Post Office Act of 1794 publication
Collection: National Postal Museum
Object type: Archival Material
Date: 1794
Place: United States of America
Medium: cotton; paper; ink (black)
Dimensions: Height x Width x Depth (bound object): 7 1/2 × 6 3/8 × 3/8 in. (19.05 × 16.19 × 0.95 cm) Height x Width x Depth (modern cover): 7 3/4 × 6 5/8 × 1 in. (19.69 × 16.83 × 2.54 cm)
Credit line: Bequest of Joseph J. Geraci
Description: This is a bound copy of the 1794 postal act for the United States of America.
The printing of the "An Act to Establish the Post-Office and Post-Roads within the United States" runs from page 1 to 19 with the approval date for the act: May 8, 1794; pages 21 to 34 are "Regulations to be observed by the Deputy Postmasters in the Unites States" with the date of June 30, 1794 (the "4" handwritten over the printing) and in the name of Postmaster General Timothy Pickering; and those are followed by three sections: sample postal forms; the listing of the "Post-Roads in the United States" with mileage table; and a "Memorandum."
The volume is stitched together and encased in a modern cover. It is part of the donation of Mr. Joseph Geraci, who bequeathed philatelic collections specializing in Italy and the Old Italian States along with substantial collections of archival documents and his research library of books, scholarly journals, and conference proceedings to the Smithsonian. These holdings together make the National Postal Museum an important center for study into philately of the Italian area.
["THIRD CONGRESS\nOF THE\nUNITED STATES:\nAT THE FIRST SESSION,\nBegun and held at the City of PHILADELPHIA, in the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday, the second of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three.\nAn ACT to establish the Post-Office and Post-Roads within the United States.\nSECT. 1. B E it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the following be established as post-roads, namely: From Passamaquoddy, in the district of Maine, to Saint Mary's in Georgia, by the following route, to wit: From Passamaquoddy, through Machias, Gouldsborough, Sullivan, Trenton, Bluehill, Penobscott, Frankfort, Belfast, Ducktrap, Camden, Thomaston, Warren, Waldoborough, Bristol, Nobleborough, Newcastle, Wiscasset, Bath, Brunswick, North Yarmouth, PORTLAND, Biddeford, Wells, York, PORTSMOUTH, Newburyport, Ipswich, Salem, Boston, Worcester, Brookfield, Springfield, HARTFORD, Middletown, NEW HAVEN, Stratford, Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford, NEW YORK, Newark, Elizabethtown, Bridgetown, Woodbridge, Brunswick, Princeton, TRENTON, Bristol, PHILADELPHIA, Chester, WILMINGTON, Christiana, Elkton, Charlestown, Havre de Grace, Harford, BALTIMORE, Bladensburg, the CITY OF WASHINGTON, Georgetown, Alexandria, Colchester, Dumfries, Fredericksburg, Bowling-Green, Hanover Courthouse, RICHMOND, Petersburg, Goldson's, Warrenton, Lewisburg, RALEIGH, Averysborough, Fayetteville, Lumberton, Cheraw Courthouse, Camden, COLUMBIA, Edgefield Courthouse, AUGUSTA and Waynes-\nPost-Roads.\nMain Line."
 "borough, to Savannah ; and thence by Newport-Bridge, and Saint Savilla, to the Town of Saint Mary's.—From PORTLAND, by New Gloucester, Green, Monmouth, Winthrop, and Hollowell Courthouse, to Pittstown on the river Kennebeck.—From PORTSMOUTH, by Exeter, Chester, Amherst, Keen, and Walpole, to Charlestown.—From Chester , by Concord and Plymouth, to Haverhill.—From Exeter , to Hampton-Falls.—From Salem , to Gloucester.—From Salem , to Marblehead.—From BOSTON to Plymouth, Sandwich and Falmouth; and from Falmouth to Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard.—From Sandwich to Barnstable and Yarmouth.—From BOSTON to Taunton and New-Bedford, and thence to Nantucket.—From BOSTON to Hartford in Connecticut, by Dedham, Mendon and Pomfret.—From BOSTON to Keen.—From BOSTON, through Andover and Haverhill, to Chester.—From Taunton to Providence; and from Taunton , by Dighton and Somerset, to Warren.—From New-Bedford , to Newport.—From BOSTON, by Providence , Norwich, New-London , Saybrook and Guilford, to New-Haven .—From NEWPORT, by Bristol and Warren, to PROVIDENCE.—From NEWPORT, by East Greenwich, to PROVIDENCE.—From NEWPORT, by Westerly and Stonington-Point, to New-London .—From Springfield , by Northampton, Greenfield, Brattleborough, Westminster, Charlestown, Windsor , Hanover and Haverhill, to Newbury.—From Springfield , by Stockbridge, to Kinderhook.—From Brookfield , by Northampton, Pittsfield and New Lebanon, to Albany .—From HARTFORD, by New-Hartford, through Norfolk, Canaan, Sheffield, and Hillsdale, to the City of Hudson .—From HARTFORD to Norwich.—From HARTFORD, by Middletown, to New-London .—From HARTFORD, by Farmington, Harwinton, Litchfield, New-Milford, Newtown, Danbury, Ridgefield, Poundridge, Salem, Northcastle, and White Plains, to New-York .—From NEW-YORK, by Peekskill, Fishkill, Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, Redhook, Clermont, Hudson, and Kinderhook, to Albany .—From Albany , by Lansingburg, Bennington, Manchester, RUTLAND, Middlebury and Vergennes, to Burlington, on Lake Champlain.—From\nCross-Posts, in Maine.\nNew-Hamp- shire.\nMassachu- setts: — and\nas connected with\nRhode-Island,\nConnecticut,\nVermont and\nNew-York.\nNew-York and\nVermont.\nRUTLAND to Windsor , in the state of Vermont.—From Albany , by Schenectady, Johnstown, Connojocharrie, and Whitestown, to Kanandaigua; and from some convenient point in that line, through Cherry-Valley, to the Courthouse in Cooperstown , in the county of Otsego.—From the City of NEW-YORK, by the most useful route, to Sagg Harbour .—From Newark or Elizabethtown , by Morristown and Rockaway, to Sussex Courthouse ; and from thence by Hacketstown and Morristown, to Elizabethtown or Newark .—From Woodbridge to Amboy .—From TRENTON, by Allentown, Monmouth Courthouse, Shrewsbury and Spotswood, to Brunswick; and from Brunswick , by Somerset Courthouse, New Germanton, Pittston and Flemington, to TRENTON.—From PHILADELPHIA, by Bethlehem, Easton, Sussex Courthouse, Goshen, Ward's-Bridge, and Kingston, to Rhinebeck.—From Bethlehem to Reading.—From PHILADELPHIA, by Woodbury, Swoedsborough and Salem, to Bridgetown, in West New-Jersey.—From PHILADELPHIA, by Norristown, Pottsgrove, Reading , Lebanon, and Harrisburg, to Carlisle .—From Reading to Lancaster .—From PHILADELPHIA, by Lancaster, Yorktown, Carlisle , Shippensburg, Chambersburg, Bedford and Greensburg, to Pittsburg.—From Pittsburg , by Washington in Pennsylvania, West-Liberty in Virginia, and Wheeling , on the Ohio, to Limestone and Fort-Washington .—From Limestone , by Bourbortown, Lexington, FRANKFORT, and Harrodsburg, to Danville, in Kentucky.—From Danville , by Bardstown, to Louisville.—From Yorktown , in Pennsylvania, by Hanover, Petersburg and Tawneytown, to Fredericktown, in Maryland, and thence to Leesburg, in Virginia.—From WILMINGTON, in the state of Delaware, New Castle, Cantwell's Bridge and Duck-Creek, to Dover ; and from thence, by Frederica, Millford, Dagggsborough, Snowhill, Horntown, and Accomack Courthouse, to Northampton Courthouse ; and thence, to Norfolk, Hampton or Yorktown.—From PHILADELPHIA, by Wilmington, Middletown, Warwick, Georgetown-Cross-Roads, Chestertown , Chester-Mills , Easton , Vienna and Salisbury, to Snowhill ; and from Snowhill to Princess-Ann ; and thence to Salisbury ; and from\nNew-Jersey.\nPennsylvania and connections.\nOhio.\nKentucky,\nPennsylvania, &c. Delaware, &c.\nMaryland and connections."
 "Chestertown to BALTIMORE, at all times, when a stage passes between those two places.—From Elkton to Warwick.—From Harford to Bellair.—From BALTIMORE to ANNAPOLIS, Upper Marlborough, Piscataway, Port Tobacco, Allen's Fresh, Newport, and Chaptico, to Leonardtown.—From BALTIMORE to York town in Pennsylvania.—From BALTIMORE, by Fredericktown and Hagerstown, to Chambersburg.—From Hagerstown , by Sharpsburg to Shepherdstown.—From Fredericktown , by Peter's Tavern, and Montgomery Courthouse, to Georgetown on Potowmac.—From Hagerstown , by Hancock, Oldtown, Cumberland, Morgantown in Virginia, and Uniontown in Pennsylvania, to Brownsville on the Monongahela.—From Alexandria , by Salisbury, Leesburg, Shepherdstown, Martinsburg, Winchester , Stevensburg, Strasburg, Woodstock, and Rockingham Courthouse, to Staunton .—From Fredericksburg , by Portroyal, to Tappahannock ; thence across the Rappahannock, to Richmond Courthouse, Westmoreland Courthouse, Kinsale on Yeocomico, and Northumberland Courthouse, to Lancaster Courthouse; thence recrossing the Rappahannock, to Urbanna, and from Urbanna to Gloucester Courthouse.—From Fredericksburg , by Culpeper and Orange Courthouses, to Charlottesville.—From RICHMOND, by New Castle, Aylett's Warehouse, and Todd's Bridge, to Tappahannock .—From RICHMOND, by Williamsburg, Yorktown and Hampton, to Norfolk .—From RICHMOND, by Columbia and Charlottesville, to Staunton ; thence to Lexington, Fincastle, Montgomery Courthouse, Wythe Courthouse, and Abingdon , to Jonesborough, in the territory southwest of the Ohio; thence by Greenville and Jefferson Courthouse, to KNOXVILLE.—From Staunton to Bath Courthouse; thence to the Sweet Springs; and thence to Greenbrier Courthouse.—From RICHMOND, by Powhatan Courthouse, Cumberland Courthouse, Prince Edward Courthouse, Lynchburg, New London and Liberty, to Fincastle.—From Prince Edward Courthouse , by Charlotte Courthouse, Halifax Courthouse and Pittsylvania Courthouse, to Martinsburg; and thence to Bethania.—From Martinsburg to Liberty.—From Osborne's to Bermuda Hundred.—From Petersburg , by Cabin-Point, Smithfield and Suf-\nVirginia.\nSouth-west Territory. Virginia.\nfolk, to Portsmouth and Norfolk.—From Smithfield , by Southampton Courthouse to Grenville Courthouse.—From Petersburg to Halifax, in North Carolina.—From Goldson's , by Saint Tammany's and Mecklenburg Courthouse, to Halifax Courthouse, in Virginia.—From Suffolk , by Edenton, Plymouth, Washington and Newbern , to Wilmington.—From Plymouth to Windsor.—From Edenton , by Hertford, Nixonton, Sawyer's Ferry in Camden county, to Indian Town in Currituck county.—From Halifax to Princeton and Murfreesborough, on Meherrin river; thence to Winton on Chowan river; and thence by the Bridge on Bennet's creek, to R. Mitchell's, which is on the post-road from Suffolk to Edenton.—From Halifax , by Blountsville, Williamston and Dailey's to Plymouth.—From Halifax , by Warrenton, Oxford, Hillsborough, Martinville and Salem, to Salisbury.—From Salisbury , by Cabarras Courthouse, to Charlotte, to return by Iredell Courthouse to Salisbury.—From Salisbury to Fayetteville, to go and return by the following route, alternately; by Montgomery, Anson and Richmond Courthouses, to Fayetteville ; thence by Moore and Randolph Courthouses, back to Salisbury.—From Halifax , by Tarborough and Greenville, to Washington; and from Tarborough to Lewisburg.—From Newbern , by Kinston, Waynesborough and Smithfield, to RALEIGH.—From RALEIGH, by Chapel-Hill, to Hillsborough; and from Chapel-Hill , to Chatham Courthouse.—From Hillsborough , by Person Courthouse, Caswell Courthouse and Rockingham Courthouse, to Germanton.—From Fayetteville to Wilmington; the mail to go alternately by Elizabethtown, and return by South-Washington, the Cross-Roads near Duplin Courthouse and Sampson courthouse.—From Salem , by Bethania, Huntsville, Rockford and Wilkes, to Morganton, in North Carolina; and from Morganton , by Lincolnnton, to Pinckney Courthouse , in South Carolina.—From Cheraw Courthouse to Georgetown.—From Camden , by Statesburg, to CHARLESTON.—From CHARLESTON, by Coosawatchy to Sister's Ferry, on Savannah river, and thence to the post-road from Augusta to Savannah; and from Coosawatchy to Beaufort.—From COLUMBIA, by Orangeburg, to Charleston.—From COLUMBIA, to\nNorth-Carolina.\nSouth-Carolina."
