretofore made relating to the Post Office, and reduce them to one act:
Be it therefore ordained by the United States in Congress assembled, and it is hereby ordained by the authority of the same, that a continued communication of posts throughout these United States, shall be established and maintained by and under the direction of the Postmaster General of these United States, to extend to and from the State of New Hampshire and the State of Georgia inclusive, and to and from such other parts of these United States, as from time to time, he shall judge necessary, or Congress shall direct.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that the Postmaster General for the time being, shall, from time to time, superintend and direct the Post Office in all its various departments and services throughout the extent aforesaid, agreeably to the rules and regulations contained in this ordinance; and shall have full power and authority to appoint a clerk or assistant to himself, and such and so many deputy postmasters as he shall think proper, for whose fidelity he shall be accountable; each of whom shall reside at such place as the Postmaster General shall judge best suited to maintain a due and regular transportation and exchange of mails. And the said Postmaster General shall be, and hereby is authorised to allow, from time to time, to his said deputies respectively, such commissions on the monies to arise from postage in their respective departments, as he shall think their respective services may merit, so as that the said commissions shall not in the whole exceed twenty per cent. And shall, by himself or his said deputies respectively thereunto regularly authorised by him, from time to time, appoint the necessary post-riders, messengers and expresses, with such salaries and allowances as he or his said deputies respectively shall think meet.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that the Postmaster General, his clerk or assistant, his deputies, and post and express-riders, and messengers, or either of them, shall (*) not knowingly or willingly open, detain, delay, secrete, embezzle or destroy, or cause, procure, permit or suffer to be opened, detained, delayed, secreted, embezzled or destroyed any letter or letters, packet or packets, or other despatch or despatches, which shall come into his power, hands or custody by reason of his employment in or relating to the Post Office, except by the consent of the person or persons by or to whom the same shall be delivered or directed, or by an express warrant under the hand of the President of the Congress of these United States, or in time of war, of the Commander in Chief of the armies of these United States, or of the commanding officer of a separate army in these United States, or of the chief executive officer of one of the said states, for that purpose, or except in such other cases wherein he shall be authorised so to do by this ordinance: (Provided always, that no letter, flanked by any person authorised by this ordinance to frank the same, shall be opened by order of any military officer, or chief executive officer of either of the states.) And that the Postmaster General, his assistant, deputies, post and express-riders, and messengers, and each and every of them, shall, without delay, take and subscribe the following oath, to wit:
[Note * 1: 1 The following in the draft was struck out: without delay severally and respectively take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation, to wit: I, A. B. do solemnly sincerely swear declare or affirm, (as the case may require) and call God to witness that I will]
"I, A. B., do solemnly and sincerely swear, declare or affirm, (as the case may require) that I will well and faithfully do, execute, perform and fulfil every duty required of me, and abstain from every act and thing forbidden by a certain ordinance passed by the United States of America in Congress assembled, on the 18th day of October, 1782, entitled 'An ordinance for regulating the Post Office of the United States of America.'"
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that if the Postmaster General shall be guilty of a breach of the said oath or
affirmation or any part thereof, and be thereof convict, he shall forfeit and pay one thousand dollars, to be sued for and recovered in an action of debt, in the State where the offence shall be committed, by the treasurer of the United States for the time being: and if any postmaster, post-rider, or other person employed in the Post Office Department, shall be guilty of a breach of the said oath or affirmation or any part thereof, and be thereof convict, each one so offending shall forfeit and pay three hundred dollars, to be sued for and recovered in an action of debt, in the State where the offence shall be committed, by the Postmaster General for the time being: all which forfeitures, when recovered and received, shall be accounted for by the persons recovering the same, and applied towards defraying the necessary expences of the Post Office: and every person employed in the Post Office Department, who shall be guilty of a breach of the said oath or affirmation shall, besides paying the above-mentioned forfeitures, be rendered incapable ever hereafter of holding any office or place of trust or profit under these United States: provided always, that the foregoing oath shall not be required of any special express or messenger, to be appointed at the request of any particular person or persons, in the manner herein after directed, unless the same shall be thought necessary by the Postmaster ∥General∥ or his deputy who shall have appointed him; which oath shall, without delay, be made by the Postmaster General before the President of the Congress of these United States and by each of the said clerk or assistant, deputies and post-riders (except as is above provided with respect to special expresses and messengers) before the Postmaster General, or before any civil magistrate nominated by him for that purpose; all which persons are hereby respectively authorised to administer the said oath; and shall respectively make and sign certificates thereof: the certificate to be signed by the President, to be lodged in the office of the secretary of the Congress of these United States, and the other certificates respectively to be returned into the office of the Postmaster General; there to be kept as evidence of the several qualifications therein respectively certified.