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23 & 24 Geo 3 c.17
(Irish Parliament, 14th May 1784)

An Act for establishing a Post-Office within this Kingdom.
[14th May 1784]

FOR the better support of your Majesty's government, and the convenience of trade, by the establishment of a post-office within this kingdom; be it 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 as soon as conveniently may be after the passing this act, there shall be one general letter-office and post-office established in some convenient place within the city of Dublin, with sub-offices throughout this kingdom, from whence all letters and packets whatsoever to or from places within this kingdom, or beyond the seas, may be with speed and expedition sent, received, and dispatched; and that the person or persons from time to time to be appointed master of the said office, shall be so appointed by the King's Majesty, his heirs, and successors, to be made and constituted by letters patent under the great seal of Ireland, by the name and stile of his Majesty's Post-master General of Ireland; and that there shall be a secretary, a treasurer, or receiver general, an accountant general, and a resident surveyor of the said general post-office; and also a comptroller of the sorting-office thereof, to be appointed, made, and constituted in like manner by letters patent under the great seal of Ireland; which said master of the said office, and his deputy and deputies, by him thereunto sufficiently authorized, and his and their servants and agents, and no other person or persons whatsoever within this kingdom, shall from time to time, and at all times, have the receiving, taking up, ordering, dispatching, sending post, or with speed, carrying and delivering of all letters and packets whatsoever, which shall from time to time, and at all times, be sent to and from all and every part and places within this kingdom, and to and from all and every the parts and places beyond the seas, where posts are now settled, or may hereafter be settled for that purpose, except such letters as shall respectively concern goods sent by common known carriers of goods by carts, cars, waggons, or pack horses, within this kingdom, and shall be respectively delivered with the goods such letters do concern, without hire or reward, or other profit or advantage for receiving or delivering such letters; and except letters of merchants, and masters, owners of any ships, barques, or vessels, or merchandize, or any the cargo or lading therein, sent on board such ships, barques, or vessels of merchandize, whereof such merchants or masters are owners as aforesaid, and delivered by any masters of any such ships, barques, or vessels of merchandize, or, by any other person employed by them for the carriage of such letters as aforesaid within this kingdom, according to their respective directions, so as such letters be delivered to the respective persons to whom they shall be directed, without receiving or paying any hire or reward, advantage or profit for the same in any wise; and also except commissions, or the returns thereof, affidavits, writs, process or proceedings, or returns thereof, issuing out of any court, and any letter or letters to be sent by any private friend or friends in their way of journey or travel, or by any messenger or messengers sent on purpose for or concerning the private affairs of any person.

II. Provided always, nevertheless, That nothing in the said exception contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to give any license or authority to any common known carriers of goods by carts, cars, waggons, or pack-horses, their servants or agents within this kingdom, to receive, collect, or deliver, with or without hire, any letter or letters, packet or packets of letters whatsoever, within this kingdom, that do not concern goods in their carts, cars, waggons, or on their pack-horses, nor to any owners or drivers of stage coaches, machines, or other carriages; nor to any owners, masters or commanders of ships or vessels, or boats called passage-boats, sailing coastways, between any port in this kingdom, and any other port thereof, or their servants or agents, nor to any passenger or passengers on board such boats, ships or vessels, nor to the owner or watermen on board any boat, barge, or vessel passing or repassing on any river or rivers, or navigable canal or canals within this kingdom, although such drivers of stage-coaches, machines and carriages, owners, matters and commanders of ships or vessels, or boats called passage-boats, or passengers therein, owners or watermen on board any such boat, barge, or vessel passing or repassing on any such river or rivers, or canal or canals, or sailing coast. ways as aforesaid, do not receive any hire or reward, or other advantage for the same, but that all such carriers, owners, and drivers of stage-coaches, or other carriages, owners, masters or commanders of ships or vessels, or passage-boats, and the passengers therein, and all owners and watermen on board of any boat, barge, or vessel, passing or repassing on any river or rivers, canal or canals, or sailing coastways as aforesaid, collecting and delivering letters as aforesaid, though without hire or reward, shall be deemed and taken, and are hereby declared to be persons offending against this act, and shall forfeit and pay, such sum and sums of money as persons collecting, receiving, taking up, conveying or delivering of letters for hire, or setting up, employing or maintaining any post contrary to this act, or that are or shall be concerned therein, are herein after enacted to forfeit and to pay.