 'Newbury Courthouse and Laurens Courthouse, to Greenville Courthouse—From Edgefield Courthouse to Cambridge, and thence by Abbeville Courthouse, to Pendleton Courthouse.—From COLUMBIA, by Winnsborough, Pickney Courthouse, Spartan Courthouse and Greenville Courthouse, to Washington Courthouse.—From Washington Courthouse, by Pendleton Courthouse, to Hatton\'s Ford, on Tugeloo river; and thence by Franklin Courthouse , Elberton and Petersburg, to Washington in Georgia.—From AUGUSTA to Washington, thence to Greenborough; and thence, by the great falls of Ogechee and Georgetown, to Augusta.\nGeorgia,\nProvided , That until the Postmaster General shall have made provision for the regular transportation of the mail from Wheeling to Limestone , the present post-road from Abington to Danville in Kentucky, shall be continued: and if such provision cannot be made within a reasonable time, then the post-road shall be extended from Danville , to FRANKFORT and Lexington , and thence to Washington .\nKentucky, conditionally.\nSect. 2. And be it further enacted , That it shall be lawful for the Postmaster General to provide, by contract, for the carriage of a mail on any road on which a stage-waggon or other stage-carriage shall be established, on condition that the expense thereof shall not exceed the revenue thence arising.\nContracts for carrying the mail.\nIt shall also be lawful for the Postmaster General to enter into contracts, for a term not exceeding eight years, for extending the line of posts, and to authorize the persons, so contracting, as a compensation for their expenses, to receive, during the continuance of such contracts, at rates, not exceeding those for like distances established by this act, all the postage which shall arise on letters, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets and packets, conveyed by any such post. And the roads designated in such contracts shall, during the continuance thereof, be deemed and considered as post-roads, within the provisions of this act: And a duplicate of every such contract, shall, within sixty days after the execution thereof, be lodged in the office of the Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States.\nFor extending the line of posts.\nSect. 3. And be it further enacted , That there shall be established at the seat of the government of the United States, a general post-office; and there shall be one Postmaster-General, who shall have authority to appoint an assistant, and deputy-postmasters at all such places, as he shall find necessary: And he shall provide for carrying the mail of the United States, by stage-carriages or horses, as he may judge most expedient; and as often as he, having regard to the productiveness thereof, as well as other circumstances, shall think proper, and defray the expense thereof, with all other expenses arising on the collection and management of the revenue of the post-office: He shall also have power to prescribe such regulations to the deputy-postmasters, and others employed under him, as may be found necessary, and to superintend the business of the department, in all the duties, that are or may be assigned to it, and also to direct the route or road, where there are more than one, between the places above established; which route or road shall be considered as the post-road.\nGeneral Post- Office.\nPostmaster General to ap- point an As- sistant and De- puties.\nGeneral du- ties and pow- ers of the Postmaster General.\nSect. 4. And be it further enacted , That the Postmaster-General shall, once in three months, obtain from his deputies, the accounts and vouchers of their receipts and expenditures, and the balance due thereon, and render to the Secretary of the Treasury a quarterly account of all the receipts and expenditures in the said department, to be adjusted and settled, as other public accounts; and shall pay, quarterly, into the treasury of the United States, the balance in his hands: And the Postmaster-General, and his assistant, the deputy-postmasters, and such as they may employ in their offices, before they enter upon the duties, or be entitled to receive the emoluments of their offices; and the contractors for carrying the mail, and their agents or servants, and all others to whom the mail shall be entrusted, before they commence the execution of the said trust, shall, respectively, take and subscribe before some justice of the peace, the following oath or affirmation, and cause a certificate thereof to be filed in the office of the Postmaster-General:—"I do swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will faithfully perform\nAccounts to be rendered quarterly.'
 'Oath to be taken.\nall the duties required of me, and abstain from every thing forbidden, by the law in relation to the establishment of post-offices and post-roads within the United States."\nPenalties for obstructing the passage of the mail; and for delays of ferrymen.\nSect. 5. And be it further enacted , That if any person shall obstruct or retard the passage of the mail, or of any horse or carriage carrying the same, he shall, upon conviction, for every such offence, pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars: And if any ferryman shall, by wilful negligence, or refusal to transport the mail across any ferry, delay the same, he shall forfeit and pay, for each half hour that the same shall be so delayed, a sum not exceeding ten dollars.\nAdvertising for contracts.\nSect. 6. And be it further enacted , That it shall be the duty of the Postmaster-General, to give public notice in one or more of the newspapers published at the seat of government of the United States, and in one or more of the newspapers published in the state or states, where the contract is to be performed, for at least six weeks before the entering into any contract for the conveyance of the mail, that such contract is intended to be made, and the day on which it shall be concluded, describing the places, from and to which such mail is to be conveyed; the time at which it is to be made up; the day and hour at which it is to be delivered; and the penalty or penalties for non-performance of the stipulations: He shall, moreover, within thirty days after the making of any contract, lodge the same, together with the proposals which he shall have received respecting it, in the office of the Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States: Provided , That no contract shall be entered into for a longer term than four years.\nLimitation of contracts.\nHours of attendance at Post-Offices.\nSect. 7. And be it further enacted , That every deputy-postmaster shall keep an office, in which one or more persons shall attend at such hours as the Postmaster-General shall direct, for the purpose of performing the duties thereof; and all letters brought to any post-office half an hour before the time of making up the mail at\nsuch office, shall be forwarded therein; except at such post-offices, where in the opinion of the Postmaster General, it requires more time for making up the mail, and which he shall accordingly prescribe; but this shall in no case exceed one hour.\nTime for closing mails.\nSect. 8. And be it further enacted , That from and after the first day of June next, the Postmaster General shall be allowed, for his services, at the rate of two thousand four hundred dollars per annum, his assistant, at the rate of one thousand two hundred dollars per annum; and the Postmaster General shall be allowed four clerks, whose compensation shall be regulated in such manner, as not to exceed five hundred dollars per annum to each: All the abovementioned compensations to be paid quarterly out of the revenues of the post-office; and no fees or perquisites shall be received by any person employed in the general post-office, on account of the duties to be performed, in virtue of his appointment.\nPay of the Post-Master General, Assistant and Clerks.\nSect. 9. And be it further enacted , That the deputy postmasters and persons authorized by the Postmaster General, shall demand and receive, for the conveyance of letters and packets, except such as are hereinafter excepted, the following rates of postage:—For every single letter conveyed by land, not exceeding thirty miles, six cents; over thirty miles and not exceeding sixty, eight cents; over sixty and not exceeding one hundred, ten cents; over one hundred miles and not exceeding one hundred and fifty, twelve cents and a half; over one hundred and fifty miles and not exceeding two hundred, fifteen cents; over two hundred miles and not exceeding two hundred and fifty, seventeen cents; over two hundred and fifty miles and not exceeding three hundred and fifty, twenty cents; over three hundred and fifty miles and not exceeding four hundred and fifty, twenty two cents, and more than four hundred and fifty miles, twenty five cents; and for every double letter, double the said rates; for every triple letter, triple; and for every packet weighing one ounce avoirdupois, at the rate of four single letters; and in that proportion for any greater weight.\nRates of Postage, by land.'
 'Rates of postage by sea. Sect. 10. And be it further enacted , That for all letters and packets passing by sea, to and from the United States, or from one port to another therein, in packet-boats or vessels, the property of or provided by the United States, postage shall be charged, as follows: For every single letter, eight cents; for every double letter, sixteen cents, for every triple letter or packet, twenty four cents; and for every letter or packet brought into the United States, or carried from one port therein to another, by sea, in any private ship or vessel, four cents, if delivered at the place where the same shall arrive; and if directed to be delivered at any other place, with the addition of like postage, as other letters are made subject to the payment of, by this act.\nPenalty for demanding any other rates. Sect. 11. And be it further enacted , That if any deputy postmaster, or other person authorized by the Postmaster General to receive the postages of letters, shall fraudulently demand or receive any rate of postage, or any gratuity or reward, other than is provided by this act, for the postage of letters or packets, on conviction thereof, he shall forfeit, for every such offence, one hundred dollars, and shall be rendered incapable of holding any office or appointment under the United States.\nShip Letters. Sect. 12. And be it further enacted , That no ship or vessel arriving at any port within the United States, where a post-office is established, shall be permitted to report, make entry, or break bulk, until the master or commander shall have delivered to the postmaster, all letters directed to any person or persons within the United States, which, under his care, or within his power, shall be brought in such ship or vessel, except such as are directed to the owner or consignee of the ship or vessel, and except also such as are directed to be delivered at the port of delivery, to which such ship or vessel may be bound. And it shall be the duty of the collector, or other officer of the port empowered to receive entries of ships or vessels, to require from every master or commander of such ship or vessel, an oath or affirmation, purporting that he has delivered all such letters, except as aforesaid.\nSect. 13. And be it further enacted , That the postmasters to whom such letters may be delivered, shall pay to the master, commander or other person delivering the same, except the commanders of foreign packets, two cents for each letter or packet, and shall obtain from the person delivering the same, a certificate specifying the number of letters and packets, with the name of the ship or vessel, and the place from whence she last sailed; which certificate, together with a receipt for the money, shall be, with his quarterly accounts, transmitted to the Postmaster General, who shall credit him with the amount. Allowance to masters on their delivery.\nSect. 14. And be it further enacted , That if any person, other than the Postmaster General, or his deputies, or persons by them employed, shall be concerned in setting up or maintaining any foot or horse-post, stage-waggon or other stage carriage, on any established post-road, or any packet-boat or other vessel, to ply regularly from one place to another between which a regular communication by water shall be established by the United States, and shall receive any letter or packet, other than newspapers, magazines or pamphlets, and carry the same by such foot or horse-post, stage waggon or other stage carriage, packet-boat or vessel, (excepting only such letter or letters, as may be directed to the owner or owners of such conveyance, and relating to the same, or to the person to whom any package or bundle in such conveyance is intended to be delivered) every person, so offending, shall forfeit, for every such offence, the sum of fifty dollars: Provided , That it shall be lawful for any person to send letters or packets by a special messenger. No person to carry letters on post-routes unless employed by the Postmaster General or his deputies.\nSect. 15. And be it further enacted , That the deputy postmasters and other agents of the Postmaster General, shall duly account, and answer to him, for all way-letters which shall come to their hands: And for this purpose, the post-riders and other carriers of the mail, receiving any way-letter or letters (and it shall be their duty to receive them, if presented more than two miles from a post-office) shall de- Penalty.  Way-letters to be accounted for.'