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that the Postmaster General of these United States for the time being, and his deputy and deputies, thereunto by him sufficiently authorised, and his and their agents, post-riders, expresses and messengers respectively, and no other person whatsoever, shall have the receiving, taking up, ordering, despatching, sending post or with speed, carrying and delivering of any letters, packets or other despatches from any place within these United States for hire, reward, or other profit or advantage for receiving, carrying or delivering such letters or packets respectively; and any other person or persons presuming so to do shall forfeit and pay for every such offence, twenty dollars, to be sued for and recovered in an action of debt with costs of suit, by the Postmaster General or his deputy, in the State in which the offence shall be committed; and such sums as shall be thus recovered and received, shall be accounted for by the Postmaster General, and applied towards defraying the necessary expences of the Post Office. Provided nevertheless, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to extend to any messenger purposely sent on any private affair, and carrying letters or packets relating to such affair only; or to persons sent officially on public service from places where no Post Office is established. And provided also, that nothing herein contained shall in any manner affect any private cross post-rider that may be employed by any of the citizens of these United States with the consent of the Postmaster General or his deputy, until a public rider can be established on such cross road.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that if any person, not being a post or express rider, in the service of the general Post Office, shall carry any letters, packets, or other despatches, from one place to another, within these United States, on any of the post roads, to any place within these United States, for hire or reward, except in cases as is herein before excepted, or shall not, when bringing letters from beyond sea, for hire or reward, deliver the same at the Post Office, if any there be at the place of his or her arrival, he or she shall, in each of the before mentioned cases, forfeit and pay for every such offence twenty dollars, to be recovered by the Postmaster General or any of his deputies, in an action of debt, in the State wherein the offence shall have been committed, with costs of suit, and applied towards the expences of the post office, and be accounted for accordingly; and if such offence shall have been committed by any person holding a civil or military commission under these United States, he shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit his commission. And for every letter, packet or other despatch from beyond sea, which any person shall so deliver at the Post Office, he shall receive of the Postmaster, at the Post Office, for the delivery of the same, 1-90th of a dollar.[Note: The draft has it 2/90ths of a dollar.]
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that the Postmaster General shall cause the mail to be carried with all care and despatch, at least once in every week, to and from each of the stated post offices, and his deputies shall keep and transmit to him regular, particular, just and quarterly accounts of the incomes and expenditures of their respective offices; and from those and such other materials as shall be necessary for the purpose, the Postmaster General shall form and keep regular and just accounts of the incomes and expenditures of the general Post Office, which he shall annually deliver to the comptroller of accounts of these United States, attended with the quarterly accounts of each office, and vouchers for his examination and passing.
[Note : The following was struck out from the draft: And whereas it may he necessary for the Postmaster General, or his clerk or assistant occasionally to visit the several post offices in these United States or otherwise to travel for the performance of their respective duties of office, Be it therefore ordained by the authority aforesaid that they shall in such case be severally and respectively allowed for the time of necessary absence from home on such business over and above their respective salaries ...dollars per day, in full for horse hire, travelling expences and all other charges and disbursements whatsoever during such visitation and travel as aforesaid and no more.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the Postmaster General and his deputies shall respectively regularly publish in some public newspaper of the State wherein their respective offices shall be a list of all letters which shall severally have remained in their respective offices by the space of three weeks and at the expiration of six months thereafter shall open and inspect such letters and shall carefully preserve the same with the papers therein respectively contained, insert in a book, to be kept for the purpose the date of every such letter and the name and place of direction on the same and publish such direction (purporting thereon if such is the case that the letter contains valuable inclosures or other matters of importance to the parties) in one of the public newspapers aforesaid and deliver such letter.]
