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Franking. Regulations of the free franking system. Penalties. (4 Geo 3, c24)

General Post-Office, April 20, 1764
Raguin Code: NEWS –6403

Public Notice is hereby given, That by an Act passed this last Sessions of Parliament, entitled, ".An Act for preventing Frauds and Abuses, in relation to the sending and receiving of Letters and Packets free from the Duty of Postage,"

It is Enacted, That from and after the First Day of May next, so long as the Revenue of the Post-Office shall continue to make a Part of the Aggregate Fund, no Letters or Packets shall be exempted from Payment of Postage, except as follow:

All such as shall be sent from or to The KING's Most Excellent MAJESTY.

All Letters and Packets, not exceeding the Weight of Two Ounces, sent from and to any Places within Great Britain or Ireland during the Sitting of Parliament, or within Forty Days before or after any Summons or Prorogation, which shall be signed on the Outside by any Member of either House of the Parliament of Great Britain, and whereof the whole Superscription shall be of his own Hand-writing, or which shall be directed to a Member of either House, 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 either House of Parliament.

All Letters and Packets, not exceeding the Weight of Two Ounces, sent from and to any Places within Ireland, during the Sitting of Parliament, or within Forty Days before or after any Summons or Prorogation, which shall be signed on the Outside by any Member of either House of the Parliament of Ireland, and whereof the whole Superscription shall be of his own Hand-writing, or which shall be directed to a Member of either House, from any Part of Great Britain or Ireland, 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 either House of Parliament.

All such Letters and Packets as shall be sent from and to certain Persons by virtue of their Offices, under such Conditions, Restrictions and Limitations, as in the said Act is particularly expressed.

It is likewise Enacted, That all printed Votes, or Proceedings in Parliament, or printed News-Papers, sent without Covers, or in Covers open at the Sides, signed on the Outside thereof, by the Hand of any Member of Parliament, in such Manner as hath been heretofore practised; or directed to any Member at any Place whereof he shall have given Notice in Writing to the Postmaster-General, or to his Deputy at Edinburgh or Dublin respectively, shall pass free of Postage.

And also, That the Clerks in the Offices of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, and certain Officers in the Office of His Majesty's Postmaster-General, may continue to Frank such printed Votes, and Proceedings in Parliament, and printed News-Papers, in the Manner they have heretofore been accustomed, provided they be sent without Covers, or in Covers open at the Sides.

It is further Enacted, That any Officer employed under the Postmaster-General, shall have Power to examine and search any Packet sent without a Cover, or in a Cover open at the Sides, in order to discover whether any other Paper or Thing whatsoever be inclosed or concealed in or with such printed Votes, Proceedings in Parliament, and printed Newspapers; and in case any such other Paper or Thing whatsoever, shall be found in or with such printed Paper, or in case there shall be any Writing, other than the Superscription upon such printed Paper, or upon the Cover thereof, the whole of such Packet shall be charged with the Duty of Postage.

And it is further Enacted, That if any Person shall, after the First Day of June next, counterfeit the Hand-writing of any Person whatsoever in the Superscription of any Letter, or Packet, to be sent by the Post, in order thereby to avoid the Payment of the Duty of Postage, every Person so offending, shall be deemed guilty of Felony, and be transported for Seven Years.

AND WHEREAS many letters directed to Members, are, in the hurry of Business, charged with Postage, chiefly for want of the Words, Member of Parliament, being added to the Superscription, it is therefore desired, that all Persons corresponding with Members, would make that Addition, or distinguish them by M.P. at the Corner; and in Case any Letter or Packet, not exceeding the Weight of Two Ounces, should after every Precaution, happen to be charged, all Postmasters are hereby directed, immediately to remit the Postage to such Member, who is desired to return the Cover, when it can be conveniently done, as a Voucher to the Postmaster, in passing of his Accounts with this Office.

AND WHEREAS great Numbers of Letters are privately collected and delivered contrary to Law, to the Prejudice of the Revenue of this Office, all Carriers, Coachmen, Watermen, Wherrymen, Dispersers of News-Papers, Higglers, and all other Persons whatsoever, hereafter detected in the illegal collecting, conveying, or delivering of Letters, and Packets, will be prosecuted with the utmost Severity. The Penalty is FIVE POUNDS for every Letter so collected or delivered contrary to Law, and ONE HUNDRED POUNDS, for every Week such Practice is continued, one Moiety to his Majesty, and the other to the Informer.

ANTHONY TODD, Secretary.