 'liver the same, together with the postage, if paid, at the first post-office to which they shall afterwards arrive, where the postmaster shall duly enter the same, and specify the number and rate or rates in the post-bill, adding to the rate of each way-letter one cent, which shall be paid by the deputy-postmaster to the mail carrier from whom such way-letter shall be received. And that letters directed to persons living between post-offices may be delivered, and the postage thereof duly collected, it shall be the duty of the carriers of the mail to take charge of and deliver all such letters as shall, for that purpose, be committed to them by any deputy postmaster, and collect the postage thereof, which shall be paid over to such deputy-postmaster, on demand: And for every letter so delivered, the mail carrier delivering the same, shall be allowed to demand and receive two cents, to his own use, besides the ordinary postage. And if any deputy post-master, or other agent of the Postmaster General, shall neglect so to account, he or they so offending, shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit for every such offence, a sum not exceeding fifty dollars: Provided , That no mail carriers shall make such deliveries at any place not on the post-road: Provided also , That the receipt and delivery of letters on the way, between post-offices, shall not be required of the mail carriers in cases where, in the opinion of the Postmaster General, the time or manner of carrying the mail, or the speed of conveyance, is incompatible with such receipts and deliveries.\nAllowance to the carrier for receiving and delivering.\nPenalty for not accounting.\nException.\nSect. 16. And be it further enacted , That if any person employed in any of the departments of the general post-office, shall unlawfully detain, delay or open any letter, packet, bag or mail of letters with which he shall be entrusted, or which shall have come to his possession, and which are intended to be conveyed by post; or if any such person shall secrete, embezzle or destroy any letter or packet entrusted to him, as aforesaid, and which shall not contain any security for, or assurance relating to money, as hereinafter described, every such offender, being thereof duly convicted, shall for every such offence be fined not exceeding three hundred dol-\nDetaining, delaying or opening letters.\nEmbezzling, &c.\nlars, or imprisoned not exceeding six months, or both, according to the circumstances and aggravations of the offence. And if any person employed, as aforesaid, shall secrete, embezzle or destroy, any letter, packet, bag or mail of letters with which he shall be entrusted, or which shall have come to his possession, and are intended to be conveyed by post, containing any bank note, or bank post-bill, bill of exchange, warrant of the treasury of the United States, note of assignment of stock in the funds, letters of attorney for receiving annuities or dividends, or for selling stock in the funds, or for receiving the interest thereof, or any letter of credit, or note for, or relating to the payment of money, or any bond or warrant, draft, bill or promissory note, whatsoever, for the payment of money; or if any such person, employed as aforesaid, shall steal or take any of the same, out of any letter, packet, bag or mail of letters, that shall come to his possession, he shall, on conviction for any such offence, suffer death. And if any person, who shall have taken charge of the mail of the United States, shall quit or desert the same, before his arrival at the next post-office, every such person so offending shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, for every such offence. And if any person, concerned in carrying the mail of the United States, shall collect, receive or carry any letter or packet, or shall cause or procure the same to be done, contrary to this act, every such offender shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding fifty dollars.\nPenalty.\nEmbezzling, &c. letters containing bank-notes, &c. or stealing the same.\nPenalty.\nDeserting the mail;\nPenalty.\nCarrying letters contrary to the act;\nPenalty.\nSect. 17. And be it further enacted , That if any person or persons shall rob any carrier of the mail of the United States of such mail, or any part thereof, such offender or offenders shall, on conviction thereof, suffer death. And if any person shall steal the mail, or shall steal and take from or out of the mail, or from or out of any post-office any letter or packet, such person shall, upon conviction, for every such offence, be fined not exceeding three hundred dollars, or imprisoned not exceeding six months, or both, according to the circumstances and aggravations of the offence.\nRobbing the mail;\nPenalty.\nStealing the mail, or from it;\nPenalty.'
 'Sect. 18. And be it further enacted , That the deputy postmasters shall, respectively, publish at the expiration of every three months, or oftener, when the Postmaster General shall so direct, in one of the newspapers published at or nearest the place of his residence, for three successive weeks, a list of all the letters remaining in their respective offices, or instead thereof, shall make out a number of such lists, and cause them to be posted at such public places in their vicinity, as shall appear to them best adapted for the information of the parties concerned; and at the expiration of the next three months, shall send such of the said letters, as then remain on hand, as dead letters, to the general post-office, where the same shall be opened and inspected; and if any valuable papers or matter of consequence shall be found therein, it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to cause a descriptive list thereof to be inserted in one of the newspapers published at the place most convenient to the supposed residence of the owner, if within the United States; and such letter, and the contents, shall be preserved, to be delivered to the person to whom the same shall be addressed, upon payment of the postage, and the expense of publication. And if such letter with its contents be not demanded by the person, to whom it is addressed, or the owner thereof, or his lawful agent, within two years after the advertisement thereof as aforesaid, the said contents shall be applied to the use of the United States, until the same shall be reclaimed by the proprietor thereof. The manner of such application to be specially stated by the Postmaster General to the Secretary of the Treasury.\nSect. 19. And be it further enacted , That the following letters and packets, and no other, shall be received and conveyed by post, free of postage, under such restrictions as are herein after provided; that is to say; all letters and packets, to or from the President or Vice President of the United States, and all letters and packets, not exceeding two ounces in weight, to or from any member of the Senate, or House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate or Clerk of the House of Representatives, during their actual atten-\nLetters on hand to be advertised quarterly or oftener.\nDead letters.\nTheir valuable contents how to be disposed of.\nFree Letters.\ndance in any session of Congress, and twenty days after such session; all letters to and from the Secretary of the Treasury, Comptroller, Register and Auditor of the Treasury, the Treasurer, the Secretary of State, the Secretary at War, Commissioner of the Revenue, the Postmaster General, his assistant, and deputies: And the deputy postmasters shall receive, besides their other allowances, two cents for each free letter or packet (their own excepted) which shall be delivered to the person addressed, out of their respective offices. Provided That no person shall frank or inclose any letter or packet, other than his own; but any public letter or packet from the department of the Treasury, may be franked by the Secretary of the Treasury, or by the Commissioner of the Revenue, Comptroller, Register, Auditor or Treasurer: And that each person before named shall deliver into the post-office every letter or packet inclosed to him, which may be directed to any other person, noting the place from whence it came by post; and the usual postage shall be charged thereon: And provided also , That no letter to or from a deputy postmaster shall be free of postage, if it exceeds half an ounce in weight.\nSect. 20. And be it further enacted , That if any person shall counterfeit the hand-writing of any other person, in order to evade the payment of postage, such person or persons so offending, and being thereof duly convicted, shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence, the sum of one hundred dollars.\nPenalty for counterfeiting franks.\nSect. 21. And be it further enacted , That every printer of newspapers may send one paper to each and every other printer of newspapers within the United States, free of postage, under such regulations as the Postmaster General shall provide.\nPrinters exchange newspapers free.\nSect. 22. And be it further enacted , That all newspapers conveyed in the mail, shall be under cover, open at one end, carried in separate bags from the letters, and charged with the payment of one cent each, for any distance not more than one hundred miles, and one cent and a half for any greater distance: Provided , That the\nNews-papers.\nRates of postage.'
 'Magazines &amp; pamphlets.\nLetters, &amp;c. concealed in news-papers.\nPostage thereof.\nPenalty.\nDetaining or embezzling news-papers—penalty.\nPay of deputy postmasters.\npostage of a single newspaper, from any one place to another in the same state, shall not exceed one cent. And that where the mode of conveyance and the size of the mails will admit of it, magazines and pamphlets may be transported in the mail, at one cent per sheet, for conveyance, any distance not exceeding fifty miles; one and a half cent for any distance over fifty miles and not exceeding one hundred, and two cents per sheet, for any greater distance. And it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General and his deputies, to keep a separate account for the newspapers, magazines and pamphlets; and the deputy postmasters shall receive fifty per cent, on the postage thereof, exclusively of their other allowances: And if any letter, memorandum in writing, or other thing be inclosed in, or placed among such newspapers, or if any note or memorandum, other than the name of the person to whom it is addressed, be written upon any such newspaper, the letter, memorandum, or other thing so inclosed or placed, and the newspaper on which such memorandum shall be written, shall be detained by the deputy postmaster, until a sum shall be paid him equal to the postage of the whole packet in which they shall be found, calculating such postage at the rates established by this act for letters and packets. And that any printer, or other person, who shall conceal a letter, or any memorandum in writing, in a newspaper, or among any package of newspapers, shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine for each offence, not exceeding five dollars. And if any of the persons employed in any department of the post-office, shall unlawfully detain, delay, embezzle or destroy any newspaper, magazine or pamphlet with which he shall be entrusted, such offenders, for every such offence, shall forfeit a sum not exceeding fifty dollars: Provided , That the Postmaster General, in any contract he may enter into, for the conveyance of the mail, may authorize the person with whom such contract is made, to carry newspapers, magazines and pamphlets, other than those carried in the mail.\nSect. 23. And be it further enacted , That the Postmaster General be and he is hereby authorized to allow to the deputy postmasters,\nrespectively, such commission on the monies arising from the postage of letters and packets as he shall think adequate to their respective services and expenses: Provided , The said commission shall not exceed twenty per cent. to any one deputy, except the postmaster at the port where the European packets do or shall arrive, to whom such farther allowance, in addition to the emoluments of his office, shall be made as the Postmaster General shall deem a reasonable compensation for his extra-services in the receipt and dispatch of letters originally received into his office from on board such packets, and by him forwarded to other offices: And except the deputy postmaster at Burlington, on Lake Champlain, whose compensation the Postmaster General is hereby authorized to augment, on account of his extra-trouble in receiving mails passing to and from Canada, to a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars per annum: And except certain deputy postmasters who are obliged to rise in the night to receive mails, whose compensations the Postmaster General is hereby authorized to increase, not exceeding forty per cent. on the amount of monies arising on the postage of letters and packets: And provided also , That the compensations aforesaid shall not exceed one thousand eight hundred dollars per annum to any one postmaster, excepting the deputy postmaster at Philadelphia, who shall be allowed a compensation not exceeding the sum of three thousand five hundred dollars a year including all perquisites and emoluments, of which a regular account shall be rendered to the Postmaster General: And excepting the deputy postmaster at New-York, who shall be allowed a compensation not exceeding two thousand seven hundred dollars a year including all perquisites and emoluments, of which a regular account shall be rendered as aforesaid: Provided also , That the reasonable charges of the deputy postmasters for stationery, for cases necessary for the safe-keeping and convenient distribution of letters, and for advertising the lists of letters from time to time remaining in their offices, accompanied with proper vouchers, shall be admitted by the Postmaster General and placed to their credit: And there shall also be allowed to the deputy post-\nAt Burlington in Vermont.\nAt Philadelphia.\nAt New-York.\nIncidental expenses.'
