Postage Act 1808
(48 Geo 3 c.116, 30th June 1808)

An Act for granting to His Majesty Rates of Postage on the Conveyance of Letters and Packets to and from the Island of Madeira, and to and from the Portuguese Territories on the Continent of South America.
[ 30th June 1808 ]

WHEREAS it may be 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 Post-master General shall appoint, and the Island of Madeira and Brazil, or other of the Territories and Possessions of the Crown of Portugal on the Continent of South America, in lieu of the Packet Boats lately employed between Great Britain and the Kingdom of Portugal: 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 the Island of Madeira, and between any of the Portuguese Territories on the Continent of South America, it shall and may be lawful for His Majesty's Post-master 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 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 the Island of Madeira, and to or from Brazil, or any of the Territories and Possessions of the Crown of Portugal, 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 Rates and Sums in Sterling Money herein after mentioned; that is to say,

For the Port and Conveyance of every Single Letter to or from the Island of Madeira, the Sum of One Shilling and Sixpence:

For every Double Letter Three Shillings:

For every Treble Letter Four Shillings and Sixpence:

And for every Ounce Six Shillings; and so in proportion for every Packet of greater Weight than an Ounce:

And for the Port and Conveyance of every Single Letter to or from Brazil, or any other the Territories and Possessions of the Crown of Portugal on the Continent of South America, the Sum of 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 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 the Island of Madeira, and other the said Territories and Possessions of the Crown of Portugal.

” Money arising by the Rates shall be carried to the Consolidated Fund. #3. General Issue – Treble Costs. #4. “