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that the Postmaster General's deputies respectively, shall regularly publish, at the expiration of each quarter, (if it can conveniently be done) in some newspaper of the State in which the respective offices shall be one of the most convenient public newspapers, for three successive weeks, a list of all letters at that time remaining in their office; and at the expiration of the subsequent quarter, shall send such of the letters so published as then remain, as dead letters to the general Post Office, where they shall be opened and inspected by the Postmaster General, who shall destroy such as contain no valuable enclosures, but carefully preserve them, with the papers therein respectively contained, and shall insert in a book, to be kept for that purpose, the date of such letter,. and the name and place of direction on the same, together with a particular account of the enclosures contained therein; and at the expiration of each quarter the Postmaster General shall cause to be published, in one of the newspapers of the State in which the owners of such valuable papers are supposed to reside, (if a newspaper is printed in such State) else in the most convenient paper, an advertisement, informing that such papers are in his possession, and shall deliver such letter and enclosures to the person or persons to whom the same shall be directed, or his, her, or their order at the Post Office, he, she, or they first paying the postage for the same, at the rates from time to time established by these United States in Congress assembled, and the necessary expence of such publications as aforesaid; and in case of neglect to take up such letters, the necessary expence shall be charged to the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 The following was struck out from the draft:
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid that if any person or persons being an enemy or enemies or a subject or subjects of any of these United States shall rob any post-rider, express or messenger belonging to the post office of any mail letter or other dispatch every such offender if an enemy shall on conviction thereof by a court martial suffer as a spy and if a subject of either of these United States shall if convicted by a due course of law in the State where the offense shall be committed suffer as a felon according to the law of such State.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid that the stated post-riders shall not go out of their usual courses in order to pass at head quarters of the main Army or of any separate army or at any principal military post unless so directed by the Postmaster General. But when it shall become necessary or the same shall be required by the Commander in Chief or Commander of a separate army the postmaster nearest thereto shall hire a rider on the best terms he shall be able to carry the letters and other dispatches to and from thence and such post office and shall from time to time report to the Postmaster General his proceedings herein. And also that in every case of a robbery of the mail the Postmaster General, his clerk or assistant or any deputy postmaster shall and may advertise in any of the public newspapers of these United States and accordingly pay such reward as he shall judge proper, not exceeding for detecting, securing and bringing to punishment the offender or offenders.]
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that the Postmaster General, and his deputies respectively shall, and they are hereby authorised, whenever the danger of robberies of the mail shall, in their respective judgments, render the same necessary, to hire occasional expresses for carrying the public despatches, and such private letters as, from time to time, shall be in the post-offices; who shall not be confined to fixed days, nor to travel the usual post roads, but shall, in those respects, be subject to the order and direction of the Postmaster General and his deputies respectively. And to the end that the expence of several expresses destined to the same place, at the same time, may be avoided, be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that all extraordinary expresses in the public service shall, if a Post Office be established at the place from which they shall severally take their departure, be hired by the Postmaster General or his deputy, and set out from and return to such Post Office, with the letters, packets and despatches to be carried by them respectively.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that the postage of all letters, packets and despatches, to and from the different post offices within these United States, shall be the same as they were at the commencement of the present war with the addition of a sum not exceeding 4/90th of a dollar upon every Letter, Packet or Dispatch which shall come into the Post Office from beyond seas [at the following rates, in pennyweights and grains of silver, estimating each pennyweight as at present, at 5-90ths of a dollar, to wit:
For any distance not exceeding sixty miles, one pennyweight eight grains; upwards of sixty, and not exceeding one hundred, two pennyweight; upwards of one hundred, and not exceeding two hundred, two pennyweight sixteen grains, and so on, 16 grains advance for every hundred miles; and for all single letters to or from Europe, by packet or despatch vessels, four pennyweight: the above rates to be doubled for double letters, trebled for treble letters, and a packet weighing an ounce, to be charged equal to four single letters, and in that proportion if of a greater weight: and to the foregoing rates shall be added a sum not exceeding 4-90ths of a dollar upon every letter, packet or despatch which shall come into the Post Office from beyond sea, by any other conveyance than packets or despatch vessels;] and every letter, packet and despatch, except dead letters, may and shall be retained in the office where the same shall have arrived, which shall
[Note: The part in brackets was not in the draft.] be nearest to the place of direction, until the postage thereon shall be paid.1
[Note : The following in the draft was struck out: And whereas it will greatly tend to the communication of due information to the inhabitants of these United States to enable the transportation of public newspapers by the post-riders at a cheaper rate than the postage of letters, packets or other despatches.]
And be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, that it shall and may be lawful for the Postmaster General, or any of his deputies, to license every post-rider to carry any newspapers to and from any place or places within these United States, at such moderate rates as the Postmaster General shall establish, he rendering the post-riders accountable to the Postmaster General, or the respective deputy postmasters by whom they shall severally be employed, for such proportion of the moneys arising therefrom as the Postmaster General shall think proper, to be by him credited to these United States in his general account.2
[Note 2: 2 The following was struck out from the draft: And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid that no letter, packet or other despatch shall be opened or detained in any of the post offices of these United States, otherwise than is herein and hereby provided for.]