 'master of Philadelphia, for his extraordinary expenses incurred in the execution of his office under the existing law, an additional compensation, at the rate of eight hundred and fifty dollars a year, to be computed from the first day of July one thousand seven hundred and ninety two to the first day of June next.\nSect. 24. And be it further enacted , That if any deputy postmaster or other person authorized to receive the postage of letters and packets, shall neglect or refuse to render his accounts, and pay over to the Postmaster General the balance by him due at the end of every three months, it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to cause a suit to be commenced against the person or persons so neglecting or refusing: and if the Postmaster General shall not cause such suit to be commenced within six months from the end of every such three months, the balances due from every such delinquent shall be charged to and recoverable from the Postmaster General.\nSect. 25. And be it further enacted , That all pecuniary penalties and forfeitures incurred under this act shall be, one half for the use of the person or persons informing and prosecuting for the same, and the other half to the use of the United States.\nSect. 26. And be it further enacted , That it shall be lawful for the Postmaster General to make provision, where it may be necessary, for the receipt of all letters and packets intended to be conveyed by any ship or vessel beyond sea or from any port of the United States to another port therein; and the letters so received shall be formed into a mail, sealed up, and directed to the postmaster of the port to which such ship or vessel shall be bound. And for every letter or packet so received there shall be paid, at the time of its reception, a postage of one cent, which shall be for the use of the postmasters respectively receiving the same. And the Postmaster General may make arrangements with the postmasters in any foreign country, for the reciprocal receipt and delivery of letters and packets through the post-offices.\nDeputies neglecting to render accounts, to be sued.\nPenalties how disposed of.\nLetters going beyond sea.\nSect. 27. And be it further enacted , That the deputy postmasters and the persons employed in the transportation of the mail, shall be exempt from militia duties, or any fine or penalty for neglect thereof.\nDeputies, &c. exempt from militia duties.\nSect. 28. And be it further enacted , That letter carriers shall be employed at such post-offices as the Postmaster General shall direct, for the delivery of letters in the places respectively where such post-offices are established; and for the delivery of each such letter the letter carrier may receive of the person to whom the delivery is made two cents: Provided , That no letter shall be delivered to such letter carrier for distribution, addressed to any person who shall have lodged at the post-office a written request that his letters shall be detained in the office. And for every letter lodged at any post-office, not to be carried by post but to be delivered at the place where it is so lodged, the deputy postmaster shall receive one cent of the person to whom it shall be delivered.\nLetter-carriers to be employed.\nSect. 29. And be it further enacted , That this act shall be in force from the first day of June next.\nFREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, Speaker of the House of Representatives.\nJOHN ADAMS, Vice-President of the United States, and President of the Senate.\nAPPROVED—May the eighth 1794.\nGO: WASHINGTON, President of the United States.'
 'R E G U L A T I O N S TO BE OBSERVED BY THE D E P U T Y P O S T M A S T E R S IN THE U N I T E D S T A T E S.\n1. E VERY Deputy-Postmaster, before he enters upon his Office, is to take and subscribe before some justice of the peace, the following oaths:\n“I do swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will faithfully perform all the duties required of me, and abstain from every thing forbidden by the law in relation to the establishment of post-offices and post-roads within the United States.”\n“I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the constitution of the United States.”\nThese oaths having been thus taken and subscribed, and so certified by the justice who administered them, are to be transmitted to the General Post-Office.\nEvery person employed as your assistant or clerk, or having any agency in the business of your office, is to take and subscribe the same oaths, which in like manner must be certified and sent to the General Post-Office. For the care and fidelity of every person so employed you are to be respectively responsible.\n2. You are not to suffer any person, unless employed by you, and under oath as before mentioned, to inspect or handle any letters, newspapers or other articles constituting a part of the mail, which come under your charge. — The frequent miscarriage of newspapers requires a pointed attention to this regulation.\n3. You are not to open or suffer to be opened, any mail that is not addressed to you or your office,'
 '4. Upon the arrival of the mail, select all the packages (or mails) addressed to your office; and return the residue into the bag. And if the arrangement for conveying such mails require instant dispatch, then having all your own mails, destined for other offices, ready made up, put them at the same time into the bag, that the carrier may proceed.\n5. Every mail coming to your office from any other post-office in the United States, should regularly be accompanied with a bill, called a post-bill, exhibiting the contents thereof. Sometimes the mail of one day, from a single office, may be composed of several packages, numbered one, two, &c. with but a single bill for the whole. When you open a mail of letters, first compare the contents with the post-bill; and if they do not agree, note upon the bill the differences, and whether under or overcharged. In general, it will suffice to note the amount of the postage thus under or overcharged. The mails containing newspapers should be examined in like manner: only as there are no columns in the forms of accounts of letters and newspapers received, for entering the over or undercharged newspapers, besides noting the over or under postage of them, set down their true postage, ready for entering in the account of letters and newspapers received.\nThese examinations and notes having been made, you are then in order for delivering the letters and newspapers, according to their addresses. But if you discover any letters to be rated over or under their legal postage, you are to mark them as they ought to have been charged, and receive the postage accordingly; noting, in the manner above mentioned, such over or under charges, in the proper bills.\n6. If in the first or any subsequent examination of a mail, you discover any letter which ought to have been sent to some other office, you are to note the same on the post-bill missent , setting down against that word the sum of the postage, which is finally to be entered in the account of letters received, in the column assigned for overcharged and missent letters. The letter so missent you are to forward in the first mail going to or nearest its place of desti-\nnation; writing upon the letter the name of your office , and after it the word forwarded and the sum of the postage ; reckoning the postage according to the distance from the place whence it came, to the place of its destination, by the route on which it ought to have been sent at first. Such letters should also be noted, in the post-bill you send with them, as forwarded .\n7. Having carefully examined the post-bills and found them right, or discovered and corrected their errors, as well in the casting, as in the articles above mentioned, you are to enter their contents in the account of letters and newspapers received, of which a form, No. 1. is annexed. In the large offices these entries ought to be made daily, and in others weekly, or as often as a mail is received. This will give to the business safety and dispatch; and the accounts of a quarter may be rendered, as the law requires, without delay. The rendering of the accounts may be further expedited, by copying the accounts of letters, &c. received and sent, as fast as the original entries are made. The transcripts of these accounts may then be completed in a very short time after the close of a quarter.\n8. In the form No. 1. you will see a column headed Way Letters . These are such letters as are received by a mail-carrier on his way between two post-offices, and which he is to deliver at the first post-office he comes to; and the postmaster is to enquire of him at what places he received them, and in his post-bills charge the postage from those places respectively to the offices at which they are to be finally delivered; writing the word way against such charges in his bills. The word way is also to be written upon each way-letter. But such way-letters as are within the final delivery of the office to which they are first brought, may be noted on any post-bill which came by the same mail, merely as a memorandum, until you have time to enter the amount of their postage in your account of letters received.—Further directions respecting way-letters are to be found in the 15th Section of the law.\n9. You are not to trust any person for the postage of letters packets or newspapers, but at your own risque. And because ex-'
 "perience has proved how little attentive many people are to the payment of such small debts, and especially of newspaper postage, it will deserve consideration, how far any credit should be given. Newspaper postage should rather be anticipated. This would save trouble to the subscribers and postmasters, and secure the latter against losses which, collectively, may be of consequence. Some postmasters have informed me, that they have scarcely collected fifty per cent of the postages of newspapers; — and have therefore had the trouble of them for nothing.\n10. Letters deposited in a post-office for the purpose of being sent by post, should be marked with the name of the office (that is, with the name of the place where it is kept) and the rate of postage chargeable thereon. The name of the office may be written or stamped upon each letter. Tho' where there are but few letters, it will give less trouble to write than to stamp the name. If the letter is by law exempt from postage, instead of putting upon it any rate of postage, it should be marked Free . At offices of considerable business, this work of marking and rating should be done as fast as the letters are received, and not left to the time of closing the mail, when in the hurry of making up numerous packets many errors will probably be committed.\n11. You are to permit any person who desires it to pay the postage of any letter which he deposits to be sent by post; marking upon it the rate of postage, and against the rate, the word paid , at full length. And such paid letters are to be entered in the post-bill in the column of paid letters.\n12. In making up the mail,\nFirst, Carefully sort the letters, according to the post-offices to which they are directed, putting those for each office in a separate parcel.\nSecondly, If the letters have not already been marked and rated (as advised under the preceding article) let it now be done. To rate them accurately demands care. It may sometimes be difficult to distinguish a double from a single, and a triple from a double letter. But experience will generally enable you to decide. And\nit is to be observed, that every single piece of paper, whether large or small, sealed or unsealed, is to be rated as a single letter; and if one piece of paper, however small (a bank note for instance) be inclosed, the letter is double : but if two or more papers be inclosed, it can be rated only as a triple letter, unless it weighs one ounce, or more, avoirdupois, when it is to be rated by its weight, as the law directs; every quarter of an ounce being at the rate of a single letter. The postage hitherto spoken of, is that chargeable for the carriage of letters by the ordinary posts, and may be distinguished by the term land-postage . But when letters are carried by sea, they are chargeable with postage according to the provisions in the tenth section of the law. At present there are no packet boats, for the conveyance of letters, provided by the United States. And letters arriving in foreign packets, are not chargeable with ship-postage . The only ship-letters now to be considered, are those arriving in private ships or vessels. These are chargeable each with four cents, if within the delivery of the post-office where they arrive. And such of them as are to be conveyed by land, are to be rated with land-postage , like other letters, with the addition of four cents to each, as a ship-letter: and to account for this encreased postage, the word ship is to be written upon each letter against the rate marked upon it. The manner of rendering accounts of ship-letters appears in the form No. 4.\nThirdly, Separate the letters for each post-office, into two parcels, of paid and unpaid letters. And at sea-ports where letters are received by private ships or vessels, there will be a third parcel, called ship-letters. Each of these parcels is to be sorted into other parcels of single, double, triple and packets. Then enter them in that order, in the post-bill to be sent with them, and date and sign it. The form of the post-bill, No. 2. is annexed. Having completed the post-bill, enter its contents in the Account of letters and newspapers sent ; agreeably to the form, No. 3. annexed. Then make up the letters into a bundle (or bundles if the quantity be such as to render it convenient to make up more than one) and putting the post-bill at the top, wrap them up in paper sufficiently strong and tie the bundle with a string."
