The Development of Rates of Postage Part 33

That it be provided that the Post and his horse shall go fferry ffree.

That the rates following may be set upon letters--

To or from Europe or to the West Indies to North America six pence p.

single letter 12d. p. double 18d. for a packet if a packet contain nothing but Invoices, accts. Gazetts &ca. to be accounted but as a single letter.

Upon Inland letters as followes--

d.

Where the distance from New Yorke to Boston is within 80 miles the postage 6 Where the distance exceeds 80 miles and within 150 9 Postage to and from Boston to New Yorke being 300 miles 12 To and from Boston to Jersey 370 miles 18 To and from Boston to Philadelphia 390 miles 20 To and from Boston to Annapolis in Maryland 550 miles 36 To and from Boston to James Towne in Virginia 680 miles 42 To and from New Yorke to Annapolis 250 miles 24 To and from New Yorke to James Towne 380 miles and many broad and dangerous Bays and Rivers to be Ferryed over 30

If it be objected y^{t}. there is no reason to grant a postage upon forrensic letters where the Postmaster is at no charge of Conveyance,

It is answered first that it remidies the evills that letters are subject to by the present Method of Conveyance.

2^{dly}. It encreases the Revenue of the Post Office in England.

3^{dly}. That those Colonys having but little Correspondence with an other if the Reale Expence of Conveying letters from Coliny to Colony were charged upon Inland letters it would discourage all Correspondence.

Exa: The Charge of a letter from New Yorke to Boston at present is after y^{e} rate of 12d. a letter and considering the fewness of y^{m}. and the extraordinary charge and trouble of keeping up the Post in time of Wintor taking it one Post with an other a single letter would not be Carryed for 5^{d}.

The Charges of settling a Post throughout Virginia and Maryland will cost at least 500^{d}. p. ann. & 100 letters in a year will not come from those Collonys to the neighbouring Colonys their Correspondence being chiefly w^{th}. Europe. All which is humbly submitted by

May it please your Lords.h.i.+pps Your Lordpps most obedient servant AND: HAMILTON.

I humbly beg leave of your Lordspps to add y^{t}. w^{n}. his Majesty shall at any time be inclinable to take this Post Office under his Immediate direction I humbly make a proffer to make a Surrendor of y^{e}. pattent upon payment of 5000^{d} or 1000^{d}. p. ann. for life for the remaining Tearme of y^{e}. Pattent.

THO: NEALE.

A Calculation what Charge will carry ye Post from Newcastle in Pensilvania to James City in Virginia about 400 Miles.

There being a great many broad & dangerous rivers to be Crossed makes it difficult to procure men to Ryde ye Stages and will cost at least to carry ye Post from Newcastle through Maryland to James City in Virginia 300_l._ P Ann. I Reckon yt in 2 or 3 yeares & may be less this Charge will be defrayed by what may Arise by Postage upon letters. The Post from Newcastle to New England now at last defraying att last its own Charge there will remain only ye Sallery to be allowed to ye Deputy Postmaster Generall which by ye Increase of ye Post will in 2 yeares more in probobility alsoe be defrayed.

As I have laid ye first foundation of ye American Post soe if ye King think fitt to continue me on this trust I will take upon me ye managem^{t} of ye whole from Piscatway 70 Miles eastward of Boston to James City in Virginia w^{ch} is 800 & odd miles for 300_l._ p Annum and will keep exact Accts. of ye produce.

Soe yt 1200_l._ will in all probability be ye utmost Charge ye King will be att to bring ye American Post to support it Self vizt. 600_l._ for two yeares Carrying it through Maryland & Virginia and 600_l._ more for 2 yeares salery to ye Manager or Deputy Postmaster Gen^{ll} and will thereafter bring in A Revenue All which is most humbly Submitted.

AND: HAMILTON, Dep^{t} Postm^{r} of North America.

_Aprill 26th 99_

No. 1 (_c_).

c.o.c.k PIT TREASURY CHAMBERS.

The L^{ds}. Com^{rs}. of his Majties Treary are pleased to refer this pet.i.tion and ye account annexed to S^{r}. Robt. Cotton Kn^{t}. & S^{r}.

Tho. Frankland Barr^{t}. his Majties Postm^{rs}. Generall who are desired to examine ye particulars and report to their Lopps a true state thereof together w^{th}. their opinion what is fit to be done therein.

W^{M} LOWNDES.

The account annex'd to y^{e} pet.i.tion makes y^{e} charges of Erecting y^{e} post in North America from May 1693 to May 97 3817 6 11-3/4 -------------- The produce of s^{d} post 1456 18 3-1/4 -------------- M^{r}. Neale out of pocket at May 97 2360 8 8-1/2 -------------- 3817 6 11-3/4

No. 1 (d).

To the right Honble the Lords Com^{rs}. of his Maj^{tys}. Treary.

May it please your Lordspps.