III. And be it enacted, That from and after the establishment of such office, until the twenty fifth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty five inclusive, and no longer, it shall and may be lawful to and for such post-master general, and his deputy and deputies, servants and agents, to and for the use of his Majesty, his heirs and successors, to demand, have, receive, and take for the portage and conveyance of all such letters and packets which he shall so convey, carry or send post to and from places within this kingdom as aforesaid, according to the several rates and sums of money of this kingdom herein after mentioned, that is to say, for the port and conveyance of every single letter or piece of paper from the office in this kingdom, where such letter or piece of paper shall be put in, to any distance within the same, not exceeding fifteen miles Irish measure, the sum of two pence; and to any distance exceeding fifteen miles, and not exceeding thirty miles, the sum of three pence, and to any distance exceeding thirty miles, the sum of four pence; and for the port or conveyance of every double letter, double the said sums respectively; and for every treble letter, treble the said sums respectively, and for every ounce weight, four times the sums respectively, and so in proportion for any greater weight than an ounce, reckoning every quarter of an ounce equal to a single letter; and that all letters and packets directed from any place in this kingdom to any Part or parts beyond the seas, or received in this kingdom from any part or parts beyond the seas, shall be charged and pay for their postage and conveyance within this kingdom, from or to Dublin or Donaghadee, according as they shall respectively be shipped from or landed in either of said places, according to the rates aforesaid; and that every letter or packet passing through the general post-office in the city of Dublin, from any place within this kingdom, not less distant than four miles from the general post-office in the said city, to any place within the said kingdom, not less distant than four miles from the general post office in the said city, shall be charged and pay according to the distances herein before mentioned to Dublin, and be further charged and pay according to the same rates from Dublin; and that for every letter or packet directed on board, or brought or sent from on board any ship or vessel riding or stopping in any port within this kingdom, there shall be charged and paid to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, over and above the rates aforesaid, the sum of one penny, and that over and above the several rates and duties of postage, payable as aforesaid for the port and conveyance of letters and packets within this kingdom; all letters and packets coming into this kingdom from any part beyond the seas shall be subject and liable to pay such rates and duties of postage, as shall respectively be charged thereon, by the office beyond the seas from whence the same shall come; and that it shall and may be lawful to and for his Majesty's post-master general, and his deputy and deputies, servants and agents, and he and they are hereby required to demand and receive the said rates and duties, over and above the rates and duties which may be payable for their port and conveyance within this kingdom, and to account for and pay the same quarterly to the revenue of such post-office beyond the seas; and that there shall be paid to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, for the delivery of each British or foreign printed newspaper, and each printed vote or proceeding in parliament, arriving at the general post-office in Dublin or Donaghadee from beyond the seas, without covers open at the sides, the sum of one penny, over and above the postage which may be charged thereon and accounted for to Great Britain.

IV. And be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the said post-master general for the time being, to settle and establish an office, to be called the Penny Post-Office, in some convenient place within the said city of Dublin, and other offices to be called receiving-houses for penny-post letters in the said city, or county of the same city, and in parts adjacent to the said city and suburbs, not more than four miles distant from the general post-office therein, and from and after the establishment of such penny post office until the twenty fifth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty five inclusive, and no longer, to demand, have, receive and take for the portage and conveyance of all letters and packets conveyed by such penny post according to the several rates herein after mentioned, that is to say, that for the port and conveyance of any letter or packet, being not more than four ounces in weight, from and to any place within the limits of the said city of Dublin, as the said limits are now described and ascertained by a survey thereof made on the tenth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and seventy three, by Thomas Matthews, sworn surveyor of the said city of Dublin, which survey, indorsed by the postmaster general or his secretary, shall immediately upon the establishment of the said penny post-office, be deposited amongst the records of his Majesty's court of Exchequer, there shall be paid at the time of putting such letter or packet into the said penny post-office, the sum of one penny; and for the port and conveyance of every letter or packet not exceeding the like weight, from or to any place beyond the said limits, so ascertained as aforesaid, from or to any place within the circuit of the penny post-office, there shall be paid at the time of putting in such letter or packet, the sum of one penny, and a further sum of one penny, on the delivery thereof; and that for every letter or packet of any weight which shall be sent to or delivered from the general post-office by the penny-post from or to any place not being within the said limits as before ascertained, there shall be paid the sum of one penny over and above and exclusive of the several rates chargeable thereon.

V. And be it enacted, That when such penny post-office shall be settled and established as aforesaid, no person or persons whatsoever shall make any collection of letters or packets in or near the said city of Dublin, or county of the said city, or within four miles of the general post-office therein, without license of the post-master general for the time being, upon pain of incurring the forfeitures and penalties to be forfeited and paid by persons collecting, receiving, carrying, re-carrying, and delivering letters contrary to this act.

VI. And be it enacted, That no letter, packet, or parcel, shall be forwarded by the penny post, which shall exceed the weight of four ounces, other than such as have first come by the post to the general post-office, or shall be passing by the penny-post unto the general post-office.

VII. And be it enacted, That every bill of exchange, merchants account, invoice, or bill of lading, writ, process, or proceeding at law, written upon the same sheet or piece of paper with a letter, and every letter to or from several or distinct persons written upon the same sheet or piece of paper, shall be rated, taxed, and paid for as so many several or distinct letters, according to the rates established by this act, any thing herein before contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

VIII. And whereas patterns of cloth, silk, stuff, and small samples of other sorts of goods are frequently inclosed in a single letter or piece of paper, and sent by the post: be it enacted, That for every single letter or cover, indorsed on the outside, "Patterns," containing one or more paper or papers with patterns, or containing one or more pattern or patterns of cloth, silk, or stuff, or one or more sample or samples of any other sort of goods, and containing no other writing, matter, or thing, save only what appertains to such patterns or samples, if the same together do not exceed one ounce weight, the rates payable by this act for a double letter, shall be paid, and no more, any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

IX. And for the better ascertaining of distances, and for preventing disputes touching the same; be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for such person and persons as the post-master general for the time being, shall appoint, to measure, or cause to be measured, by the wheel, or otherwise, all the post roads which are now settled and established, or which shall hereafter be settled and established in any part of this kingdom.