 "Fourthly, Supercribe the bundle (now called a mail) with the name of the post-office to which it is to be sent. This supercription should be in strong and very legible characters, which will eventually save time, and prevent injurious mistakes in the conveyance of mails. And because there are offices of the same name in different states, and sometimes even in the same state, you are to add to the supercription the name of the state in which the office is situated, or some other description by which the office intended may be certainly distinguished.\nFifthly, The mails for all the post-offices to which you have any letters addressed, being in this manner completed, they are then to be put into the bag or bags destined to receive them. And these bags being securely tied, are to be put into the mail portmanteau, which is to be locked and delivered to the carrier.\nSixthly, It has been customary, at many post-offices, to receive letters to be sent beyond sea in private vessels. In such cases, the owner or master lodged a bag at the post-office; the postmaster advertised to what day letters to go in such vessel would be received at his office; and with each letter received a penny for his trouble. This is now restricted by law to one cent. In continuing or adopting this practice these further steps are to be taken.\nWhen the time of the vessel's sailing arrives, these letters are to be carefully examined by the postmaster, lest some letter not designed to go by such vessel, should have got among them. Then they are to be counted, and their number certified in the form No. 5. If the letters be few, and no bag furnished for them, they may be made into a bundle like a common mail, taking care to enclose the certificate with them: the wrapper is to be sealed with the office seal. If they are put into a bag the string should be sealed. Before this ship-mail is closed, an entry of its contents is to be made in the form No. 6.\n13. The table of rates of postage herewith sent you, is to be put up in your office in open view, for your own government, and the satisfaction of all persons paying postage.—The table has been formed upon the best information of distances which could be ob-\ntained. Nevertheless, it is probable there are divers errors, which it is desirable to have speedily corrected. I therefore earnestly request every postmaster discovering any errors on the table, to give immediate notice thereof to the General Post-Office; stating them, and the true distances between the places where the errors appear. But to prevent misapprehensions on this point, I must observe, that the distances on which the rates of postage are chargeable, are those on the road or route by which the mail actually passes, that is, the post-road ; and not the shortest cut by which a traveller could pass from one place to another. I must further observe, that some post-roads form a circuit ; that is, the mail goes from a post-office in one route, and returns to it by another. In this case the postage is to be rated according to the shortest distance on the post-road , between the two places. For instance: In the state of New-Jersey, there is a circuitous post-road from Trenton, by Allentown, Shrewsbury, &c. to Brunswick; and thence by Somerset Court-House, New-Germanton, Pittston and Flemington, round to Trenton; the whole circuit making 154 miles; and in the order in which the mail goes the circuit, it travels 131 miles before it reaches Flemington; and the postage of a single letter carried in the mail 131 miles, is twelve cents and a half: but as Flemington is really distant from Trenton but 23 miles, the postage on a single letter from Trenton to Flemington is but six cents.\n14. You are not to detain a mail beyond the usual or fixed time of its departure. The time of its departure and the time of its arrival are to be exactly noted on the bill accompanying a mail, and which is called the Way-Bill . Besides this mode of marking the progress of the mail, it may be found necessary that at certain principal offices a register should be kept of the arrival and departure of the mails: but for this special directions will be given.\n15. To prevent fraudulent practices, you are not to deliver back any letter put into your office, unless you are sure it be for the same person who wrote or brought it; and if the person who brought the letter be not the writer thereof, and should afterwards come and demand it back again, you are not to deliver it, unless"
 "he shall bring you the same superscription, written with the same hand, and the impression of the same seal, wherewith such letter was supercribed and sealed; and the paper containing such superscription you are to preserve on file, and take a receipt on the same paper from the person to whom you shall deliver back such letter.\n16. In regulation No. 6. directions are given about letters misent through mistake or want of information of a postmaster. If a letter is sent according to its direction in the superscription, tho' not according to the intention of the writer who has given it a wrong direction, the department is not to blame. In this case the original rate of postage marked upon it (if right for the distance between the post-office whence it came and that at which it actually arrived) is to stand; and if the mistaken direction be struck out, and a new one given to the letter, and it be forwarded accordingly, an entire new postage is to be added to the former; the new postage to be rated according to the distance between the post-office where the correction is made, and the post-office to which it is thus forwarded. This is frequently the case with letters sent to a person on a journey: Before the arrival of the letters, he is gone from the place to which they were directed for him, perhaps farther on; or he may have returned. — Now as often as letters thus misent have a new direction given them, so often fresh postage is to be charged and added to the former. — This seems to have been long, perhaps immemorially, the usage in the department; and it is not now to be altered but by law. The point was stated to the Committee who brought in the bill for the new post-office law; and they did not see fit to provide for any alteration in the practice.\n17. It has been the usual practice to publish in a newspaper, a list of the letters remaining in a post-office at the close of a quarter. But an experiment has been made of publishing monthly instead of quarterly lists, and with advantage; many of the letters being then taken up, which by lying a longer time unadvertised, would have become less interesting, or of no value to the parties concerned, and of consequence been left to become dead letters. At the few large offices, it may be worth while to repeat the experiment; and each\npostmaster doing it, will then be able to determine whether the monthly or quarterly advertising will be most expedient. At present, let the experiment be made at Boston, New-York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Norfolk, Petersburg and Charleston; of which the respective postmasters are desired to communicate the result to the General Post-Office, at the close of each of the two next quarters.\nFormerly the law required every postmaster to advertise the letters on hand at the close of a quarter in one of the newspapers published at or nearest the place of his residence. But in cases where printing presses were remote and the newspapers had little or no circulation in the neighbourhood of the post-office, the advertising occasioned an expence to the public, with little or no advantage to the people. In future when a newspaper is not printed at the place where a post-office is established, or near it, and unless such newspaper has a general circulation there, the better way will be (as the law now directs) to make out a competent number of manuscript lists of the letters on hand, and have them posted at such public places, in the town and neighbourhood, as shall appear best adapted for the information of the parties concerned.\nThe letters which in either of the ways above mentioned, shall have been advertised (and they are thus to be advertised during three successive weeks) should be kept by themselves; and at the close of a quarter, when the quarterly accounts are transmitted, such of them as shall have been advertised three months before, and still remain on hand, are to be considered as dead letters, and sent with a bill thereof to the General Post-Office. This bill may be made on a common post-bill, as in the form No. 7.\n18. The law directs, and the duty and safety of the Postmaster General will oblige him to require, that the accounts of every post-office be rendered once in three months. The quarters will end on the last day of March, June, September, and December: and if the entries and transcripts are made in the manner pointed out in the 7th regulation, there will be no difficulty in completing them, even in the largest offices, in a single day, consequently they may"
 "generally be forwarded in the first, and certainly in the second mail, after a new quarter commences. The papers to be rendered quarterly are these: —\n 1. A transcript of the account of letters and newspapers received at your office, in the preceding quarter.  2. A transcript of the account of letters and newspapers sent from your office, in the same quarter.  3. From the post-offices in sea-ports , a transcript of the account of ship-letters received in the same quarter; and the receipts for the monies paid for them.  4. A transcript of the account of letters sent by sea from the same offices.  5. All the post-bills received from other offices during the same quarter.  6. Accounts and receipts for contingent expences.  Note. Besides the printer's account and receipt for advertising letters on hand, the newspaper itself, containing the advertisement, should be transmitted.  7. The bill of dead letters, — and  8. The account current. \n19. It sometimes happens that the mails get damaged in their carriage, especially in rainy weather. A just attention to the interest of those who commit their letters to the mail, requires that the packages be at first carefully made up, in good wrapping paper, especially when the mails are large or have far to travel. And if in their progress any of the wrappers get broken, so as to expose the letters to injury, the postmaster observing it, should roll up the damaged mails in new wrappers, carefully writing upon each its original direction.\n20. That portmanteaus and bags of the fittest kind might be used for the mail, they are furnished at the public expence. But this precaution will be unavailing, unless the postmasters inspect them occasionally, and cause all necessary repairs to be made. This may most conveniently be done at places where the mail stops, of course, a sufficient time to admit of such repairs. The costs thereof will form a proper charge against the General Post-Office.\nTo this matter, so essential to the safety of the mail, the postmasters are desired to be particularly attentive.\n21. Sometimes the chain of the mail portmanteau has been cut by a postmaster who has lost or mislaid his key. But this appears improper. The whole mail ought not to be exposed because one postmaster has not been careful of his key. Besides, if postmasters make a practice of cutting the chain, other persons may do it with very improper views, and with the less fear of detection. — That there may be no occasion for such violence, the portmanteau key should never be carried out of the office, but kept there in a secure place, accessible only to the postmaster, his assistant or clerk. It is earnestly desired, that the postmaster who first observes a breach in the chain or lock, or the entire deficiency of either, or any other material defect in the mail portmanteau, would note the same on the way-bill, and give immediate information thereof to the General Post-Office. A particular deficiency may arise from inattention there, or from accident.\n22. For the safe keeping of letters at a post-office, where the business is not so extensive as to require the appropriation of a room to that use, which of course may be locked up, a convenient but plain safe or desk, of pine or other cheap wood, should be provided, with a good lock and key. The cost will constitute a proper article in the bill of contingent expenses.\n23. When letters are to be sent beyond sea, and in order to convey them to the post-office at the place of embarkation, they are put into the mail, the land-postage of them must always be paid at the office where they are first lodged: and without such previous payment of the postage, they are to be rejected.\n24. A communication by post has been established between the United States and Canada. The route has been through the State of New-York as far as Albany; thence to and through Vermont, as far as Burlington on Lake Champlain; and thence to Montreal in Canada. As far as Burlington the mail is carried at the expence of the United States; and so far all letters destined for Canada are to be rated, and their postage paid at the post-office where they are"
 "first lodged for conveyance. And without such previous payment of the United States' postage, the letters are to be rejected. The only exceptions to this rule will be the British packet-mails, for which a special provision will be made, and common ship-letters directed to persons in Canada. These ship-letters are to be charged with postage at their legal rates (four cents on each to be added to the land postage) and forwarded, addressed to the post-office in Burlington, where the postmaster will receive and open them, and make a new mail and post-bill of the whole, charging the amount to the postmaster at Montreal, who will account for the same.\n25. Letters not exceeding two ounces in weight, to and from members of Congress, the secretary of the Senate, and the clerk of the House of Representatives, during their actual attendance in any session of Congress, and twenty days after such session, are to be free of postage. If any of these letters exceed two ounces in weight, not merely the surplus weight , but the whole letter is to be charged with postage. The like construction is to be put on the law limiting the weight of letters to and from deputy postmasters. Any of them which weigh more than half an ounce, are to be charged with full postage, in the same manner as the letters of private persons.\n26. It may be convenient to collect, into one view, the allowances authorized by law to deputy postmasters.\n1. By section 23. a commission on the monies arising from the postage of letters and packets (excepting the cases therein excepted) of twenty per cent.\n2. By section 22. a commission on the monies arising from the postage of newspapers, of fifty per cent.\n3. By section 19. two cents for every free letter (their own excepted) delivered to the person addressed, out of their respective offices.\n4. By section 28. one cent on each letter delivered from the post-office where it is lodged merely for such delivery, and not to be conveyed by post.\n5. By section 26. one cent on each letter received to be conveyed by any private ship or vessel beyond sea.\n6. By the 23. section, certain contingent expences enumerated in the proviso.\n27. Complaints of the failure of newspapers have been so frequent, it seems necessary to take some further precautions for their security.\nThe papers are commonly so wet when packed, and the covers so slight, that the bundles get broken, the papers worn and defaced, and the names of the persons and offices addressed, are rendered illegible.\nTo remedy these mischiefs, the printers are desired to dry their papers, at least to a certain degree, and to wrap them in strong covers, especially when the bundles are large, or they are addressed to distant places. — If a bundle should contain more than 20 or 30 papers, it will probably break and suffer in the conveyance. As a further security, every large bundle should be tied. It is not necessary to leave these wrappers open at one end: on the contrary, let them entirely inclose the papers, and be fastened with paste as usual. But if within these outside wrappers, any of the papers inclosed are put under other covers, these inner covers must be open at one end, as the law directs. And if any papers are to be delivered by the mail-carrier, between the office where they are first lodged and the next post-office, these also, if covered at all, must have their cover open at one end. Without this degree of care in drying and packing of newspapers, the printers are not to depend on their reaching their subscribers and others for whom they are destined.\nUnless newspapers have their covers open at one end, the postmaster cannot tell what is inclosed; and with close covers, having the appearance of letters, letter-postage must be charged on them. Besides, unless newspapers were liable to the inspection of the postmaster, many impositions would be committed, by inclosing with them letters and papers for which letter-postage ought to be paid. This liability to inspection, and the penalties provided in the law, are intended to guard against such fraudulent practices.\nThe number of papers in a bundle must be marked on the wrapper, and those for printers and subscribers distinguished by the letters P. and S."