In obedience to yo^{r}. Ld.spps. Order of Refference upon y^{e} Memoriall of Thomas Neale and Andrew Hamilton Esq^{rs}. Wee have Considered the same and do find that the said A: Hamilton hath Established a regular Post to pa.s.s weekly from Boston to New Yorke in New England and from New York to Newcastle in Pensilvania which must undoubtedly be of great benefit and advantage to the People and tend to the encreasing of Trade in those Plantations; Wee have likewise examined the accounts given in by the said Hamilton of the Proffit and charge arising by this Post and do find that the Proffits have every yeare encreased, so as to defray all charges, excepting the sallary paid to the said Andrew Hamilton for his care in managing and settling the Posts in North America and it may be hoped that upon the severall Governors giving all reasonable encouragement to this usefull undertaking, and a due care in the management thereof, It may in some years bring in a Considerable proffit.

Wee have Consulted his Majestys Attorney and Solliciter Generall whether his Majesty can settle the rates and Postage between England and any of the Ports in America, and for the port of letters to and from New Yorke to or from any part of the said plantations; and they are of opinion his Majesty May settle such rates in both respects as shall be thought reasonable (regard being had to the proportions and rates settled by the Act), for letters carried beyond sea, so y^{t} it doth not seeme necessary there should be any additionall Act of Parliam^{t}. for the settling of rates upon all such letters.

To prevent any Collections of letters that may be made by any Masters of s.h.i.+ps or Seamen Wee are humbly of opinion it may be proper to appoint an Officer here whose business it should be to take Care of all letters directed to any of his Majestys Plantations, and upon going off of s.h.i.+ps to those parts to put them up in severall and distinct bags, sealed with the Seale of the Office and sent to y^{e} Ma^{r}. of such Vessell who shall deliver y^{m}. to y^{e} Deputy Postm^{r}. in the first Port where he shall arrive such Deputy paying him one penny for each letter Contained in y^{e} said bag as a recompence for his Care: and y^{e} same method may likewise be observed in England for all such letters as shall come from America: and upon such Officers being Established it may be fit to give Publick Notice that no other person presume to make Collection of letters for those parts.

Wee have Considered of the severall rates mentioned in Mr. Hamiltons Memoriall for the Inland Post of letters between one place & an other in America and are humbly of opinion some of them are too high. It having been found by Experience in this Office That y^{e} 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 was reduced from sixpence to 3d.

Wee have advised with Mr. Hamilton who hath settled and managed this Post under Mr. Neale and is recomended to Us by the Governor of Virginia to be well acquainted with that Country about enlarging the Post through Virginia & Maryland and by his Competation hereunto annexed do find that it will require 1200^{d}. further Charge than w^{t} has already been expended to Establish and bring the whole to perfection there.

Upon the whole it appears to Us that as the Establis.h.i.+ng this American Post whereby the several Colonys have a regular way of Corresponding with each other is of great advantage to the Trade of his Maj^{tys}.

Subjects in those parts so it may in few years bring in a cleare proffit over and above what may be required to defray y^{e} necessary Charges but it is to be apprehended that considering the same is in the hands of a private person the severall Governors will not give that encouragem^{t}. to it they would do if the profit and advantage arrising thereby were to accrew to his Maj^{ty}. All which is humbly submitted to your Lordsps. Consideration. Gen^{l}. Post Office 27th April 1699.

R: COTTON THO: FRANKLAND.

No. 1 (_e_).

To the Right Honble &c^{a}.

The humble Memoriall of Tho: Neale Esq^{r}.

May it please your Lordsps.

Though after Strugling with many difficultys in the first settling the American Post I have now at last at a great Charge made it a regular Post and brought it to such a pa.s.s that where settled it supports it self and will in a very few yeares bring in a fair Revenue, Yet since the Postm^{r}. Gen^{l}. in their Report to your Lordsps Conserning y^{e} Post have declared their opinion that it will not receive so due encouragement nor so soon attain to perfection in the hands of a private person for the good of the publick, as it would, were it in the hands of the King; I humbly offer to lay my Pattent of that Post office at his Majestys feet rather then an undertaking so usefull & beneficiall to his Majestys subjects in America and to those that trade thither should want the least advantage for its support and to leave my selfe to his Maj^{tys} Justice and goodness for a Recompence of my risque and disbursments by a yearly Pention or otherwise.

And Whereas in y^{e} Memoriall annexed to the Report, the abuses. .h.i.therto practiced in Conveying letters to America and the method for preventing them for the future are set forth I humbly beseech yo^{r} Lordsps. y^{t} the said Method if approved of by your Lordps. or such other as your Lordsps. shall think more proper may be put in Execusion for the benefit of the Publick and mine till his Maj^{ty}. shall declare his pleasure conserning the surrender of my Patent.

All which is most humbly submitted to yo^{r}. Lordsps.

Great Wisdom &c^{a}. by My Lords Your ever obedient THO: NEALE.

_April 28, 1699._

No. 1 (_f_).