X. Provided always, That such person or persons who shall be so appointed as aforesaid to measure the said distances, and every of them, shall be sworn to perform the same according to the best of his and their skill and judgment, which oath shall and may be administered by any justice of the peace within this kingdom, who is hereby authorized and required to administer the same; and such person or persons, so to be appointed and sworn as aforesaid, shall, and he and they are hereby required to cause a fair survey or book to be made of all the post roads within this kingdom, which shall be left in the general post-office in Dublin, with the said post-master general, there to remain, which said survey or book shall be signed by the person or persons making the same, who is and are hereby respectively required to make oath of the truth of such surveys, which oath shall and may be administered by any justice of the peace in this kingdom, who is hereby authorized and required to administer the same, and a certificate of his or their having sworn to the truth thereof, shall be signed by the post-master general for the time being, which book or survey shall determine the distances on all the said post roads: and in case of any suspicion of error, or wrong admeasurement, it shall and may be lawful for the said post master general to cause new surveys to be made, and the last survey which shall be made, and shall be verified and attested as aforesaid, shall in all courts of justice within this kingdom be conclusive evidence of such distances as aforesaid, in all matters concerning this act; and all rates granted by this act for the port or conveyance of letters and packets shall be paid and taken according to such surveys.

XI. And be it enacted, That all letters and packets that by any master of any ship or vessel, or any of his company, or any passenger therein, shall or may be brought to any post-town, or which shall arrive or touch at any port belonging to any post-town within this kingdom, or any the members thereof, or which shall lie on board any ship or vessel that shall or may touch or stay at any such post-town (other than such letters as are before excepted) shall by such master, passenger, or other person, be forthwith delivered to the deputy of such post-master general for the time being, to be sent post according to the several and respective directions of the same.

XII. And that no ship or vessel shall knowingly be permitted to break bulk or make any entry in any port in this kingdom until all such letters or packets shall be delivered be sent by post, as aforesaid, to be forwarded according to their respective directions in the same course that other letters are sent from such respective post-towns (except such letters and packets as shall or may be brought in any ship or vessel liable to the performance of quarantine) all which letters and packets last mentioned shall be delivered by the person or persons having possession thereof to the person or persons appointed to superintend the quarantine, that all proper precautions may be by him or them taken before the delivery thereof, and when due care has been had therein, the said letters or packets shall be by him or them dispatched in the usual and accustomed manner by the post; and all masters, mariners, and passengers, and other person or persons neglecting or refusing to deliver the letters or packets brought by them as aforesaid, shall for every neglect or refusal respectively forfeit the sum of twenty pounds; one moiety to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, and the other moiety to such person or persons who shall inform against such offender or offenders, and site for the said penalties and forfeitures; and for the encouragement of all masters and other persons to deliver all letters or packers to the deputy post-master of the port or place at which they shall touch or arrive, they shall receive of the said deputy one penny for every letter and packet so brought, giving a receipt for the same.

XIII. Provided always, and be it enacted, That nothing herein contained shaft be understood to prohibit at any place or town, more than four miles distant from the general post- office, the carrying or re-carrying of any letters or packets to or from any town or place, to or from the next or most convenient post-town or stage, but that every person shall have free liberty to send and employ one person to carry the said letters or packets as aforesaid, and to bring back from any post-town or stage, letters and packets for any person or persons by whom he shall be employed.

XIV. Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to extend to give liberty to any person or persons whatsoever, to make collections of letters in or near the city of Dublin, or county of the same city, or suburbs thereof, within the circuit of the penny post-office, under pretence of conveying the same to any parts or places in the said city or suburbs, or unto the said general post-office without the licence of the post-master general for the time being; and any person or persons acting contrary hereto, shall forfeit and pay as persons collecting, receiving, carrying, re-carrying, and delivering letters contrary to this act, are hereby enacted to forfeit and pay.

XV. And for the better management of the said post-office, and that the people of this kingdom may have their posts intercourse of trade and commerce the better maintained, and their letters and advices conveyed, carried and re-carried with the greatest speed, security, and conveniency that may be: be it enacted, That the said post-master general and his deputies shall from time to time observe and follow such orders, rules, directions and instructions for and concerning the settlement of posts and stages upon the several roads, cross roads, and bye ways in this kingdom, as his Majesty, his heirs and successors, or the lord lieutenant, or other chief governor or governors of this kingdom for the time being shall from time to time in that behalf make and ordain.

XVI. And be it enacted, That the post-master general for the time being, shall cause an account to be kept of all monies arising to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, by virtue of this act.

XVII. And be it enacted, That the net revenue and monies arising by the rates and duties hereby granted to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, after paying all charges, outgoings, disbursements, expences and salaries necessary for the receipt and management of the same, and all expences attending the said office, and the due execution of this act, shall be paid into his Majesty's treasury in this kingdom, in such manner and at such time and times as his Majesty, his heirs and successors, or the lord lieutenant or other chief governor or governors of this kingdom for the time being, shall direct and appoint.

XVIII. And be it enacted, That in case the post-master general, or any person concerned in the execution of this act, shall neglect or refuse to perform any matter or thing whatsoever, according to the true intent and meaning of this act; or if they, or any of them, or any other officer employed by virtue of this act, shall embezzle, divert or misapply any of the monies by them or any of them collected or received by virtue of this act, contrary to the tenor and true meaning thereof, then and in every such case, they and every of them, so offending, shall forfeit their several offices, and be incapable to serve his Majesty, his heirs or successors, in any office or place of trust or profit, and shall be liable for every such offence to pay treble the sum so embezzled, diverted, or misapplied.