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that in case the income of the Post Office shall, in any year, exceed the expences thereof, the Postmaster General shall3 pay to the treasurer of the United States the surplus, until the sums of money heretofore advanced, or which shall be hereafter advanced, by the United States for the support of the general Post Office, with interest thereon at six per cent. per annum, shall be repaid, after which such surplus shall be appropriated and applied to the establishment of new post offices4 and the support of packets, to render the Post Office Department as extensively useful as may be;5 and if the necessary expences of that establishment shall exceed the profits arising from the Post Office, such excess, when properly ascertained, shall be paid on warrants of the Superintendent of finance, by the treasurer of the United States, to the Postmaster General, in quarterly payments, to enable him effectually to support the Post Office.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that the salary of the Postmaster General shall be fifteen hundred dollars, and that of his clerk or assistant one thousand dollars, per annum.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that letters, packets, and despatches to and from the members and secretary of Congress, while actually attending Congress, to and from the Commander in Chief of the armies of these United States, or commander of a separate army*, to and from the heads of the departments of finance, of war, and of foreign affairs, of these United States, on public service,** and single letters directed to all officers of the line of the army in actual service shall pass and be carried free of postage.
[Note *: The following was struck out from the draft: and from members of Congress to the governors or chief magistrates of the states which they represent, to and from the President of Congress, the Commander in Chief, all the officers of the armies of these United States while on duty.]
[Note**:The following was struck out from the draft: and to and from any foreign minister residing at or near Congress.]
And be it further ordained, that the postage of all letters to officers of the army, either in the line or staff departments in actual service (except on letters on public service from those whose letters and packets pass free of postage) shall on delivery thereof be charged to the officers respectively to whom directed, an account of which shall be collected and transmitted by the Postmaster General every six months to the Secretary at War for settlement, that single letters, directed to any officers of the line, in actual service, shall be free of postage.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that all former and other acts, ordinances and resolutions of these United States in Congress assembled, heretofore made relating to the Post Office, be, and the same, and each and every of them is and are hereby repealed and made void. Done, &c
The Committee of the Week [Mr. David Ramsay, Mr. Ralph Izard, Mr. John Taylor Gilman] on the memorial of Monsieur Lavahey complaining of injustice done him by the depreciation of the paper currency, report that it be referred to the Superintendant of Finance to report thereon.
1782:FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1782
November 2, 1785 The Pennsylvania Gazette. Philadelphia, November 2.
We are assured from the best authority, that the Post-Master-General, by the direction of Congress, has contracted with the Proprietors of the old line of stages, for the transportation of the public mail to and from Portsmouth in New Hampshire, to Savanna in Georgia, and to and from New York to Albany. They are to enter on this new mode of conveyance on the first of January next. [1786]
1787: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14
Congress assembled. Present Massachusetts Connecticut New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Virginia North Carolina South Carolina and Georgia and from Rhode island Mr. James Mitchell Varnum and from Delaware Mr. [Nathaniel] Mitchell.
Whereas the communication of intelligence with regularity and dispatch, from one part to another of these United States, is essentially requisite to the safety as well as the commercial interest thereof; and the United States in Congress assembled, being by the articles of confederation, vested with the sole and exclusive right and power of establishing and regulating Post Offices throughout all the United States; and whereas it is become necessary to revise the several regulations heretofore made, relating to the Post Office, and reduce them to one act:
Be it therefore ordained by the United States in Congress assembled, and it is hereby ordained by the authority of the same, That a continued communication of posts throughout these United States, shall be established and maintained, by, and under the direction of the Post-Master General of these United States, to extend to and from the state of New Hampshire and the state of Georgia inclusive; and to and from such other parts of these United States, as Congress shall from time to time direct.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the Post-Master General, shall have two assistant Post-Masters General under him, the one for the eastern and the other for the southern department; who shall from time to time superintend and direct the post-office, in
all its various departments and services, throughout the extent aforesaid, agreeably to the rules and regulations contained in this ordinance; the said Post-Master General shall have full power and authority to appoint a clerk or assistant to himself, and such and so many deputy Post-Masters, as he shall think proper; for whose fidelity he shall be accountable, each of whom shall reside at such place as the Post-Master General shall judge best suited, to maintain a due and regular transportation and exchange of mails. And the said Post-Master General shall be, and hereby is authorised to allow from time to time, to his said deputies respectively, such commissions on the monies to arise from postage in their respective departments, as he shall think their respective services shall merit; so as, that the said commissions shall not in the whole exceed twenty percent. and shall, by himself or his said deputies, respectively thereunto regular authorised by him, from time to time appoint the necessary posters, messengers or expresses, with such salaries and allowances, as he or his said deputies respectively shall think meet, or he shall make contracts for the transportation of the mail, with the owners of the stage carriages, where the same can be effected on terms advantageous to the public, or where he shall be directed to do so by Congress.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the Post-Master General shall reside at the place where Congress shall hold their sessions; and the assistant Post-Masters General shall reside as near as may be in the centre of their districts respectively: They shall be appointed by Congress, but the Post-Master General shall have authority to suspend them from office, in case of real-conduct, until the pleasure of Congress shall be known. It shall be the duty of [the] said assistant Post-Masters General, personally to visit every post-office in their districts respectively once at lea[st] in every six months, to settle accounts with the deputy Post-Masters therein, to receive all balances due thereon to the general Post-Office, and remit the same to the Post-Master General; and in general, to transact such other business of the department, as may from time to time be committed to them by the instructions of the said Post-Master General. And it shall, moreover, be the duty of the said assistant Post-Masters General, to report particularly in writing, to the Post-Master General, at the end of every six months, their own proceedings, and the state of the post roads, with the reputed distances, and of the ferries within their districts respectively; together with their own opinions, as to any alteration in the rout of the mail.
