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Postage Act 1803
(43 Geo 3 c.28, 25th March 1803)

An Act for granting to His Majesty Certain Rates and Duties upon Letters and Packets sent by the Post within Ireland.
[25th March 1803.]

WHEREAS by an Act passed in the Parliament of Ireland in the Fortieth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, An Act for granting to His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, certain Duties and Rates upon the Portage and Conveyance of all Letters and Packets within this Kingdom, certain Duties of Postage were imposed within Ireland, for a Time therein limited; which Act has been by several Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom continued until the Twenty-fifth Day of March One thousand eight hundred and three; and it is expedient that the said Rates and Duties should be further continued, and that certain Regulations should be made for the collecting and levying the same: May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be Enacted; and 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, from and after the Twenty-fifth Day of March One thousand eight hundred and three, it shall and may be lawful to and for the Postmaster or Postmasters General of Ireland, for the Time being, and his or their Deputy or 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 Letters and Packets which he or they shall convey, carry, or send Post to and from Places within Ireland, according to the several Rates and Sums of Money, Irish Currency, herein-after mentioned; that is to say, For the Port and Conveyance of every Single Letter or Piece of Paper from the Office in Ireland, 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, and not exceeding Fifty Miles, the Sum of Four-pence; and to any Distance exceeding Fifty Miles, and not exceeding Eighty Miles, the Sum of Five-pence; and to any Distance exceeding Eighty Miles the Sum of Sixpence; 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 said 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 Ireland to any Part or Parts in Great Britain, or beyond the Seas, or received in Ireland from Great Britain, or any Part or Parts beyond the Seas, shall be charged and pay for their Portage and Conveyance within Ireland from or to Dublin, Waterford, or Donaghadee, or any other Port where Packet Boats for the Conveyance of Letters to and from Ireland are or may be established, as they shall respectively be shipped from or landed in any of the 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 Ireland not less distant than Four Miles from the General Post Office in the said City to any Place within Ireland, 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 Ireland, there shall be charged and paid to His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, over and above the Rates aforesaid, the Sum of One Penny.

II. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for His Majesty's Postmaster General. or Postmasters General of Ireland, and his or their Deputies, and he and they are hereby required to demand and receive for the Port and Conveyance of all Letters and Packets for Ireland from Great Britain or Foreign Parts, in Addition to the Rates of Postage hereby reserved, such further Rates of Postage as now are, or hereafter shall be charged for the Conveyance of such Letters and Packets by any Act or Acts now made, or hereafter to be made, for charging Postage thereon in Great Britain; and that His Majesty's Postmaster or Postmasters General of Ireland, shall, and he and they are hereby authorised and required to account for and pay the same Quarterly, to the Revenue of the Post Office of Great Britain.

III. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the Postmaster or Postmasters General of Ireland, for the Time being, and his or their Deputies, from and after the Twenty-fifth Day of March One thousand eight hundred and three, to demand, have, receive, and take for the Portage and Conveyance of all Letters and Packets conveyed by the Penny Post in Ireland, according to the several Rates hereinafter mentioned, (that is to say), that for the Port and Conveyance of any Letter or Packet not being more than Four Ounces in Weight, from and to any place within the Limits of the Circular Road about the City of Dublin, there shall be paid at the Time of putting such Letter or Packet into the 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 places 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 Penny 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 charged thereon.

IV. And be it further 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 several Rates established by this Act, or hereafter to be established by any Act to be passed relative to the Portage of Letters in Ireland.

V. And whereas Patterns of Cloth, Silk, Stuff, and small Samples of other Sorts of Goods, are frequently enclosed in a single Letter or Piece of Paper, and sent by the Post; be it further enacted, That for every single Letter or Cover endorsed 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 for a Double Letter by this Act, or by any Act to be passed relative to the Portage of Letters in Ireland, shall be paid, and no more.

VI. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster or Postmasters General of Ireland 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.

VII. And be it further 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, Law Proceedings, Expences, and all 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 Exchequer in Ireland, 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 Ireland for the Time being, shall direct and appoint, and shall be carried to and made Part of the Consolidated Fund of Ireland.

VIII. And be it further enacted, That in case the Postmaster or Postmasters General of Ireland, now or for the Time being, 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 true intent and Meaning thereof, then, and in every such Case, every Person so offending shall forfeit his Office, 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 forfeit and pay Treble the Sum so embezzled, diverted, or misapplied.