XIX. And be it enacted, That neither the six pence per pound, nor any other fee, shall be payable to, or be deducted or received by the vice-treasurer or vice-treasurers, receiver or paymaster-general, clerk of the pells, or any other officer or officers of this kingdom, to his or their own use or uses, for or on account of the issuing or payment of any sum or sums of money arising by, or which shall be received for or on account of the aids hereby granted to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, or of any payment to be made in pursuance of this act, but that the same shall be duly accounted for to his Majesty, his heirs and successors.

XX. And be it enacted, That no letters or packets sent by the post to or from any place or places whatsoever, shall be exempted from paying the duty of postage according to the rates established by this act, other than and except such letters and packets as are herein after excepted, and in such manner and under such restrictions as are herein after declared and enacted concerning the same, that is to say, all letters and packets, not exceeding the weight of two ounces, sent from and to any places within this kingdom during the sitting of any session of Parliament, or within forty days before or forty days after any summons or prorogation of the same, which shall be signed on the outside thereof by any member of either of the two houses of Parliament in this kingdom, and whereof the whole superscription shall be of the hand writing of such member, and shall have endorsed thereon in the same hand writing, the month and the day of the month when the same shall be put into any post office of this kingdom, to be forwarded by the post; and also all letters and packets not exceeding the like weight, which shall, during the sitting of any session of Parliament, or within forty days before or forty days after any summons or prorogation of the same, be directed from any place in this kingdom to any member of either house of the Parliament of this kingdom, at any of the places of his usual residence, or at the place where he shall actually be at the time of the delivery thereof, or at the house of Parliament of which he is a member; also all letters and packets from and to any place within this kingdom, directed to his Majesty's lieutenant general, or other chief governor or governors of this kingdom, his Majesty's principal secretary of state for this kingdom, the chief secretary of the said lieutenant general, or other chief governor or governors of this kingdom, the under secretary and first clerk for the civil department in the said chief secretary's office, the under secretary and first clerk for the military department of the office of the said chief secretary, or to his Majesty's postmaster general of this kingdom, the secretary of the said general post office, the comptroller of the sorting office in the said general post office, and the surveyors of the said post office, all for the time being, and all letters and packets sent from any of the said officers for the time being, from and to any place in this kingdom, which shall relate to the business of their respective offices, or their own private concerns only, and shall be signed, superscribed, and dated on the outside of such letter; as aforesaid : and in case any such officer shall receive under cover to him, with intent to evade the payment of any of the rates granted by this act, any letters or packets intended for, or directed to other persons, every such officer is hereby authorized and required to send the same to the general post office in Dublin, in order that such letters and packets may be charged with the duty of postage payable thereon, it being the true intent and meaning of this act that the privilege of sending and receiving letters and packets by such officers shall extend to such letters and packets only as relate to the business of their respective offices, or their own immediate and private concerns; and also except letters and packets sent from the general post office in Dublin, and which shall appear by an endorsement made thereupon by some person or persons (not exceeding two in number) authorized under the hand and seal of the post-master general of this kingdom for the time being, to be upon his Majesty's service, and shall be sealed with the seal of the said general post office; which person or persons are hereby strictly forbid so to indorse and seal any letter or packet whatsoever, unless such only concerning which they shall receive the special direction of their superior officer, or which they shall themselves know to concern the business of the post office: and if any person or persons, authorized as aforesaid under the hand and seal of the said post-master general, shall knowingly make and subscribe such indorsement, or procure the same to be made on any letter or packet which does not really concern the business of the said general post office, he shall for the first offence forfeit and pay the sum of five pounds, and for the second offence shall be dismissed from his office.

XXI. Provided always, and be it enacted, That in case any person intitled to send letters or packets free of the duty of postage, being by bodily infirmity disabled from writing the whole superscription, indorsement and date of such letters or packets, shall chuse to authorize, and appoint some one person on his behalf and in his stead to sign his name upon and write the whole superscription and date of and upon such letters and packets, and shall cause notice thereof in writing, under his hand and seal, to be transmitted to the post-master general of this kingdom, all letters and packets signed, subscribed, and dated as aforesaid, by the person so authorized and appointed, shall be allowed to pass equally free of the duty of postage, and shall in all respects be considered as if the whole superscription, signature and date had been of the hand writing of the person by whom such authority was given.

XXII. Provided always, That no letter or packet, signed, superscribed and dated under the hand writing of such member, shall pass free of postage until such member shall by order, under his hand and seal, revoke such notice.

XXIII. And whereas many frauds may be practised in sending covers, letters and packets by post, directed to members of Parliament at places where such members do not usually reside and are not then resident, and at different houses and places in the same post town, and by directing covers, letters and packets to members at their usual places of residence, containing other letters and packets intended for others, and not intended for such members to whom the covers, letters and packets are so directed, on which covers, letters, and packets, so directed and inclosed, private marks may be put, whereby the persons for whom such letters are really intended may receive such covers, letters and packets free from the duty of postage, to the injury of the revenue: for remedy whereof, be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the said post-master general, and all persons acting under this act, to charge the whole of such covers, letters and packets, with treble the duty of postage, according to the rates established by this act, any thing herein contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

XXIV. Provided always, That if it shall appear by the certificate of such member, That such cover, letter or packet, so charged, was actually intended for such member, and not covering a correspondence to any other person, that then and in every such case, the postage so charged and paid for every such letter, cover, or packet, shall be returned to such member.

