Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-06-19
to EsSDA1, JUNE TO- 1910.

Office IN which one or more persons
shall attend en- every dav. on which Z
mail, or bag, or other packet or parcel
OF letters shall arrive by land or wa
ter, as well as on other days, at such
hours as the post master general shall
direct, for the purpose of performing
the duties thereof and it shall be the
duty of the post master at all reasona-
ible hours, on every day of the week,
to- deliver on demand any letter, pa
lper or packet, to the person entitled
to or authorised to receive the same I;
and all letters brought to any post of
fee half ain hour before the time of
making up the mail at such Office
shall be forwarded therein; except at
such post-ofices, where, in the OPT.
Mon OF the post master-g general, it reA
quires more time for making up the
mail, aud which he shall accordingly
prescribe but this shall in no case
exceed one hour.
| Sec. 10. And be it further enacted,
That no fees or perquisites shall be
received by any person employed in
the general post-office on account Of
the duties TO be performed by virtue
of his appointment
Sec. II. And lie it further enacted
That the following rates of postage
shall be charged on all letters & pack
cts Excepting such as are hereinafter
exempsed) conveyed by the posts Of
the United States viz. for every
letter composed of single aheet
OF paper, conveyed not exceeding for
ty miles, eight cents over forty and
not exceeding ninety miles, tea cents !;
over ninety and not exceeding one
hundred and fifty miles, twelve and a
half cents over one hundred and
fifty and not exceeding three hundred
miles, seventeen cents; over three
hundred aud not exceeding five hum
dred miles. twenty cents over FIVE
hundred miles, twenty-five cents. And
for every double letter, or one COM
/ posed OF two pieces of paper, double
those rates and for every triple let
Z, ter, or one composed of three pieces
OF paper, triple these rates; and for
every packet composed of four or
more pieces of paper, or other thing,
and weighing one ounce avoirdupois,
quadruPle those rates, and in that
proportion for all greater weight /:
Provided, That no packet of letters
conveyed by the water mails shall be
charged with more than quadruple
postage, unless the same shall actually
! contain more than four distinct let
tiers. No postmaster shall be obliged
to receive, to be conveyed by the
mail, any packet which shall weigh
more than three pounds: And the
postage marked on any letter Or pack
age and charged on the postbill which
may accompany the same, shall, in
favor Of the postmaster who delivers
out said letter be conclusive evidence
Of the lawful postage thereon, unless
said letter shall be opened in the pre-
sence of the said postmaster or his
clerk.
Sec. IL. And be it further enacted
That every letter or packet broughs
into the United States, or carried from
one port tuSTclh 10 auOLner, In any pEl-
vate ship or vessel, shall be charged
with six cents, if delivered at the post
office where the same shall arrive, and
if destined to be conveyed by post to
any place, with two cents, added to the
ordinary rates of postage.
| Sec. 10. And be it further enacted,
| That If any postmaster, or other per.
son authorised by the postmaster ge-
neral, to receive the postage of letters
shall fraudulently demand or receive
any rate of postage, or gratuity or re-
ward, other than is provided by this
act, for the postage of letters or pack
cts; on conviction thereof he shall
forfeit for every such offence, one hun
dred dollars, and shall be rendered In
capable of holding any Office or ap-
pointment under the government OF
the United States.
Act TO be Continued.)
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