IX. And be it further enacted, That neither the Sixpence per Pound, nor any other Fee, shall be payable to, or be deducted or received by any Officer or Officers employed-by virtue of this Act, to his or their Use, 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 accounted for to His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors.

X. And be it further enacted, That no Letters or Packets sent by the Post in Ireland 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 excepted, and in such Manner, and under such 'Restrictions as are declared and enacted concerning the same, in and by an Act, passed in the Forty-second Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, An Act to authorize the sending and receiving of Letters and Packets, Votes, Proceedings in Parliament, and printed Newspapers, by the Post, free from the Duty of Postage, by the Members of the Two Houses of Parliament of the United Kingdom, and by certain Publick Officers therein named; and for reducing the Postage on such Votes, Proceedings, and Newspapers when sent by any other Persons; or except as its herein-after excepted, declared, and enacted.

XI. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for His Majesty's Adjutant General in Ireland for the Time being, to send and receive Letters and Packets by the Post in Ireland, free from the Duty of Postage, in the same Manner, and under such Restrictions as Persons heretofore or now authorized to send or receive Letters, free from the Duty of Postage, in Ireland, do now send and receive Letters, free from the said Duty of Postage.

XII. And be it further enacted, That in case any publick Officer in Ireland, in the said recited Act of the Forty-second Year aforesaid, or in this Act mentioned, 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.

XIII. And be it further enacted, That all Covers containing Muster Affidavits from the Out Pensioners of the Royal Hospital of Kilmainham, and sent from any Place within Ireland, directed to the Register of the said Hospital, shall be delivered to the said Register free of the Duty of Postage; provided that every such Cover shall be unsealed, and shall contain no other Inclosure, save and except the said Muster-Affidavits; and that all printed Receipts for the Pay of such Out Pensioners, made up as a Letter, or Cover of a Letter, and directed with the Words, "To           Out Pensioner of the Royal Hospital of Kilmainham," being printed thereon, and sealed with the Seal of the Paymaster of the said Royal Hospital, shall in like Manner be delivered free of Postage to such Out Pensioners within Ireland, to whom they shall be directed respectively, provided such printed Receipts shall not contain any Enclosure; and every such Receipt, Cover, or Muster-Affidavit shall be found to contain any Enclosure whatsoever, contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of this Act, then and in that Case, every such Receipt made up as a Cover or Letter, and every such Cover or Muster Affidavit, shall be charged and liable to Treble the Duty of Postage, according to the Rates established by this Act; any Thing herein contained to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding.

XIV. And Whereas Frauds may be practised in sending Covers, Letters, and Packets by the Post in Ireland, directed to Members of Parliament, and other Persons privileged by the said recited Act of the Forty-second Year aforesaid, or by this Act, to receive Letters and Packets in Ireland, free of the Duty of Postage, containing Letters and Packets intended for others. and not intended for such Members or other Persons to whom such Covers, Letters, and Packets are so directed, whereby the Person: for whom such Letters and Packets are really intended, may receive such Covers, Letters, and Packets free from the Duty of Postage in Ireland, to the Injury of the Revenue in Ireland; for Remedy whereof be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the Postmaster or Postmasters General of Ireland, 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 notwithstanding.

XV. Provided always, and be it enacted, 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, or for some of his Family, and not covering a Correspondence to any Person not resident in his House, 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.

XVI. Provided always, and be it enacted, That nothing herein contained shall extend to charge with the Duty of Postage in Ireland 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, or which shall be directed to any such Member at any Place in Ireland, whereof he shall have given Notice in Writing to the Postmaster General of Ireland, or which shall be sent by certain Officers in the Office of His Majesty's Postmaster or Postmasters General of Ireland, who shall be thereunto licensed by the said Postmaster or Postmasters General respectively, provided such Newspapers shall be so folded as that the Stamp thereon shall be Visible; 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 under this Act.

XVII. Provided always, and be it enacted,, That no Newspaper, printed in Ireland, shall pass free of Postage, from the General Post Office in Dublin, pursuant to any Notice given in Writing under and by virtue of the said recited Act of the Forty-second Year aforesaid, or of this Act, or from any other Post Office in Ireland, unless such Newspaper shall be put into such Post Offices of the Cities or Towns in which such Newspapers shall be printed respectively, Two Hours at the least before the Time of the Post being dispatched therefrom.

