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Turnpike Toll Act 1785
(25 Geo 3 c.57, 15th July 1785)

An Act to exempt Carriages, carrying the Mail, from paying Tolls at any Turnpike Gate in Great Britain.

WHEREAS by several Acts of Parliament, made for repairing particular Roads in this Kingdom, Carriages, Horses, and other Cattle, employed in the Conveyance of the Mail or Packet, are exempt from the Payment of the Tolls directed to be levied by such Acts: And whereas, by several other Acts of Parliament, Horses only that are employed in carrying the Mail or Packet are exempt from the Payment of the said Tolls: And whereas it may be of Advantage to the Publick that the Mail, or Packet, should be conveyed to different Parts of the Kingdom by Carriages or Publick Diligences, which renders it expedient that all Carriages, as well as Horses and other Cattle, conveying the Mail or Packet from one Part of this Kingdom to another, should be exempt from the Payment of Tolls at all and every Turnpike, Toll-gate, or Bar, erected or set up by Authority of Parliament; be it therefore enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the fifteenth Day of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, all Carriages of what Description soever, or Horses, which shall be employed in conveying from one Part of this Kingdom to another the Mail or Packet, which shall be made up under the Authority or Direction of his Majesty's Postmaster General, or his Deputy or Deputies, shall be, and the same are hereby exempted, freed, and discharged from the Payment of any Tolls whatsoever that shall or may be demanded for the Passage of Carriages or Horses, through any Turnpike, Toll-gate, or Bar, at which any Toll is collected by any Act or Acts of Parliament now in force; and all Turnpike Keepers or Toll Collectors are hereby directed and required to permit such Carriages and Horses to pass through all and every Turnpike, Toll-gate, or Bar, without demanding any Toll or Duty for so doing; any Thing in any Act or Acts of Parliament contained to the contrary notwithstanding.