XXV. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That nothing herein contained, shall extend to charge with the duty of postage, any printed votes or proceedings in Parliament, or printed newspapers, being sent by the post without covers, or in covers open at the sides, which shall be signed on the outside thereof by any member of Parliament in this kingdom, or which shall be directed to any such member at any place within this kingdom whereof he shall have given notice in writing to the post-master general of Ireland, or which shall be sent by certain officers in the office of his Majesty's post-master general, who shall be thereunto licensed by the said post-master general respectively; but that all such votes, proceedings in Parliament, and printed newspapers, so sent and signed as aforesaid, shall be received free of the duty of postage.

XXVI. Provided nevertheless, That no such printed newspaper shall pass free of postage from the general post-office, pursuant to any such notice, unless the same shall be put in there before the hour of ten of the clock at night; or from any other post-office in this kingdom, unless such newspaper shall be put in there two hours at the least before the usual time of the post being dispatched therefrom.

XXVII. And be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for his Majesty's post-master general of this kingdom, or any of the officers employed under him, to examine and search any packet sent without a cover, or in a cover open at the sides, in order to discover whether any letter or other paper or thing whatsoever be inclosed or concealed in or with such printed votes, proceedings, or printed newspapers, and in order to discover whether such printed newspapers shall have been duly stamped; and in case any letter or paper or thing whatsoever shall be found to be inclosed, written or concealed in, on or with such printed votes, Proceedings in Parliament, or newspapers as aforesaid; or in case there shall be any writing other than the superscription of such printed votes, proceedings, or newspapers, or any of them, or on, in the cover thereof, the whole of such packet shall be charged with treble the duty of postage by this act established : and in case any such newspaper shall appear not to have been duly stamped, every such officer is hereby required to stop the same, and send it to the commissioners of stamp duties, at their office in the city of Dublin.

XXVIII. And be it enacted, That if any person or persons whatsoever within this kingdom, shall forge or counterfeit the seal or hand-writing, or make use of the name of any person whatsoever in the superscription of any letter or packet to be sent by the post, in order to avoid the payment of the duty of postage, or shall forge, counterfeit, or alter, or shall procure to be forged, counterfeited, or altered, the date upon the superscription of any such letter or packet, or shall write, or cause to be written and sent by the post, any letter or packet, the superscription or cover whereof shall be forged or counterfeited, or the date upon such superscription altered, in order to avoid the payment of the duty of postage, knowing the same to be forged, counterfeited, or altered, every person so offending, shall for the first offence forfeit the sum of fifty pounds, and for the second offence the sum of one hundred pounds, and for the third offence shall be deemed guilty of felony, and shall be transported for seven years.

XXIX. And for the better discovering and bringing to justice persons who may be guilty of forging or counterfeiting the hand-writing of any member of Parliament, or person acting in pursuance of this act, in the superscription of letters and packets to be sent by the post; be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for his Majesty's post-master general, and his deputies and officers, to send any letter or packet, the superscription whereof, or any part of it shall appear to be forged or counterfeited, or the date upon such superscription forged, counterfeited, or altered, in order to evade the payment of the duty of postage, to the member or other person whose name or superscription is suspected to be forged, counterfeited, or altered, in order that he declare whether the same is forged, counterfeited, or altered: and if the member or other person shall declare the superscription to be forged, or the date thereof to be altered, it shall and may be lawful for such post-master general, and his deputies and officers, to open, stop, and detain such letter or packet, in order to find out the person guilty of such offence.

XXX. And whereas abuses may be committed by wilfully opening or embezzling of letters or packets, to the great discouragement of correspondence, trade and commerce, for prevention whereof; be it enacted, That from and after the passing of this act, no person or persons within this kingdom shall wittingly, willingly, or knowingly open, embezzle, or destroy, or cause, procure, or permit, or suffer to be opened, embezzled or destroyed, any letter or packet after the same shall be delivered into the general or other post-office, or into the hands of any person or persons employed for the receiving or carrying post letters, and before delivery to the persons to whom directed, or for their use, except by an express warrant in writing, under the hand and seal of the lord lieutenant, or other chief governor or governors of this kingdom for the time being; or except in such cases where the party or parties to whom such letter or packet shall be directed, or who is or are hereby chargeable with the payment of the postage thereof, shall refuse or neglect to pay the same; and except such letters or packets as shall be returned for want of true directions, and where the party to whom the same is or are directed, cannot be found; and that every person offending herein, being thereof convicted in due form of law, shall be deemed guilty of felony without benefit of clergy.