And whereas, packets have been established between divers parts of Europe and these United States, and more may be established therefrom, as well as from one part of these United States to another; and it is necessary in order to secure the payment of the inland postage, upon letters and dispatches to be sent by such packets, that the said postage should be paid at the office at which such letters or dispatches are left to be forwarded: Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That neither the Post-Master General, the assistant Post-Masters General, or the deputy Post-Masters, or any other person in the post office department, shall forward by post, any letter, or dispatches, unless the inland postage shall first be paid therefor, at the rates established by this Ordinance; but it shall be lawful for the Post-Master General, assistant Post-Masters General, or deputy Post-Masters, to open any letters or other dispatches (which shall not by this ordinance be exempt from a charge of postage) intended to be sent by the packets, which shall be left in any post-office to be forwarded, upon which the inland postage shall not be paid as aforesaid, and having discovered the name and place of abode of the writer, shall return the same, endorsing on the back of the said letter or dispatch, returned for want of payment of the inland postage.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the Post-Master General, his clerk, assistants, and deputy Post-Masters, and post and express riders and messengers, or either of them, shall not knowingly or willingly open, detain, delay, secrete, embezzle or destroy; or cause, procure, permit or suffer to be opened, detained, delayed, secreted, embezzled or destroyed, any letter or letters, packet or packets, or other dispatch or dispatches, which shall come into his power, hands or custody, by reason of his employment in, or relating to the post-office, except by the consent of the person or persons by or to whom the same shall be delivered or directed; or by an express warrant under the hand of the President of the Congress of the United States, (or in time of war, of the commander in chief of the armies of these United States, or of a commanding officer of a separate army in these United States, or of the chief executive officer of one of the said states) for that purpose; or except in such other cases, wherein he shall be authorised so to do, by the ordinances and regulations of Congress: Provided always, That no letters franked by any person, authorised by this ordinance to frank the same, shall be opened by order of any military officer, or chief executive officer of either of the states; and that the Post-Master General, or his assistants, or deputy post-masters, and post and express riders, and messengers, and all other persons employed in the post-office department, and each and every of them, not having already taken an oath of the same import, shall without delay, take and subscribe the following, to wit, "I A.B. do solemnly and sincerely swear, declare or affirm, (as the case may require) that I will well and faithfully do, execute, perform and fulfill, every duty required of me, and abstain from every act and thing forbidden by a certain ordinance, passed by the United States in Congress assembled, on the entitled, 'An Ordinance for regulating the Post-Office of the United States."