XVIII. And whereas it is expedient, that the Non-commissioned Officers, Seamen, and Privates, employed in His Majesty's Navy, Army, Militia, Fencible Regiments, Artillery and Marines, should, whilst on Service, be permitted to send and receive single Letters by the Post in Ireland, on their own private Concerns, at a low Rate of Postage; be it therefore further enacted, That, from and after the said Twenty-fifth Day of March One thousand eight hundred and three, no single Letter sent by the Post in Ireland, from any Non-commissioned Officer, Seaman, or Private, employed in His Majesty's Navy, Army, Militia, Fencible Regiments, Artillery, or Marines, shall, whilst such Non-commissioned Officer, Seaman, Marine, or Private respectively, shall-be employed on His Majesty's Service, and not otherwise, be charged or chargeable, with any higher Rate of Postage than the Sum of One Penny for the Conveyance of every such Letter, such Rate of Postage of One Penny for every such Letter to be paid at the Time of putting the same into the Post Office of the Town or Place in Ireland, from whence such Letter is intended to be sent by the Post; and that no single Letter, sent by the Post from any Non-commissioned Officer, Seaman, or Private, employed in His Majesty's Navy, Army, Militia, Fencible Regiments, Artillery, or Marines, from any Part of Great Britain to Ireland, shall, whilst such Non-commissioned Officer, Seaman, or Private respectively, shall be employed in His Majesty's Service, and not otherwise, be charged or chargeable with any Rate of Postage whatsoever in Ireland, in case a Duty of Postage of One Penny shall have been paid thereon in Great Britain.

XIX. Provided always, and be it enacted, That no Letter or Letters sent by the Post from any Non-commissioned Officer, Seaman, or Private, employed in. His Majesty's Navy, Army, Militia, Fencible Regiments, Artillery, or Marines, shall be exempted from the Payment of the Rate of Postage chargeable upon Letters in Ireland, unless there shall be written upon every such Letter, in the Hand Writing of and signed by the Commanding Officer for the Time being, of the Ship or Vessel, or of the Corps, Regiment, or Detachment to which each Non-commissioned Officer, Seaman, or Private employed in His Majesty's Service shall respectively belong, the Name of such Commanding Officer, and of the Ship, Vessel, Corps, Regiment, or Detachment commanded by him.

XX. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the said Twenty-fifth Day of March One thousand eight hundred and three, no single Letter sent by the Post, directed to-any Non-commissioned Officer, Seaman, or Private in Ireland, employed in His Majesty's Navy, Army, Militia, Fencible Regiments, Artillery, or Marines, upon his own private Concerns only, whilst such respective Non-commissioned Officer, Seaman, or Private shall be employed in His Majesty's Service and not otherwise, shall be charged or chargeable with an higher Rate of Postage than the Sum of One Penny for each such Letter; which Sum of One Penny shall be paid at the Time of the Delivery thereof.

XXI. Provided always, and be it enacted, That no such Letter shall be exempted from the Rate of Postage chargeable in Ireland upon Letters, unless every such Letter shall be directed to such Non-commissioned Officer, Seaman, or Private employed in His Majesty's Service, specifying the Ship, Vessel, Regiment, Troop, Corps, Company, or Detachment to which he may belong: And provided also, that it shall not be lawful for the Postmaster of the Town or Place in Ireland, to which such Letter shall be sent to be delivered, to deliver such Letter to any Person, except to the Non-commissioned Officer, Seaman, or Private to whom such Letter shall be directed, or to some Person employed to receive the same, by the Commanding Officer of the Ship, Vessel, Regiment, Troop, Corps, Company, or Detachment to which the Non-commissioned Officer, Seaman, or Private to whom such Letter shall be directed, shall belong.

XXII. And be it further enacted, That if any Person or Persons whatsoever shall forge or counterfeit the Seal or Hand Writing, or make use of the Name of any Person whomsoever, in the Superscription of any Letter or Packet to be sent by the Post in Ireland, in order to avoid the Payment of the Duty of Postage there, or shall forge, counterfeit, or alter, or shall procure to be forged, counterfeited, or altered, the Date, Place, or any other Part of the Superscription of any such Letter or Packet, or shall write, or cause to be written or sent by the Post in Ireland, any Letter or Packet, the Superscription, or any Part whereof, shall be forged, counterfeited, or altered, in order to avoid the Payment of the Duty of Postage there, knowing the same to be forged, counterfeited, or altered; or if any Person or Persons shall forge or counterfeit, or alter, or procure to be forged, counterfeited, or altered, any such. Certificate of any Member of either House of Parliament, as is in this Act mentioned, or of any other Person entitled to the Privilege of sending Letters free of the Duty of Postage, in order to have the Postage charged upon any Cover, Letter, or Packer, refunded, every Person so offending, being thereof duly convicted, shall, for the First Offence, forfeit and pay 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; and that it shall and may be lawful to and for His Majesty's Postmaster or Postmasters General of Ireland, and his and their Deputies, and all Persons acting under this Act, to charge any Letter or Packet, the Superscription whereof, or any Part whereof, shall appear to be forged, counterfeited, or altered, with Treble the Duty of Postage, payable by virtue of this Act, which Duty shall be levied and paid, unless the Member of either House of Parliament, or other privileged Person, whose Superscription it imports to be, shall certify, by Writing under his Hand, to the Postmaster General, or his Deputies, that such Superscription, and every Part thereof, is of his Hand Writing.