XXXI. And be it enacted, That no person or persons shall be capable of having, using, or exercising the office of post-master general, secretary, treasurer, receiver-general, accountant-general, resident surveyor or comptroller as aforesaid, or any other office relating to the post-office, or any branch thereof, or be any wise concerned in receiving, stamping, sorting, charging, carrying, conveying, or delivering of letters or packets, unless such person shall have first taken the following oath before some one justice of the peace for the county or place where such person resides, which said oath such justice of the peace is hereby authorized and required to administer in the following words:

I A. B. do swear, that I will not wittingly, willingly, or knowingly open, detain, or delay, or cause, procure, permit, or suffer to be opened, detained, or delayed, any letter or letters, packet or packets, which shall come into my hands, power or custody, by reason of my employment in, or relating to the post-office, except by the consent of the person or persons to whom the same is or shall be directed, or by an express warrant in writing, under the hand of the lord lieutenant, or other chief governor or governors of this kingdom for the time being, for that purpose; or except in such cases where the party or parties to whom such letter or letters, packet or packets shall be directed, or who is or are chargeable with the payment of the postage thereof, shall refuse or neglect to pay the same; and except such letters and packets as shall be returned so want of true directions; or where the party or parties to whom the same is or shall be directed, cannot be found; and except such letters and packets as are or shall be by law excepted, and that I will not embezzle any such letter or letters, packet or packets as aforesaid; and that I will well, truly, and faithfully account for all such sum or sums of money as I shall receive, or shall come to my hands, power or custody by reason of my employment, or of any other employment which I shall have or enjoy in or relating to the post-office.

XXXII. And be it enacted, That no person or persons whatsoever, or body politick or corporate in any part of this kingdom, other than such post-master general, as shall from time to time be nominated and appointed as aforesaid, and his deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or other persons acting under this act, shall receive, take up, order, dispatch, convey, carry, recarry or deliver any letter or packet, other than as before excepted, or make any collection of letters, or set up or employ any foot-post, horse-post, packet-boat, or other vessel or boat, or other person or persons, conveyance or conveyances whatsoever, for the receiving, taking up, ordering, dispatching, conveying, carrying, recarrying, or delivering any letter or packet by sea or by land, or on any river or canal within this kingdom, by means whereof any letter or packet or letters shall be collected, received, taken up, ordered, dispatched, conveyed, carried, recarried, or delivered, by sea or land, or on any river or canal within this kingdom, other than as before excepted, on pain of forfeiting the sum of five pounds for every offence against the tenor of this present act; and also the sum of one hundred pounds for every week that any offender against this act, shall receive, take up, order, dispatch, convey, carry, recarry, or deliver any letter or packet of letters by sea or land, or on any river or canal within this kingdom, other than as before excepted, or shall set up, continue, or employ any foot-post, horse-post or packet-boat, or other vessel or boat, or any other person or persons, conveyance or conveyances whatsoever, for the receiving, taking up, ordering, dispatching, conveying, carrying, recarrying, or delivering of any letter or packet of letters by sea or by land, or on any river or canal within this kingdom as aforesaid.

XXXIII. And be it enacted, That all post-boys or riders, servants and other persons, carriages, and horses whatsoever, employed or to be employed in fetching, carrying, conveying, or guarding his Majesty's mails of letters and expresses, upon all post-roads, whether direct or cross-roads, and across all ferries within this kingdom, shall be allowed and permitted to pass and repass by night and by day, at all hours, through all turnpike gates or bars, erected or to be erected upon all or any of the said post-roads or highways, and over all bridges, and across all ferries, and through the gates of walled towns, without the payment of any toll, rate or duty, either when the said post-boys or riders, servants or other persons, horses, or carriages, so employed, and fetching, carrying, conveying or guarding any such mails or express from one stage to another, or returning back again from the stage where the same have been last delivered; any law to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

XXXIV. And be it enacted, That if any collector or receiver, ferryman or other person whatsoever appointed or intrusted, or employed to take or receive the toll or rates at any turnpike-gate or bar erected upon the said highways, bridges, and post-roads, or at any ferry, or any person who has or shall have the care of any gate of any walled town, or the custody of the keys of such gate, shall demand and take any toll or rate for the post-boy or rider, servant, guard or other person, horses and carriages employed as aforesaid, passing through, over, or across the same; or shall not permit and suffer the horses and carriages, together with the post-boy, or rider, servant, guard, and other persons so employed, to pass through such toll-gates, bars, or gates, and across such ferries, without delay; or if any ferryman shall not within the space of one hour after demand made, in all possible cases, convey the post-boy, rider, servant, guard, and other persons, together with the horses and carriages employed as aforesaid, across such ferry, to the usual landing place; or if any person having the care of any gate of a walled town, or the custody of the keys of such gate, shall not within a quarter of an hour after demand made aloud at such gate, open the same, and admit the post-boy, rider, servant, guard, or other persons, together with the horse or horse-carriage employed as aforesaid, such offender or offenders being convicted thereof, by the oath of one or more credible witnesses, before any justice of the peace within the district where the offence shall be committed, which oath every justice is hereby authorized to administer, shall for every such offence forfeit the sum of twenty shillings, to be paid to the informer; and if the same shall not be forthwith paid upon such conviction, it shall and may be lawful for such justice to commit the offender to the house of correction, there to remain until the said penalty or forfeiture shall be paid, or for any time not exceeding the space of twenty-one days, nor less than fourteen days from the time of commitment, unless such penalty or forfeiture shall be sooner paid.