 'When newspapers are sent to public officers entitled to receive them free , the number sent to them may be separately noted on the wrapper which incloses them with others.\n28. No provision is made, in any of the forms, for magazines and pamphlets. It is probable very few will be sent in the mail. When any appear they may be specially entered with their postage, at the rate fixed in the 22d. section of the law.\n29. Sometimes large packets of newspapers, magazines, pamphlets or books, chiefly from abroad, made up in the form of letters or packets, are delivered at the post-offices to be conveyed by post. Made up in this form, they are to be rated with letter-postage , according to their weight. When they arrive at the office of delivery, if the party to whom they are addressed, would claim an abatement of the letter postage , he should open them in the presence of the postmaster. If they contain only the articles above mentioned, he may receive them on the payment of the postage legally chargeable on those articles by the 22d. section of the law. Books, indeed, as distinct from pamphlets, are not there mentioned: but as they are not likely to be sent by post, unless by mistake, or because they have come from abroad, and have been lodged at a post-office by a ship-master, among his ship-letters, they may well enough be rated with postage, like pamphlets, by the sheet. Other bulky articles, and frequently of small value, are sometimes conveyed in the mail: but as the law furnishes no rule by which any indulgence can be shewn, they must be the subjects of special representations to the General Post-Office.\nWhen any abatements of letter-postage take place in the cases above mentioned, they should be specially noted on the post-bill received with them.\nTIMOTHY PICKERING, Postmaster-General.\nGeneral Post-Office, June 30, 1794.\nNo. 1. ACCOUNT of LETTERS and NEWSPAPERS received at the Post-Office at New-Haven.\n   Time of receiving 1794. Names of the Offices from whence received. Date of the Bills received Unpaid Letters. Way Letters. Undercharged from other Offices. Overcharged and mislaid from other Offices. Paid Letters from other Offices. Free Letters. Newspapers.   D. C. D. C. D. C. D. C. D. C. D. C. D. C. Free.   No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.     Jan. 2 Salem, Mass. Dec. 28 - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - -   - Boston 30 - 30 - - - 15 - - - 45 - - 6 6 6   6 Philadelphia Jan. 2 14 40 - - - - 30 - 2 55 9 - 64 1/2 12 12   13 Hartford 12 - 48 - 8 - - - - - - - - - 6 6   Feb. 3 New-London Feb. 1 - 30 - - - 10 - - - - - - 7 - -   8 Philadelphia 5 - 45 - - - 15 - - - 45 3 - 46 6 6   - New-York 6 - 90 - - - - - - - - - - 40 3 3   - Norfolk Jan. 20 - 29 - - - 25 - - - - - - - - -   Mar. 3 Boston Feb. 27 - 15 - 8 - - - - - 15 - - 7 1/2 4 4   - Springfield Mar. 1 - 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - -   13 Hartford 12 - 12 - 24 - - - 16 - 24 - - 1 3 3   31 Norwalk 28 - 24 - 6 - - - 8 - 8 - - - - -   18 73 - 46 - 65 - 54 - - 13 - 1 72 40  '
 'No. 8.\nDr.\nThe Post-Office at New-Haven in Account current\n   To Postage of letters which remained in this office last quarter - 2 40   To postage of unpaid letters received from other offices this quarter 18 73   To postage of way letters received at this office ditto - - 46   To postage of letters undercharged from other offices ditto - - 65   To postage of ship letters originally received at this office for this delivery ditto - 2 52   To postage of paid letters sent from this office ditto - 2 38 \\frac{1}{2}   27 14 \\frac{1}{2}   To balance as above, being the amount of postage collected on letters this quarter - 24 31 \\frac{1}{2}   To amount of postage on newspapers this quarter 1 - 72   Deduct postage of dead newspapers - 26 1 45   25 77 \\frac{1}{2}  \nwith the General Post-Office, from January 1st. to April 1st. 1794.\nCr.\n   By postage of letters overcharged and missent this quarter - - 54   By postage of dead letters sent to the General Post Office ditto - 1 14   By postage of letters now remaining in this office - 1 15   Balance carried down - 24 31 \\frac{1}{2}   27 14 \\frac{1}{2}   By 13 free letters delivered out of this office this quarter - 26   By commission on 24 dollars 31 \\frac{1}{2} at 20 per cent - 4 - 86   By ditto on 1 Dol. 46 at 50 per cent - 73 5 85   By amount of ship letters paid for this quarter as by receipts herewith 1 66   By contingent expences as by receipts herewith - 75   Balance due to the General Post Office 17 51 \\frac{1}{2}   25 77 \\frac{1}{2}  \nErrors Excepted\nELIAS BEERS, Postmaster.'
 'No. 2. LETTERS { from Philadelphia, January 2d. 1794. { to New-Haven.\n   Rates. Unpaid. Paid. Free.   Cents. No. Dol. Cents. No. Dol. Cents. No.     15 40 6 - 10 1 50   Ship 19 12 2 28 - - -   30 7 2 10 2 - 60 9   Ship 34 2 - 68 - - -   * 45 5 2 25 1 - 45   Ship 49 1 - 49   60 1 - 60   14 40 2 55 9   NEWS - PAPERS.   1 1/2 43 64 1/2 12  \nRobert Patton, P. M.\n* Overcharged 30.\nNo. 3. ACCOUNT of LETTERS and NEWSPAPERS sent from the Post-Office at New-Haven.\n   Date of Bills sent. 1794. To what Office the Letters were sent. Unpaid Letters. Paid Letters. Free Let- ters Unpaid Newspapers   D. C. D. C. No. D. C.     January 2 Philadelphia - -- 30 -- 15 7 -- 16 1/2   - Elizabethtown, N. J. -- 62 1/2 -- 75 -- -- --   9 Stratford - -- 12 -- -- -- -- 37   16 New-York - 2 38 -- 20 -- -- --   23 Trenton - -- 15 -- 15 -- -- --   30 Stratford - -- 6 -- -- -- -- 38   February 3 Boston - -- 30 -- 45 -- -- 1 1/2   10 Washington, N. C. -- 25 -- -- -- -- --   17 Philadelphia - -- 79 -- -- 4 -- --   -- Fairfield - -- 18 -- -- -- -- 2   -- Princeton - -- 75 -- 12 1/2 -- -- 1 1/2   -- Salem, Mass. - -- 15 -- -- 1 -- --   March 3 New-York - -- 60 -- 20 -- -- --   4 Bennington - -- -- -- 20 -- -- 3   - Albany - -- 20 -- -- 1 -- 4 1/2   21 Stratford - -- 12 -- -- -- -- 45   -- Hartford - -- 64 -- 16 -- -- 1   2 38 1/2  '
 "No. 4. ACCOUNT of SHIP-LETTERS received at the Post-Office at New-Haven, from January 1, to April 1, 1794.\n   Certi- ficates numbered Of whom the Letters were received. From what Vessel. For this Delivery For- warded. Whole Number Sums paid.   D. C.     1 John Hemmenway Schooner Nancy 28 9 37 - 74   2 Benjamin Bright Sloop Harriot 15 6 21 - 42   3 Joseph Crane Schooner Delight 20 5 25 - 50   63 20 83 1 66  \nNo. 6. ACCOUNT of LETTERS sent by SEA, from the Post-Office at New-Haven.\n   Date of the Bills sent. 1794 To what Ports Number of Letters sent By what Vessels Masters' Names.     Feb. 12 Charleston S. C. 23 Schr. Nancy John Hemmenway   March 11 Savannah 19 Sloop Harriot Benj. Bright   March 20 Wilmington N. C. 15 Brig Fame Daa. Johnson   57  \nNo. 7. Dead } from New-Haven, April 1st 1794. LETTERS } to the General Post-Office.\n   Rates. Unpaid. Paid. Free.   No. Dol. Cents. No. Dol. Cents. No.     10 6 - 60   12½ 2 - 25   15 1 - 15   14 1 - 14   1 14   NEWS-PAPERS.    \nElias Beers, P. M"
 "No. 5.\nUNITED STATES OF AMERICA,\nTo the Post-Master at the Port of Charleston, South Carolina.*\nThis bag (or mail) sent by the Schooner Nancy , whereof John Henneway is master, bound from the port of New Haven to Charleston contains twenty three letters.\nPost-Office at New Haven , the 12th of March, 1794.\nELIAS BEERS, Post-Master.\n* Note. If the Vessel is bound to a foreign port, for instance, to Hamburg , then the Certificate may be thus directed.—\nTo the Post-Master at the port of Hamburg , or whom it may concern.\nPOST-ROADS in the UNITED STATES.\nMAIN POST-ROAD.\nDistrict of MAINE.\n  From Passamaquoddy   to Macbias - - - 20   Chandler's River - - 8   Pleasant River - - 9   Narraguagus - - - 15   Gouldsborough - - - 16   Sullivan - - - - 12   Trenton - - - - 12   Bluehill - - - - 10   Penobscot - - - - 13 115   Frankfort - - - - 8   Belfast - - - - 12   Ducktrap - - - - 12 32   Camden - - - - 7   Thomaston - - - - 7   Warren - - - - 7   Waldoborough - - - 12   [ Bristol ] - - - -   [ Nobleborough ] - -   Newcastle - - - - 10   Wiscasset - - - - 10   Bath - - - - 13   Brunswick - - - - 12   North-Yarmouth - - 17   PORTLAND - - - - 14 109 256 \n  Brought forward - - 256   Biddeford - - - - 18   Wells - - - - 10   York - - - - 20   NEW HAMPSHIRE   PORTSMOUTH - - - 10 58   MASSACHUSETTS   Newburyport - - - 22   Ipswich - - - - 12   Beverly - - - - 10   Salem - - - - 2   [ Lynn ] - - - -   Boston - - - - 18 64   Worcester - - - - 48   Brookfield - - - - 21   Springfield - - - - 28   CONNECTICUT   HARTFORD - - - - 28 125   Wethersfield - - - - 3   Middletown - - - - 11   Wallingford - - - - 13   NEW-HAVEN - - - - 13   Stratford - - - - 14   Fairfield - - - - 8   Norwalk - - - - 12   Stamford - - - - 10   State of NEW-YORK   Kingsbridge - - - - 29   City of NEW-YORK - - 15 128 375   631 "