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That if the Post-Master General shall be guilty of a breach of the said oath, or affirmation, or any part thereof, and be thereof convicted, he shall forfeit and pay one thousand dollars, to be sued for and recovered in an action of debt, in the state where the offence shall be committed, by the Treasurer of the United States, for the time being; and if any assistant, deputy post-master, post rider, or other person employed in the Post-office department, shall be guilty of a breach of the said oath, or affirmation, or any part thereof, and be thereof convicted, each one so offending, shall forfeit and pay three hundred dollars, to be sued for, and recovered in an action of debt, in the state where the offence shall be committed, by the Post-Master General for the time being; all which forfeitures, when recovered and received, shall be accounted for by the persons recovering the same, and applied towards defraying the necessary expences of the post-office; and every person employed in the post-office department, who shall be guilty of a breach of the said oath or affirmation, shall, besides paying the above mentioned forfeitures, be rendered incapable ever thereafter of holding any office, or place of trust or profit, under these United States. Provided always, That the foregoing oath, shall not be required of any special express or messenger, to be appointed at the request of any particular person or persons, in the manner herein after directed, unless the same shall be thought necessary by the Post-Master General, or the persons who shall have appointed him; which oath shall, without delay, be made by the Post-Master General, before the President of the Congress of these United States; and by each of the said clerks, assistant Post-Masters General, deputy PostMasters, and post-riders, (except as is above provided, with respect to special expresses and messengers) before the Post-Master General, or before any civil magistrate, nominated by him for that purpose; all which persons are hereby respectively authorised to administer the said oaths; and shall respectively make and sign certificates thereof. The certificates to be signed by the President, to be lodged in the office of the Secretary of the Congress of these United States; and the other certificates respectively, to be returned into the office of the Post-Master General, there to be kept as evidence of the several qualifications therein respectively certified.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the Post-Master General of these United States, for the time being, and the persons appointed by him, or employed by his orders for that purpose respectively, and no other person whatsoever, shall have the receiving, taking up, ordering, dispatching, sending post or with speed, carrying or delivering of any letters, packets or other dispatches, from any place within these United States, for hire, reward, or other profit or advantage, for receiving, carrying, or delivering such letters or packets respectively; and any other person or persons presuming so to do, shall forfeit and pay for every such offence, twenty dollars, for every letter or packet, carried by him or [them] contrary to the true intent and meaning hereof; to be sued for, and recovered in an action of debt, with costs of suit, by the Post-Master General, or the assistant Post-Masters General in the state in which the offence shall be committed; and such sums as shall be thus recovered and received, shall be accounted for by the person who shall recover and receive them, and applied towards defraying the necessary expences of the post-office. Provided nevertheless, That nothing herein contained, shall be construed to extend to any messenger purposely sent on any private affair, and carrying letters or packets relating to such affair only; or to persons sent officially on public service by any officer of these United States, being legally authorised therefor. And provided also, That nothing herein contained, shall in any manner affect any private cross post-rider, that may be employed by either of the states in the union, or by any of the citizens thereof, with the consent of the Post-Master General, or an assistant Post-Master General, until a public rider shall be established on such cross-roads.
And whereas, on the arrival of ships, both from beyond seas and coastwise, into the ports of these United States, many letters directed to merchants and other citizens thereof, have by the negligence of the masters and passengers, been either opened or long detained, to the great prejudice of those to whom the same were directed:
Be it therefore ordained, That after the day of no ship or vessel shall be permitted to break bulk, or to make any entry in any port of these United States, until the master or mate of such ship or vessel shall have produced to the proper officer at such port, a certificate signed by the Post-Master General's deputy at such port, that the said master or mate has delivered into the post-office the letters brought in such ship or vessel: And to the end, that the revenue of the post-office may not be injured by the fraudulent concealment of letters, the Post-Master General's deputies respectively shall have authority, and are hereby required to administer to each master or mate bringing such letters to their offices as aforesaid, an oath (or affirmation) that the letters so brought are, to the best of his knowledge and belief, all the letters brought into such port by the vessel of which he is the master or mate, in her present voyage, excepting only such as are directed to the owners or consignees of such vessel. And if any collector or other officer of the customs within these United States, shall admit to an entry in his office, any vessel before the master or mate thereof shall have produced to him a certificate of the delivery of the letters signed by the Post-Master General's deputy as aforesaid, such collector or other officer so admitting such vessel to an entry, shall forfeit and pay for every offence two hundred dollars. And if the captain or commander of any vessel shall enter his said vessel, or in any manner break bulk, without giving an account as aforesaid, of the letters, packets and dispatches on board his said vessel, or in case of having brought none in his vessel, shall not make affidavit thereof as aforesaid, he shall forfeit two hundred dollars for every such failure, to be recovered by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information, in any court of record within these United States, and the Post-Master General, assistant Post-Masters General, and deputy Post-Masters, are in every instance of neglect or omission, hereby specially directed to prosecute for the same, as they shall answer to the contrary at their peril.