XXXV. And to the end that the post-master general of this kingdom for time being, and the deputies and officers herein before mentioned, may not be hindered or impeded in their respective duties and employments, in or relating to the post-office within the same; be it enacted, That neither the post-master general, nor any such deputy or officer, or an persons acting under this act, shall be compelled or compellable to serve upon any jury or inquest, or to appear or serve at any assize or session, or to bear any publick office, either ecclesiastical, civil or military, within this kingdom; but the said post-master general, and all deputies and officers as aforesaid, shall be wholly and absolutely exempted therefrom.

XXXVI. And be it enacted, That if any officer, or other person herein before mentioned, or in any wise acting under or by virtue of this act, or any deputy, clerk, agent, letter-carrier, post boy or rider, or any other officer or person whatsoever, employed or to be hereafter employed in receiving, stamping, sorting, charging, carrying, conveying or delivering letters or packets, or in any other business relating to the post-office, shall wilfully secrete, embezzle or destroy, or shall wilfully permit or suffer any other person or persons feloniously to secrete, embezzle or destroy, or if any other person or persons shall, with or without the consent of any such clerk, deputy, agent, letter-carrier, post-boy or rider, or other officer or person whatsoever employed as aforesaid, feloniously secrete, embezzle, or destroy any letter or letters, packet or packets, bag or mail of letters with which any such deputy, clerk, agent, letter-carrier, post-boy or rider, or other officer or person whatsoever to be employed as aforesaid, shall and may be respectively entrusted, or which shall have come to his, her, or their hands or possession, which shall contain any bank note, bank post bill, bill of exchange, treasury or exchequer bill, debenture, or acquittance, South-Sea, East-India, or city of Dublin bond, dividend, warrant of the bank of Ireland or England, South-Sea, East India, or any other company, society or corporation, navy or victualling or transport bill, ordnance debenture, seaman's ticket, Irish or British state lottery ticket or certificate, bank, treasury, or other receipt for payment of any publick loan, note of assignment of stock in the Irish or British funds, letter of attorney for receiving annuities or dividends, or for selling stock in the funds of Ireland or Great Britain, or belonging to any company, society, or corporation, goldsmiths or bankers letter of credit, or note, for or relating to the payment of money, or bond or warrant, draught, bill, or promissory note, or other security or securities, or paper or thing whatsoever, for the payment of money, or whereby or whereon any sum of money may be had, gotten, or received, or recovered, or shall steal, or feloniously take out of any letter or packet that shall come to his, her, or their hands or possession, any of the vouchers, securities, matters or things herein before mentioned, or any other security or securities, or paper or thing whatsoever, for the payment of money, or whereby or where on any sum of money may be had, gotten, received, or recovered, every such offender or offenders, being thereof convicted in due course of law, shall be deemed guilty of felony, and shall suffer death as a felon, without benefit of clergy.

XXXVII. And be it enacted, That if any such deputy, clerk, agent, letter-carrier, post boy, or rider, officer, or other person whatsoever, employed as aforesaid, or if any other person or persons whatsoever, not employed in any business relating to the post-office, shall rob or wilfully stop or detain, with intent to rob, search or impede the progress of any mail or mails in which letters are sent or conveyed by the post, or shall steal or feloniously take from or out of any such mail, or from or out of any bag or bags of letters sent or conveyed by the post, or from or out of any post-office, or house or place for the receipt or delivery of letters and packets sent, or to be sent by the post, any letter or letters, packet or packets, bag or mail of letters, although such robbery, stealing or taking shall not appear to be proved to be a taking from the person, or upon the King's high-way, or to be a robbery committed in any dwelling-house, or any coach-house, stable, barn of any out-house belonging to a dwelling-house, and although it should not appear or be proved that any person or persons were put in fear by such robbery, stealing, or taking, or if any person shall receive any such mail or bag of letters, or any letter or packet, or any other article, matter or thing therein contained, or which shall have been feloniously taken out therefrom, knowing the same to have been stolen or feloniously taken as aforesaid, every such offender being thereof convicted as aforesaid, shall be deemed guilty of felony, and shall suffer death as a felon, without benefit of clergy.

XXXVIII. And be it enacted, That every person so receiving any such mail or bag of letters or packet, or any other matter, article or thing therein contained, or which shall have feloniously been taken therefrom, knowing the same to have been stolen or feloniously taken as aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken to be a principal felon, and shall be triable for such offence, and being convicted thereof in due course of law, shall suffer death as a felon, without benefit of clergy, although the person or persons who shall have robbed such mail, bag of letters, packet or letter, or who shall have otherwise feloniously taken any of the articles, matters or things aforesaid, therefrom, shall not have been previously convicted, tried or apprehended.

XXXIX. And be it enacted, That if any deputy, clerk, agent, letter-carrier, post-boy, rider, officer, or other officer whatsoever employed, or to be hereafter employed in any business relating to the post-office, shall embezzle or apply herein, to his, her, or their use any money or monies by him, her, or them received with any letter or letters, packet or packets, to be forwarded by the post, or shall burn or otherwise destroy any letter or letters, packet or packets by him, her or them so taken in or received to be forwarded by post, or if any such deputy, clerk, agent, letter-carrier, post-boy, rider, officer or other person so employed, or hereafter to be so employed shall advance the rate or rates of postage upon any letter or letters, packet or packets sent by post, and shall secrete and not duly account for the money by him, her or them received for such advanced postage, every such offender, being thereof convicted as aforesaid, shall be deemed guilty of felony, and suffer death as a felon.

