New domestic rates. (24 Geo 3, c37)

PUBLIC Notice is hereby given, That, by an Act passed the last Session of Parliament, ''For granting to His Majesty, certain additional Rates of Postage, for Conveyance of Letters and Packets by the Post within the Kingdom of Great Britain, and for further preventing Frauds and Abuses in relation to the sending and receiving of Letters and Packets free from Postage;" It is, amongst other Things, enacted,

That from and after the 31st Instant, Letters and Packets, to and from Places, not exceeding one Post Stage, within Great Britain, shall pay, in Addition to the present Rate of Postage, Single 1d. Double 2d. Treble 3d. and the Ounce 4d.

That Letters and Packets above one, and not exceeding two Post Stages, within England, shall pay in Addition, Single 1d. and so in Proportion.

That Letters and Packets above two Post Stages, and not exceeding 80 Miles, within England, shall pay in Addition, Single 1d. and so in Proportion.

That Letters and Packets above 80, and not exceeding 150 Miles, within England, shall pay in Addition, Single 1d. and so in Proportion.

That Letters and Packets above 150 Miles, within England, shall pay in Addition, Single 2d. and so in Proportion.

That Letters and Packets to or from the General Post Office in London, to or from the City of Edinburgh, Dumfries and Cockburnspeth, shall pay in Addition, Single 1d. and so in Proportion.

That Letters and Packets above one Post Stage, and not exceeding 50 Miles, within Scotland, shall pay in Addition, Single 1d. and so in Proportion.

That Letters and Packets above 50, and not exceeding 80 Miles, within Scotland, shall pay in Addition, Single 1d. and so in Proportion.

That Letters and Packets above 80, and not exceeding 150 Miles, within Scotland, shall pay in Addition, Single 1d. and so in Proportion.

That Letters and Packets above 150 Miles, within Scotland, shall pay in Addition, Single 2d. and so in Proportion.

It is provided, that no Letter or Packet to or from Glasgow, or the intermediate Places by Carlisle, not passing through London, shall pay an higher Rate than if sent through Edinburgh to or from Glasgow; and that no Letter or Packet sent to or from Edinburgh, or any intermediate Place in England and Scotland, North of London, shall pay an higher Rate than 7d. for a Single Letter, and so in Proportion.

It is further provided, that no Letter or Packet, together with its Contents, shall be taxed at an higher Rate than as a Treble Letter, unless it shall weigh an Ounce, when it shall be rated as Four Single Letters; and every Quarter of an Ounce above that Weight shall be charged as a Single Letter.

It is likewise enacted, that from and after the last Session of Parliament, no Letter or Packet sent by Post, within Great Britain, directed by any Member of either House of Parliament, shall be exempted from the Duty of Postage, unless the whole Superscription thereof shall be of the Hand-writing of the Member, and shall have endorsed thereon, in the same Hand-writing, the Name of the Member, Post Town from whence the same is to be sent, and the Day, Month, and Year, when put into the Post Office, the Day of the Month to be in Words at length; and unless every such Letter and Packet shall be put into the General, or other Post-Office, or into a Receiving House, on the Day of the Date put upon such Letter or Packet; And no Letter or Packet directed to any such Member shall be exempted from the Duty of Postage, unless such as shall, during the Sitting of Parliament, or within Forty Days before, or Forty Days after any Summons or Prorogation thereof, be directed to any such Member, at the Place where he shall actually be at the Time of the Delivery thereof, or at his usual Place of Residence in London, or at the House, or Lobby of the House of Parliament, of which he is a Member.

It is further enacted, that all Persons who, by Virtue of their Offices, send and receive Letters and Packets free of Postage, shall send and receive them free, in the Manner, and under such Restrictions, as any Member of Parliament.

It is also enacted, that if any Person shall forge or counterfeit the Hand-writing of any Person whatsoever, in the Superscription of any Letter or Packet, in order to avoid the Payment of Postage, or shall forge, counterfeit, or alter, or procure to be done, the Date upon such Superscription, or shall write, and send by Post, or cause to be done, any Letter or Packet, the Superscription or Cover whereof shall be forged or counterfeited, or the Date thereon altered, in order to avoid the Duty of Postage, knowing the same to be forged, counterfeited, or altered, every Person so offending, shall be deemed guilty of Felony, and shall be transported for Seven Years.

ANTHONY TODD, Sec.

It is recommended to the Members of both Houses of Parliament, to write the Name of the Post Town, and the Date, in Words at Length, at the Top of the Superscription of their Letters, that it may be distinct from the Direction underneath.