And be it further ordained, That the Post-Master General be authorised and directed, to establish, as soon as it can conveniently be done, so many cross-posts, as will be necessary to keep up a communication between the great post road, and all the por[t]s of entry throughout these United States.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That if any person, not being a post or express rider in the service of the General Post-Office, shall carry any letters, packets, or other dispatches from one place to another, within these United States, on any of the post roads to any place within these United States, for hire or reward, except in cases as is herein before excepted, or shall not, when bringing letters from beyond sea for hire or reward, deliver the same at the post-office, if any there be, at the place of his or her arrival, he or she shall, in each of the beforementioned cases, forfeit and pay, for every letter, packet or dispatch, carried contrary to the true intent and meaning hereof, twenty dollars, to be recovered by the Post-Master General, or any of his assistants or deputies, in an action of debt in the state wherein the offence shall have been committed, with costs of suit, and applied towards the expences of the post-office, and be accounted for accordingly; and if such offence shall be committed by any person holding a civil or military commission under these United States, he shall on conviction thereof, forfeit his commission. And for every letter, packet, or other dispatch from beyond sea, which any person shall so deliver at the post-office, he shall receive of the post-master, at the post-office, for the same, one ninetieth of a dollar.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the Post-Master General shall cause the mail to be carried with all care and dispatch, at least in every week, to and from each of the stated post-offices; and his assistants and deputies, shall keep and transmit to him, regular, particular, just and quarterly accounts of the incomes and expenditures of their respective offices; and from those and such other materials as shall be necessary for the purpose, the Post-Master General shall form and keep regular and just accounts of the incomes and expenditures of the general post-office, which he shall annually deliver to the Comptroller of Accounts of these United States.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the Post-Master General's deputies respectively, shall regularly publish at the expiration of each quarter (if it can conveniently be done) in one of the public newspapers, for three successive weeks, a list of all letters, at that time remaining in their offices, and at the expiration of the subsequent quarter, shall send such of the letters so published, as then remain, as dead letters, to the general post-office; where they shall be opened and inspected by the Post-Master General, who shall carefully preserve such of them as may contain valuable papers, with the papers therein respectively contained, and shall insert in a book to be kept for that purpose, the date of such letter, and the name and place of direction on the same, together with a particular account of the inclosures contained therein; and at the expiration of each quarter, the Post-Master General shall cause to be published, in one of the newspapers of the state, in which the owners of such valuable papers are supposed to reside, (if a newspaper is printed in such state) else in the most convenient paper, an advertisement, informing, that such papers are in his possession, and shall deliver such letters and inclosures, to the person or persons to whom the same shall be directed, or his, her, or their order, at the post-office, he, she, or they first paying the postage for the same, at the rates from time to time established by these United States in Congress assembled, and the necessary expence of such publications as aforesaid; and in case of neglect to take [up such letters the necessary expences shall be charged [to the United] States.
And be it further ordained by the au[thority afor]esaid, That the Post-Master General, his assistants and deputies respectively, shall, and they are hereby [authorized], whenever the danger of robberies of the [mail shall in their respective judgments render the same ne[cessary] to hire occasional expresses for carrying the public dispatches, and such private letters, as from time [to time shall be in the post-offices; who shall not be confined to fixed days, nor to travel the usual post roads, but shall] in those respects, be subject to the order and direction of the Post-Master General, and his assistants [and deputies respectively. And to the end that the expence of several expresses destined to the same place, at the [same time], may be avoided, Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That all extraordinary expresses in the public service] shall, if a post-office be established at the place, from which they shall severally take their departure, be hired by the Post-Master General, or his deputy, and set out from and return to such post-office, with the letters, packets and dispatches to be carried by them respectively.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the postage of all letters, packets and dispatches to and from the different post-offices, within these United States, shall be at the following rates in penny weights and grains of silver, estimating each penny weight, as at present, at five ninetieths of a dollar, to wit. For any distance not exceeding sixty miles, one penny weight, upwards of sixty and not exceeding one hundred, one penny weight eight grains; upwards of one hundred and not exceeding two hundred, two penny weight; upwards of two hundred and not exceeding three hundred, two penny weight sixteen grains, and so on, adding sixteen grains for every hundred miles: And for all single letters to or from Europe, by packet or dispatch vessels belonging to these United States, four penny weights. The above rates to be doubled for double letters; trebled for treble letters, and a packet weighing an ounce, to be charged equal to four single letters, and in that proportion if of a greater weight: And to the foregoing rates shall be added, sixteen grains upon every letter, packet or dispatch which shall come into the post-office from beyond sea, by any other packet or dispatch vessels, and is to be forwarded inland by post; but upon each letter or packet brought from beyond sea, and directed to any person at the place where the vessel shall arrive, the deputy Post-Masters respectively shall charge only two ninetieths of a dollar, which shall be in full compensation for their care and trouble respecting such letters and packets: And, forasmuch as the customary allowance of one ninetieth of a dollar for each letter and packet brought from beyond sea (otherwise than by packets or dispatch vessels) and lodged in the post-office, has been found to be beneficial, the deputy Post-Masters respectively are hereby authorised to continue the said allowance to all masters of vessels (other than packets or dispatch vessels) bringing letters and packets from beyond sea, and lodging them in the post-office.