XXIII. And be it further enacted, That if any Collector or Receiver, Ferryman, or Other Person whatsoever in Ireland, appointed or entrusted, or employed to take or receive the Tolls or Rates at any Turnpike Gate or Bar erected upon any Highways, Bridges, or 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 Coachman, Post Boy, Express Boy, or Rider, Guard, Servant, or other Person, Horses, or Carriages conveying or employed to carry any Mail or Bag of Letters in Ireland, passing through, over, or across the same, or shall not permit and suffer the Horses and Carriages, together with the Coachman, Post Boy, Express Boy, or Rider, Guards, Servants, 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 Fifteen Minutes after Demand made, in all possible Cases convey the Coachman, Post Boy, Express Boy, Rider, Guard, Servant, 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 Fifteen Minutes after Demand made aloud at such Gate, open the same, and admit the Coachman, Post Boy, Express Boy, Rider, Guard, Servant, or other Persons, together with the Horses and Horse Carriages employed as aforesaid, such Offender or Offenders being convicted thereof by the Oath of such Coachman, Post Boy, Express Boy, or Rider, or other credible Witness or Witnesses, before any Justice of the Peace within the District wherein such Offence shall be committed, which Oath every Justice is hereby authorized and required 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 every such Justice, and he is hereby required, 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.

XXIV. Provided always, and be it enacted, That the Postmaster, or Postmasters General of Ireland, shall cause an Account to be kept of all Tolls payable on Four-wheeled Carriages carrying or travelling with His Majesty's Mails at the several and respective Turnpike Gates through which the same shall pass in Ireland, and shall from Time to Time cause the Amount thereof to be paid to the Treasurers of the Turnpike Roads in Ireland, to whom the same are respectively payable by Four Quarterly Payments; any Law or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding.

XXV. And be it further enacted, That all and every the Clauses, Provisoes, Powers, Privileges, Disabilities, Penalties, Forfeitures, and Modes for the Recovery of the same, and all Matters and Things contained in an Act made in the Parliament of Ireland in the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Years of His Majesty's Reign, touching the said General Post Office, and the said Office called The Penny Post Office, intituled, An Act for establishing a Post Office within this Kingdom; and also contained in an Act made, in the Parliament of Ireland in the Twenty-eighth Year of His present Majesty's Reign, to explain and amend the said Act passed in the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Years of His present Majesty's Reign; and also contained in an Act made, in the Parliament of Ireland in the Thirty-sixth Year of His Majesty's Reign, to further explain and amend the said recited Act passed in the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Years of His present Majesty's Reign; and also to explain and amend the said recited Act passed in the Twenty-eighth Year of His present Majesty's Reign; and also contained in an Act made by the Parliament of Ireland in the Thirty-eighth Year of His present Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act for the further Amendment of the Acts relating to the Post Office, and for further facilitating Prosecutions under the said Acts, or contained in the said recited Act, made in the Forty-second Year of His Majesty's Reign, or in any or either of the said Acts, shall be applied and extended, and shall be construed to apply and extend to this present Act, as fully and effectually to all Intents and Purposes as if the same had been particularly repeated and re-enacted in this present Act; save only so far as the said recited Acts, or any of them, are altered, amended, or repealed, or as the Matters and Things in the said recited Acts, or any of them contained, are otherwise provided for by this present Act, or by any other Act now in force in Ireland.

XXVI. And be it further enacted, That all the Duties in this Act specified, mentioned, and contained, and all Penalties on any Offences in this Act mentioned, shall be paid and payable, and received and receivable, in Irish Currency, whether the same be so expressly mentioned or not.

XXVII. And be it further enacted, That this Act may be altered, varied, or repealed, by any Act or Acts to be made in this present Session of Parliament.