XL. And be it enacted, That if any post-boy or rider having taken any of his Majesty's mails or bags of letters or packets, or any letter or packet as an express under his care, in order to convey the same to the next post town or stage, shall quit or desert the same before his arrival at such post town or stage, or shall suffer any other person or persons (the person or persons employed to guard such mails or bags of letters and packets only excepted) to ride on the horse or carriage along with the mail or bags of letters and packets, or shall loiter on the road, and by selling news-papers, or suffering them to be read, or in any other manner wilfully mispend his time, so as to retard the arrival of the said mail or bags of letters or express at the next post or stage, or shall not in all possible cases convey such mails or bags of letters, or expresses after the rate of three Irish miles and an half by the hour at the least, or in case any person whatsoever actually knowing that such post-boy or rider has under his care any mails or bags of letters or packets for the purpose aforesaid, shall ride on the horse or carriage along with such mails or bags of letters, such post-boy or rider, or any person riding thereon, being thereof convicted by the oath of one credible witness before any justice of peace, which oath any justice is hereby impowered to administer, shall for every such offence forfeit the sum of ten shillings, to be paid to the informer; and if the same shall not be forthwith paid, upon conviction, it shall and may be lawful for such justice to commit every such offender to the house of correction, there to remain and be confined to hard labour for any time not exceeding twenty one days, nor less than fourteen days, unless such penalty and forfeiture shall be sooner paid.

XLI. And be it enacted, That if any post-boy or post boys, rider or riders, shall by himself or themselves, or in combination with others, unlawfully collect or receive letters or packets, or convey or cause letters and packets to be unlawfully conveyed, and shall be thereof convicted by the oath of one credible witness, before any justice of the peace (which oath every justice is hereby impowered to administer) every such offender shall, for every letter or packet so by him or them unlawfully collected, conveyed or delivered, forfeit the sum of ten shillings, to be paid to the informer; and if the same shall not be forthwith paid upon conviction, it shall and may be lawful for such justice to commit every such offender to the house of correction, there to remain at hard labour for any time not exceeding two months, nor less than one month.

XLII. And be it further enacted, That so often as any deputy or deputies, or other person or persons to be employed in receiving or collecting the postage of letters or packets, or any of the revenues of the post-office, shall happen to be in arrear to his Majesty, his heirs or successors, in any sum or sums of money, not exceeding the sum of ten pounds, it shall and may be lawful to and for his Majesty, his heirs and successors, to sue for and recover from such deputy or deputies, or other person or persons in a summary way, by process or civil bill, before the justices of assize of any county, county of a city, or county of a town, or before the recorder of the city of Dublin, or chairman of the quarter sessions in the county of Dublin; every such sum and sums of money, not exceeding ten pounds in the whole, together with the usual costs, upon serving such deputy or deputies, or other person or persons, his or their surety or sureties, or any of them, with such process or civil bill, six days at the least inclusive before the first day of any assizes or quarter sessions to be held for the county, county of a city, or county of a town, in which such deputy or deputies, or other person or persons, his or their surety or sureties, or any of them, shall reside at the time of the service of such process or civil bill, and that if any such deputy or deputies, or other person or persons, or his or their surety or sureties, or any of them, shall appeal from any decree to be made against him, them, or any of them, and such decree shall, on the hearing of such appeal, be affirmed, every person or persons against whom such decree shall be affirmed, shall pay to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, double the costs of such original decree, and every such affirmance of such decree shall be binding and conclusive to all the parties therein in all courts of law and equity, and shall not be questioned or set aside.

XLIII. And be it enacted, That no action or suit shall be commenced against any person or persons for any thing done in pursuance of this act, unless within six calendar months after the right of action shall have accrued, and the defendant or defendants in such action or suit shall and may plead the general issue, and give this act and the special matter in evidence, and that the same was done in pursuance of and by the authority of this act; and if it shall appear so to be done, or that such action or suit shall be commenced after the time limited for bringing the same, then the jury shall find for the defendant or defendants; and upon a verdict for the defendant or defendants, or if the plaintiff or plaintiffs shall be non-suited or discontinue his, her or their action or suit after the defendant or defendants shall have appeared, or if upon demurrer, judgment shall be given against the plaintiff or plaintiffs, the defendant or defendants shall and may recover treble costs, and have the like remedy for the same, as any defendant hath in any other case by law.

XLIV. And be it enacted, That all and singular the penalties and forfeitures by this act imposed on any offender or offenders against the same, or any part thereof, except such penalties as are herein before provided to be recovered in any other manner, shall and may be sued for and recovered by action or actions of debt, bill, plaint or information, in any of his Majesty's courts of record, in every which action or actions, bill, plaint, or information, the oath of the informer shall be received as evidence, wherein no essoign, privilege, protection, or wager at law, shall be admitted; and the said several and respective penalties and forfeitures that shall happen from time to time to be recovered, except such as are herein before directed to be otherwise paid and applied, shall be and remain, the one moiety thereof to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, and the other moiety thereof to such person or persons as shall or will inform against the offender or offenders against this present act, and shall sue for the said penalties and forfeitures; and on every such recovery, such person or persons so informing and prosecuting for the said penalties and forfeitures, shall recover and have also taxed and paid his and their full costs of suit.