 "  Brought over Brought over   NEW-JERSEY Falmouth 38 870   Newark 9 25   Elizabethtown 6 Fredericksburg 1   Bridgetown 6 Bowling-Green 22   Woodbridge 4 Hanover Courthouse 25   Brunswick 10 RICHMOND 23 134   Princeton 18 Osborne's 15   TRENTON 12 Petersburg 10 25   PENNSYLVANIA Charles Harris's near Nottaway River 32   Morrisville 1 Goldson's 18   Bristol 9 NORTH CAROLINA   PHILADELPHIA 20 95 Warrenton 33   Chester 15 Lewisburg 25   DELAWARE RALEIGH 30 138   WILMINGTON 13 Averysborough 34   Newport 3 Fayetteville 22   Christiana Bridge 6 Lumberton 33   MARYLAND SOUTH CAROLINA   Elkton 12 Cheraw Courthouse 44   Charleston 10 Camden 52   Havre de Grace 6 COLUMBIA 35 220   Harford 12 Edgefield Courthouse 60   BALTIMORE 25 102 GEORGIA   Bladensburg 38 AUGUSTA 25 58   CITY OF WASHINGTON 4 42 239 Waynesborough 37   Georgetown 4 SAVANNAH 95 132   VIRGINIA Newport-bridge 34   Alexandria 8 Saint Savilla 30   Colchester 16 Saint Mary's 65 129 863   Dumfries 10 Length of the main post-road, from the Ea- stern to the Southern Ex- tremity of the U. States. 1733 \n  CROSS-ROADS miles Brought forward 269   In MAINE MASSACHUSETTS & NEW-HAMPSHIRE   PORTLAND BOSTON   to Gray 15 to Andover, M. 22   New-Gloucester 9 Haverbill, M. 10   Greene 15 Chester, N. H. 14   Monmouth 10 Concord, N. H. 24 70   Winthrop 5 BOSTON   Hallowell Courthouse 10 to Concord, M. 18   Hallowell Hook 3 Lancaster, M. 17   Pittston 3 70 [Leominster, M. 7½]   NEW-HAMPSHIRE [Fitchburg, M. 4½]   PORTSMOUTH [Ashburnham, M. 7]   to Exeter 14 Marlborough, N. H. 26 45   Chester 16 Keen, N. H. 6   [Londonderry] 6 Walpole, N. H. 14   Amberst 19 25 Charlestown, N. H. 11 111   [Peterborough] 18 MASSACHUSETTS,   Marlborough 16 34 VERMONT and   Keen 6 NEW-HAMPSHIRE   Concord 95 Springfield   to Plymouth 45 to Northampton 20   Haverbill 33 78 Greenfield 21   Exeter Brattleborough 20   to [Hampton-Falls] 6 6 Westminster 18   MASSACHUSETTS Charlestown, N. H. 12   Salem Windfor, V. 18   to Gloucester 16 16 Hanover 18   Salem Orford 18   to Marblehead 4 4 Haverbill 17   269 Newbury, V. 5 167   348   617 "
 "   Brought forward 617 Brought forward 1046   MASSACHUSETTS Taunton   and NEW-YORK to Dighton M.   Springfield, M. Somerfet   to Stockbridge, M. 44 Warren, R. I. 20   Kinderhook, N. Y. 29 73 New-Beford, M.   Brookfield to NEWPORT, R. I. 30 30   to Northampton 30 BOSTON   [Worthington] 19 to PROVIDENCE 44   Pittfield 19 CONNECTICUT   [New-Lebanon] 6 Norwich 40   Albany 28 102 New-London 14   MASSACHUSETTS Saybrook 18   BOSTON Killingsworth 9   to Quincy 10 Guilford 9   Hingham 9 NEW-HAVEN 18 152   Plymouth 22 BOSTON   Sandwich 18 to Dedham M. 11   Falmouth 18 Mendon 24   Holmes's Hole 9 Pomfret 31   Edgartown 8 94 HARTFORD C. 42 108   Sandwich RHODE-ISLAND.   to Barnstable 12 NEWPORT   Yarmouth 4 16 to Bristol 14   BOSTON Warren 4   to Taunton 36 PROVIDENCE 11 29   New-Bedford 27 63 NEWPORT   Nantucket 60 60 to East-Greenwich 22   MASSACHUSETTS PROVIDENCE 15 37   and RHODE-ISLAND NEWPORT 376   Taunton, M. to [Towerhill] 10   to PROVIDENCE, R. I. 21 21 429 Westerly 26 36   1046  \n   Brought forward 36 1422 Brought forward 1791   In CONNECTICUT (Another route between   Stonington Point 5 Litchfield and Danbury)   New-London 14 55 HARTFORD   HARTFORD to Litchfield 32   to Windham 32 Bethlehem 8   Norwich 12 44 Woodbury 8   HARTFORD Southbury 3   to Wethersfield (3) Newtown 10   Middleton (11) 14 Danbury 10 39   [Chatham] 6 New-York 70 141   [Colchester] 14 Note. The post-rider usu-   New-London 20 54 ally goes by one route, and   HARTFORD returns by the other.)   to New Hartford 16 State of NEW-YORK   [Norfolk] 15 NEW-YORK   Canaan 10 to Kingsbridge (15) 15   Sheffield, M. 7 Peekskill 35   STATE of NEW-YORK Fishkill 20   [Hillsdale] 12 Poughkeepsie 15   Hudson 18 78 231 Rhinebeck 18   In CONNECTICUT Redhook 8   HARTFORD Clermont 6   to [Farmington] 10 Hudson 15   [Harwinton] 14 Kinderhook 13   Litchfield 8 32 Albany 21 166   New-Milford 20 Lansingsburg 9   Danbury 16 36 In VERMONT   Ridgefield 10 Bennington 28   State of NEW-YORK Manchester 22   [Northcastle] 20 Rutland 35   [Whiteplains] 10 Middlebury 33   Kingsbridge 15 Vergennes 15   NEW-YORK (15) 15 70 Burlington 22 164   138 330   1791 2121  "
 '    Brought over Brought over 2549   NEW-JERSEY     Rutland - - - - Newark or   to Windsor - - - - 45 45 Elizabethtown - - -   State of NEW-YORK to Morristown - - - 18   Albany - - - - Booneton - - - - 8   to Schenectady - - - 16 Rockaway - - - - 7   Johnston - - - - 26 Suffex Courthouse 21 54   Connojoharrie - - - 15 Morristown - - - -   Whitestown - - - - 44 101 to Hackettstown - - - 22   Clinton - - - - 9 Suffex Courthouse 16 38   Geneva - - - - 89 Woodbridge - - - -   Kanandaigua - - - - 16 114 to Amboy - - - - 3 3   Connojoharrie - - - Trenton - - - -   to Cherry Valley - - - 18 to Allentown - - - - 12   C. H. in Cooperstown 12 30 Monmouth Courthouse 21   CITY of NEW-YORK Shrewsbury - - - - 14 47   to Jamaica - - - - 12 Brunswick - - - -   Queens County C. H. 8 to Spotswood - - - - 9   Jericho - - - - 10 Middletown Point 9   Huntington - - - - 8 Shrewsbury - - - - 14 32   Winnacomac - - - - 8 Brunswick - - - -   [Smithtown] - - - - 6 to Somerset Courthouse } 12   Coram - - - - 10 (or Rariton)   Suffolk County C. H. 18 New Germanton - - - 16 28   Southampton - - - - 15 Trenton - - - -   Bridgehampton - - - 6 to Flemington - - - - 23   Sagg Harbour - - - 6 107 Pittston - - - - 9   Eaflton in Pennsylvania New Germanton - - - 15 47   to Suffex C. H. N. Jersey 38 PHILADELPHIA - - -   Goshen in New-York 41 to Woodbury - - - - 9   Wards Bridge - do. 10 Sweedsborough - - - 11   Shawangunk - do. 10 Woodstown - - - - 6   [New Paltz] - do. 12 Salem - - - - 11   Kingston - - do. 14 Bridgetown, in } 20 57 306   Rhinebeck - do. 6 131 West-New-Jersey   528 2955   2049   \n    Brought forward 2955 Brought forward 60 3530     PENNSYLVANIA NORTHWESTERN   PHILADELPHIA - - TERRITORY.   to Bethlehem - - - 53 Marietta - - - - 86   Easton - - - - 12 65 Bel Pré - - - - 19   Bethlehem - - - Gallipolis - - - - 86   to Reading - - - 40 KENTUCKY   Lancaster - - - 31 71 Limestone - - - - 145 336   PHILADELPHIA - - 136 Washington - - - - 4   to Norristown - - 17 Fort-Washington in the   the Trapp - - - - 9 N. W. TERRITORY } 45 49   Pottsgrove - - - 11 Pittsburg - - - -   Reading - - - - 17 54 to Fort-Washington - 445   Womelsdorf - - - 14 KENTUCKY   Lebanon - - - - 14 Limestone - - - -   Harrisburg - - - 25 to Washington (4) - 4   Carlisle - - - - 18 71 Bourbontown - - - 40   PHILADELPHIA - 125 Lexington - - - - 20   to [Downingstown] - 33 FRANKFORT - - - 21   Lancaster - - - - 33 Harrodsburg - - - 30   Yorktown - - - - 22 Danville - - - - 10 12   Carlisle - - - - 31 119 Bardstown - - - - 45   Shippensburg - - - 21 Louisville - - - - 38 83 208   Chambersburg - - - 11 PENNSYLVANIA   Bedford - - - - 59 Yorktown - - - -   Greensburg - - - 74 to Hanover - - - - 18   Pittsburg - - - - 30 195 Petersburg - - - - 7   22 314 MARYLAND   3530 [Tawneytown] - - - 8   Washington - - - Fredericktown - - - 27   In VIRGINIA 23 VIRGINIA   West Liberty - - - 15 60 Leesburg - - - - 25 85 85   Wheeling - - - -   4268   '
 None
 "  Brought forward 5949 Brought forward 6434   RICHMOND - - - Abingdon - - -   to Columbia - - - 45 to Hawkins Courthouse 72   Charlotteville - - - 35 [Free Stone Gap] - 25   Staunton - - - 40 120 [Cumberland Mountain] 35   Lexington - - - 35 [Cumberland River] 13   Fincastle - - - 36 [Crab Orchard] - - 80   Montgomery C. H. 50 Danville - - - 25   Wythe C. H. - - 46 2 50   Abingdon - - - 57 224 VIRGINIA   S. W. TERRITORY Staunton - - -   Jonesborough - - - 40 to Bath Courthouse - 50   Greeneville - - - 26 Sweet Springs - - 43   Jefferson C. H. - - 35 Green Brier C. H. 30 123   KNOXVILLE - - 40 141 485 RICHMOND - - -   6434 to Hopkins's - - - 20   Powhatan C. H. - 12   Cumberland C. H. 20   Prince Edward C. H. 28   Lynchburg - - - 50   New-London - - - 12   Liberty - - - 15   Fincastle - - - 35 192   Prince Edward C. H.   to Charlotte C. H. - 20   Halifax C. H. - - 30   Pittsylvania C. H. 38   * Martinsburg - - - 30   Germanton in N. Carol. 40 158   * Martinsburg - - -   to Rocky Mount - } 25   or Franklin C. H. }   Liberty - - - 40 65 538   * on the borders of North Carolina 6972 \nNote. A mail is now passing weekly from Pittsburg to Wheeling, by land, then, by the Ohio, to Limestone in Kentucky—and thence by land to Fort Washington, in the Northwestern Territory, crossing the river Ohio, over against Fort Washington.\nThe mail from Abingdon, through the Wilderness, to Danville in Kentucky, is therefore now to be dropped. But as the river Ohio may be impassable in the Winter, & it may then be necessary to resume the route thro' the Wilderness, it is here subjoined:\n  Brought forward 6972 Brought forward 7551   Petersburg - - - Edenton - - -   to Cabin Point - - - 26 to Hertford - - - 18   Smithfield - - - 35 Nixonton - - - 10   Suffolk - - - 22 Sawyer's Ferry - - 14   Portsmouth - - - 28 Indiantown - - - 10 52   Norfolk - - - 1 112 Halifax - - -   Smithfield - - - to Princeton - - - 35   to Southampton C. H. 35 Murfreesborough - 3   Greenville C. H. } 60 Winton - - - 12   (or Hicks's Ford) } 25 [Bridge on Bennet's Creek] 15   Petersburg - - - Richard Mitchell's 18   to Charles Harris's Edenton (22) - - 22 105   near Nottoway River (32) 32 Halifax - - -   Hicks's Ford } 20 to [Blountville] - - 30   (or Greenville C. H.) } Williamston - - - 2   Halifax, in N. Carolina 28 80 [Dailey's] - - - 14   VIRGINIA Plymouth - - - 10   Goldson's - - - - Windsor - - - 18 97   to [Brunswick C. H.] 3 Halifax - - -   Gee's Bridge - - - 10 to Warrenton - - - 35   St. Tammany's - - - 15 Williamsborough - 17   Mecklenburg C. H. 7 Oxford - - - 13   Halifax C. H. - - - 35 70 Hillsborough - - - 36   Suffolk, (Virginia) Martinville (or Guilford Courthouse) 48   to NORTH CAROLINA - Salem - - - 27   Edenton - - - - 54 Salisbury - - - 35 211   Plymouth - - - - 23 Cabarras Courthouse - 23   Washington - - - 38 Charlotte Courthouse - 21 44   Newbern - - - - 41 Salisbury - - -   Wilmington - - - 101 257 579 to Iredell Courthouse - 25   7551 Charlotte Courthouse - 25 50 559   8110 "
