SHOW MENU

Postage Act 1824
(5 Geo 4 c.10, 16th March 1824)

An Act for granting to His Majesty Rates of Postage on the Conveyance of Letters and Packets to and from Buenos Ayres, or any other Port or Ports on the Continent of South America.
[ 16th March 1824 ]

WHEREAS it is expedient, for the Benefit of Commerce and Correspondence, to establish One or more Packet Boats between the Port of Falmouth in the County of Cornwall, or such other Port in this Kingdom as His Majesty's Postmaster General shall appoint, and Buenos Ayres, or any other Port or Ports on the Continent of South America; 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 Establishment of Packet Boats between this Kingdom and Buenos Ayres, or any other Port or Ports on the Continent of South America, it shall and may be lawful for His Majesty's Postmaster General, and his Deputy and Deputies by him thereunto authorized, for the Use of His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, to demand, have, receive and take, for the Port and Conveyance of all and every the Letters and Packets that shall be carried or conveyed by Packet Boats from or to the Port of Falmouth aforesaid, or from or to any other convenient Port in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to or from Buenos Ayres, or any other Port or Ports on the Continent of South America, over and above all other Rates payable for Conveyance of such Letters and Packets within the said United Kingdom, a Packet Postage, according to the Pates and Sums in Sterling Money hereinafter mentioned; that is to say, for the Port and Conveyance of every Single Letter, Two Shillings and Five Pence; for every Double Letter, Four Shillings and Ten Pence; for every Treble Letter, Seven Shillings and Three Pence; and for every Ounce in Weight, Nine Shillings and Eight Pence; and so in Proportion for every Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce.

II. And be it further enacted, That from and after the Establishment of Packet Boats for the Purposes aforesaid, all and every the Clauses, Provisions, Powers, Privileges, Advantages, Disabilities, Penalties and Methods for Recovery of the same, and all other Matters and Things contained in any Act or Acts of Parliament relating to the Post Office, shall extend and be deemed and construed to extend to Letters and Packets to be conveyed between the said United Kingdom and Buenos Ayres, or any other Port or Ports on the Continent of South America.

III. And Whereas it may also be expedient that Packet Boats should hereafter be established to His Majesty's Colonies, and also to other Foreign Parts, where Rates of Postage have not hitherto been authorized: And Whereas at the Time of establishing such Packet Boats Parliament may not be sitting, and no Rates of Postage can in such Case be authorized by Law for the Port and Conveyance of Letters and Packets by the same; Be it therefore enacted, That from and after the Establishment of any such Packet Boats to any of His Majesty's Colonies or other Foreign Parts, it shall and may be lawful to and for His Majesty's Postmaster General, and his Deputy and Deputies by him thereunto authorized, with the Consent of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, or any Three them, for the Use of His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, to demand, have, receive and take for the Port and Conveyance of all and every the Letters and Packets that shall be carried or conveyed by such Packet Boats which may hereafter be established as hereinbefore is mentioned, such Rates of Packet Postage as shall be equal in Proportion to the Rates by this Act made payable for the Port or Conveyance of Letters and Packets between Buenos Ayres or any other Port or Ports on the Continent of South America.

IV. Provided always, and it is hereby further enacted, That as soon as conveniently may be after the next Session of Parliament succeeding the Establishment of such Rates as aforesaid, the Receipt of such Packet Rates of Postage as may then be judged necessary and expedient shall be by such Session of Parliament authorized by Law, any Thing herein contained to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.

V. And be it further enacted, That the Monies to arise by the Rates and Duties aforesaid, except the Monies which shall be necessary to defray such Expences as shall be incurred in the Management and Collection of the same, shall be paid into the Receipt of the Exchequer at Westminster, and be carried to and made Part of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom Great Britain and Ireland.

VI. And be it further enacted, That if any Person or Persons shall at any Time or Times be sued, molested or prosecuted for any Thing by him, her, or them done or executed in pursuance of this Act, or of any Clause, Matter or Thing herein contained, such Person and Persons shall and may plead the General Issue, and give the Special Matter in Evidence for his, her, or their Defence; and if upon the Trial a Verdict shall pass for the Defendant or Defendants, or the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs shall become nonsuited, then such Defendant or Defendants shall have Treble Costs awarded to him, her, or them, against such Plaintiff or Plaintiffs.