And whereas, the post-master at the port at which the European packets statedly arrive, has extraordinary services to perform, for which be receives no compensation: Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That such allowance shall be made to the said post-master therefor as the Post-Master General shall deem reasonable; Provided, that the same shall not exceed per centum on the amount of the inland postage on the letters received by the packets, and forwarded from his to other offices.
And in order to prevent unnecessary delays in the transportation and delivery of letters, whereby the mercantile interest, and correspondence in general, may be materially injured: Be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That all mails brought by packets or dispatch vessels, to any port within these United States, shall be sent immediately upon the arrival of such packet or dispatch vessel, unopened and in the first instance to the post-office at such port; and all mails to be sent by such packets or dispatch vessels, on their return, shall at the said post-office, sealed with the seal thereof, and taken from thence immediately on board such packet or dispatch vessel, by the commander thereof, or some person duly authorised by him for that purpose in writing; nor shall any person, other than the Post-Master General's deputy, and the persons employed by him, take up or receive any letters to be forwarded by such packets or dispatch vessels, on penalty of two hundred dollars, to be sued for and recovered, for every offence, in an action of debt, by the Post-Master General, or the assistant Post-Masters General, in any court of record in that state in which the offence shall be committed; and such penalty when recovered, shall be applied towards defraying the necessary expences of the post-office.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the following rates shall be paid for the carriage of newspapers, magazines, and all other periodical publications sent by post, to wit.
For each newspaper, for any distance not exceeding
... dwts. grs. 60 miles
60 to 100 do.
100 to 200 do.
And so on for every 100 miles; and for each magazine or other periodical publication, containing but one sheet, or less, the same rates as above, for the same distances; but if they contain more than one sheet, then the above rates shall be charged in proportion to the distance, for each sheet, such magazine or other periodical publication shall contain. Provided always, That no newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication, shall be suffered to pass in the mail, unless it shall be thoroughly dry, and the wrapper left open at one end, so that it may be clearly seen how many news papers or other publications, and whether any letters are contained therein; and if it shall appear upon examination, that any letters are concealed under such wrapper, the full rate of postage shall be charged not only on such letter, but also on the other contents of the wrapper.
And whereas, in order to promote the circulation of useful intelligence, the printers of newspapers have been allowed to exchange their papers with each other by means of the post, without any charge of postage: Be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the same privilege shall still be continued, provided that such papers shall be dried, and put up as is before directed; and provided also, that each printer shall send to each other printer [but one copy each of] his papers, and that such papers shall not be carried [farther by post] than to the next capital city [of a state in] which a newspaper shall be printed.
And to the end [that] all persons concerned in the post-office d[epartment] may diligently and without interruption attend to the duties of their respective stations; Be it ordained by the] authority aforesaid, That the said persons shall be exempted from militia duty, and from serving as jurors and co] nstables.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the salary of the post-master General, shall be dollars per annum, and that of each of the assistant Post-Masters [General] dollars per annum; and that the allowance to the Post-Master General for a clerk, shall be five hundred dollars per annum, and no more.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That all letters, packets and dispatches to and from the members and secretary of Congress, while at the place where Congress, or a committee of the States shall hold their sessions, and actually attending therein; to and from the late commander in chief of the armies of these United States; to and from the commissioners of the treasury collectively; to and from the heads of the departments of war, and foreign affairs, on public service, shall pass and be carried free of postage; provided that the whole of the superscription of letters from any of the above persons shall be written by the person entitled to the privilege of franking them, whose name shall be also subscribed.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid, That all former and other acts, ordinances and resolutions, of these United States in Congress assembled, heretofore made relating to the post-office, be, and the same, and each and every of them, is and are hereby repealed and made void.
Ordered That Wednesday next be assigned for a second reading.
[Motion on cross-posts]
Resolved, That the Postmaster General be authorized and empowered to grant, for a Term not exceeding seven Years, to any Person or Persons who will give satisfactory Security for the performance of their Contract, the exclusive Privilege of carrying Letters and Packets for hire, upon any Cross Road within the United States [State of Virginia], upon which he may think a Post Rider necessary; provided that the Postage to be charged by such Persons for the Carriage of Letters and Packets shall in no Case exceed the Rates charged, pursuant to the Acts of Congress, for similar Letters and Packets carried the same Distance upon the main Post Road, and that he from time to time report to Congress all contracts entered into by him. Provided also that Contracts so to be made shall not involved the General post office Occasion any expence to the General post Office or lessen the Revenues of the same, rendezvous at Springfield.
March 14, 1792 The Pennsylvania Gazette
Prosper Wetmore, esq. Assistant Postmaster General, in the place of Jonathan Burrel, esq. resigned.
1847: Stamps first introduced in America
now, from http://www.stampsonline.com/postal/linkc.htm