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Postage Act 1825
(6 Geo 4 c.44, 22nd June 1825)

An Act for granting to His Majesty Rates of Postage on the Conveyance of Letters and Packets to and from Columbia and Mexico.
[ 22d June 1825 ]

WHEREAS by an Act made in the Fifth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled 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, reciting, that it might be expedient that Packet Boats should be established to His Majesty's Colonies, and also to other Foreign Parts, where Rates of Postage had not hitherto been authorized, and that at the Time of establishing such Packet Boats, Parliament might not be sitting, and no Rates of Postage could in such Case be authorized by Law for the Port and Conveyance of Letters and Packets by the same, it was 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 should be lawful for His Majesty's Postmaster General, and his Deputy and Deputies by him thereunto authorized, with the Consent of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or any Three of 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 should be carried or conveyed by such Packet Boats which might hereafter be established as hereinbefore mentioned, such Rates of Packet Postage as should be equal in proportion to the Rates by the now reciting 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; and it was further enacted, that as soon as conveniently might be after the next Session of Parliament succeeding the Establishment of such Rates as aforesaid, the Receipt of such Packet Rates of Postage as might then be judged necessary and expedient, should be by such Session of Parliament authorized by Law: And Whereas since the last Session of Parliament it hath been found expedient for the Convenience and Improvement of Trade and Commerce, to establish Packet Boats between the Port of Falmouth, in this Kingdom and certain Ports in Columbia and Mexico on the Continent of America, and also between certain Ports in the British Colonies in the West Indies and Columbia and Mexico; and such Packet Boats have been established accordingly: And Whereas it is expedient that the Rates of Postage for the Conveyance of Letters and Packets by Packet Boats between the several Places aforesaid be authorized by an Act of Parliament: Be it therefore enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this Act, 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 any Port or Ports in Columbia or Mexico on the Continent of America, over and above all other Rates payable for the Conveyance of such Letters and Packets within the said United Kingdom, a Packet Postage according to the Rates and Sums in Sterling Money hereinafter mentioned; (that is to say,)

For the Port and Conveyance of every Single Letter to or from any Port or Ports in Columbia or Mexico, the Sum of Two Shillings and one Penny:
For every Double Letter, Four Shillings and Two Pence:
For every Treble Letter, Six Shillings and Three Pence:
And for every Ounce, Eight Shillings and Four Pence, and so in proportion for every Packet or Letter of greater Weight than an Ounce.

And for the Port and Conveyance of all and every the Letters and Packets that shall be carried or conveyed by any of His Majesty's Packets from or to any Port or Ports in the British Colonies in the West Indies, to or from any Port or Ports in Columbia or Mexico, the Rates and Duties following; (that is to say,)

For every Single Letter, One Shilling:
For every Double Letter, Two Shillings:
For every Treble Letter, Three Shillings:
And for every Ounce in Weight, Four Shillings and so in proportion for every Packet or Letter above the Weight of an Ounce.

II. And be it further enacted, That all and every Clauses, Provisions, Powers, Privileges, Advantages, Disabilities, Penalties, Forfeitures and Distribution thereof, and all other Matters and Things contained in any Act or Acts in force at the Time of passing of this Act, relating to the Post Office, or any Rates or Duties payable on the Port or Conveyance of Letters or Packets and not repealed or altered by this Act, shall, so far as the same are applicable, continue in force and be applied and extended, and shall be construed to apply and extend to this present Act, and to the Rates and Duties hereby granted, as fully and effectually to all intents and Purposes as if the same had been particularly repeated and re-enacted in the Body of this Act.

III. 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 of Great Britain and Ireland.

IV. And be it further enacted, That if any Person or Persons shall be at any Time or Times 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 Cost awarded to him, her, or them, against such Plaintiff or Plaintiffs.