 "  Brought forward 8110 Brought forward 3932   Salisbury - - - Hillsborough - -   to Montgomery Courthouse 40 to Person Courthouse - 26   Anson Courthouse - 28 Caswell Old C. H. - 13   Richmond Courthouse 20 Caswell Courthouse - 13   Fayetteville - 56 144 Rockingham Courthouse - 22   Salisbury - - Germanton - 30   to Randolph Courthouse 42 Bethania - 10 114 114   Moore Courthouse - 38 Salem - -   Fayetteville - 40 120 to Bethania - 9   Elizabethtown - 40 Huntsville - 10   Wilmington - 55 95 Rockford - 16   Fayetteville - - Wilkes - 33   to Sampson Courthouse 36 Morganton - 45 113   Cross-Roads near Lincolnton - 46   Duplin Courthouse - 23 SOUTH CAROLINA   South-Washington - 23 Pinckney Courthouse - 56 102 215   Wilmington - 36 118 Cheraw Courthouse - -   Halifax - - to Georgetown - 90 90   to Tarborough - 36 Camden - -   Greenville - 25 to Statesburg - 20   Washington - 23 84 Charleston - 100 120 210   Tarborough - - Jacksonborough - 35   to Nash Courthouse - 28 [Combahee Ferry] - 17   Lewisburg - 28 56 [Pocotaligo] - 15   Newbern - - Coosawatchie - 10 77   to Kinston - 45 [Sisters Ferry] - 25   Waynesborough - 24 GEORGIA   Smithfield - 55 [to the road from   RALEIGH - 25 149 Augusta] - 2   Chapel Hill - 24 [Ebenezer] - 10   to Hillsborough - 14 38 Savannah - 25 62 139   Chapel Hill - - Coosawatchie - -   to Chatham Courthouse 18 18 822 to Beaufort - 33 33   8932 9643 \n  Brought forward 9643 Brought forward   SOUTH CAROLINA Main Post-Road - 1733   COLUMBIA Cross-Post-Roads - 10390   to Orangeburg - - 36   CHARLESTON - - 79 115 115 Deduct parts of some roads 12123   COLUMBIA - - - comprehended in others. 139   to Winnsborough - - 30 11984   Chester Courthouse - - 28   Pinckney Courthouse - - 22 80   Spartan Courthouse - - 30   Greenville Courthouse - - 35 65 145   COLUMBIA - - -   to Newbury Courthouse - - 45   Laurens Courthouse - - 32   Greenville Courthouse - - 40   Washington Courthouse - - 10   Pendleton Courthouse - - 16 143   Edgefield Courthouse - - -   to Cambridge - - 24   Abbeville Courthouse - - 20   Pendleton Courthouse - - 42   [Hatton's Ford on]   Toogeloo River   GEORGIA   Franklin Courthouse - - 17 119   Elberton - - 25   Petersburg - - 15   Washington - - 20 60 322   AUGUSTA - - -   to Washington - - 50   Greeneborough - - 28 78   AUGUSTA - - -   to Georgetown - - 55   [Great Falls of Ogeechee] - - 2   (now called Lexington) - - -   Greeneborough - - 30 87 165   10390 "
 'MEMORANDUM.\nPLACES whose Names are in small capital Letters, are the Capitals or chief Towns of each State or District.\nThe Places whose Names are in Italics, are not now Post-towns; but it is expected Post-Offices will be established there by the first of next October.\nThe Names of some Places are set down, either because they are mentioned in the Law as marking the Route of the Mail, or because from their Situation and Circumstances they may hereafter become Post-towns, though not intended for such at present. These are included in Hooks.\nNo Post Office is yet established at the City of WASHINGTON : and it is uncertain when one will be established there.\nRALEIGH is the new Capital of North Carolina, FRANKFORT of Kentucky and KNOXVILLE of the South Western Territory. Post Offices will be established at these places by the first of next October.\nPostscript. When the Regulation No. 13. was written, the formation of new tables of rates was in contemplation: but it was found impracticable to complete them in time to be herewith transmitted. Lists of the post-roads and distances have been added, to show the routes of the various mails, and to enable the post masters to calculate the rates of postage between any places not mentioned in the old tables. These lists of the distances may be rendered more accurate by the information which the postmasters can collect in their respective districts, and which they are earnestly desired to obtain and communicate as early as possible, that the new tables may be rendered correct.\nRegulation No. 18. The post-bills transmitted to the General Post-Office with the quarterly accounts, should never be folded—it doubles the labour of examination. And every quarterly account current should be signed by the postmaster.'
 None None None None None
 'When newspapers are sent to public officers entitled to receive them free , the number sent to them may be separately noted on the wrapper which incloses them with others.\n28. No provision is made, in any of the forms, for magazines and pamphlets. It is probable very few will be sent in the mail. When any appear they may be specially entered with their postage, at the rate fixed in the 22d. section of the law.\n29. Sometimes large packets of newspapers, magazines, pamphlets or books, chiefly from abroad, made up in the form of letters or packets, are delivered at the post-offices to be conveyed by post. Made up in this form, they are to be rated with letter-postage , according to their weight. When they arrive at the office of delivery, if the party to whom they are addressed, would claim an abatement of the letter postage , he should open them in the presence of the post-master. If they contain only the articles above mentioned, he may receive them on the payment of the postage legally chargeable on those articles by the 22d. section of the law. Books, indeed, as distinct from pamphlets, are not there mentioned: but as they are not likely to be sent by post, unless by mistake, or because they have come from abroad, and have been lodged at a post-office by a ship-master, among his ship-letters, they may well enough be rated with postage, like pamphlets, by the sheet. Other bulky articles, and frequently of small value, are sometimes conveyed in the mail: but as the law furnishes no rule by which any indulgence can be shewn, they must be the subjects of special representations to the General Post-Office.\nWhen any abatements of letter-postage take place in the cases above mentioned, they should be specially noted on the post-bill received with them.\nTIMOTHY PICKERING, Postmaster-General.\nGeneral Post-Office, June 30, 1794.\nNo. 1. ACCOUNT OF LETTERS and NEWSPAPERS received at the Post-Office at New-Haven.\n   Time of receiving 1794. Names of the Offices from whence received. Date of the Bills received Unpaid Letters. Way Letters. Undischarged Letter Offices. Overcharged and mislaid from other Offices. Paid Letters from Offices. Free Letters. Newspapers.   D. C. D. C. D. C. D. C. D. C. D. C. D. C.     Jan. 2 Salem, Mass. Dec. 28 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -   - Boston 30 - 30 - - - - - - - - 1 - - -   6 Philadelphia Jan. 2 14 40 - - - - - - - - - - 6 6   13 Hartford 12 - 48 - 8 - - - - - - 9 - 64 1/2 12   Feb. 3 New-London Feb. 1 - 30 - - - - - - - - - - - -   8 Philadelphia 5 - 45 - - - - - - - - 3 - 7 -   - New-York 6 - 90 - - - - - - - - - - 46 6   - Norfolk Jan. 20 - 29 - - - - - - - - - - 40 3   Mar. 3 Boston Feb. 27 - 15 - 8 - - - - - - - - - -   - Springfield Mar. 1 - 10 - - - - - - - - - - - -   13 Hartford 12 1 12 - 24 - - - - - - - - 1 3   31 Norwalk 28 - 24 - 6 - - - - - - - - - -   18 73 - 46 - 65 - 54 - - - - 1 40  '
 'No. 8.\nDr.\nThe Post-Office at New-Haven in Account current.\n  To Postage of letters which remained in this office last quarter - 2 40   To postage of unpaid letters received from other offices this quarter 18 73   To postage of way letters received at this office ditto - - - - 46   To postage of letters undercharged from other offices ditto - - - 63   To postage of ship letters originally received at this office for this delivery ditto - - - - - 2 52   To postage of paid letters sent from this office ditto - - 2 38 \\frac{1}{2}   27 14 \\frac{1}{2} \n  To balance as above, being the amount of postage collected on letters this quarter - - - - - 24 31 \\frac{1}{4}   To amount of postage on newspapers this quarter - 1 - 72   Deduct postage of dead newspapers - - - - - - 26 1 45   25 77 \\frac{1}{2} \nwith the General Post-Office, from January 1st. to April 1st. 1794.\nCr.\n  By postage of letters overcharged and missent this quarter - - 54   By postage of dead letters sent to the General Post Office ditto - 1 14   By postage of letters now remaining in this office - - - 1 15   Balance carried down - - - - - 24 31 \\frac{1}{2} \n27 - 14 \\frac{1}{2}\n  By 13 free letters delivered out of this office this quarter - 26   By commission on 24 dollars 31 \\frac{1}{4} at 20 per cent - 4 - 86   By ditto on 1 Dol. 46 at 50 per cent - - 73 5 85   By amount of ship letters paid for this quarter as by receipts herewith 1 66   By contingent expences as by receipts herewith - - - - 75   Balance due to the General Post Office - - - - - 17 51 \\frac{1}{2}   25 77 \\frac{1}{2} \nErrors Excepted\nELIAS BEERS, Postmaster.'
 'ACT ESTABLISHING U. S. POST OFFICE 1793' None
 'ACT ESTABLISHING U. S. POST OFFICE 1793' None None None None None]