To fettle accounts

and with

him.

nue of the post-office: He fhall alfo have power to prefcribe fuch regulations to the deputypost-masters, and others employed under him, as may be found neceflary, and to fuperintend the bufinefs of the department, in all the duties, that are or may be affigned 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 fhall be confidered as the post-road.

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the Poftmaster-General fhall, once in three months, quarterly 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 Treafury a quarterly account of all the receipts and expenditures in the faid department, to be adjusted and fettled, as other public accounts; and fhall pay, quarterly, into the treasury of the United States, the balance in his hands: And the Poftmafter-general, and his affiftant, the deputy-poft mafters, perfons em- and fuch as they may employ in their offices, ployed by 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 fervants, and all others to whom the mail fhall be entrusted, before they commence the execution of the faid truft, fhall refpectively take and fubfcribe before fome juftice of the peace, the following oath or affirmation, and caufe a certificate thereof to be filed in the office of the Poft mafter-general: "I do fwear (or affirm, as the cafe may be) that I Take oath, will faithfully perform all the duties required of me, and abstain from every thing forbidden, by the law in relation to the establishment of postoffices and poft-roads within the United States."

obftru&ing

geace of

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That if any Penalty o perfon fhall obftruct or retard the paffage of the mail the mail, or of any horfe or carriage carrying and negli. the fame, he fhall, upon conviction, for every ferrymen. fuch offence, pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars: And if any ferryman fhall, by wilful negligence or refufal to transport the mail across any ferry, delay the fame, he shall forfeit and pay for each half hour, that the fame fhall be fo delayed, a fum not exceeding ten dollars.

contract for

the mail.

Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That it fhall be the duty of the Postmaster-General, to Poftmaftergive public notice in one or more of the newf. General to give notice papers published at the feat of government of previous to the United States, and in one or more of the making newspapers published in the state or ftates, carrying where the contract is to be performed, for at leaft fix weeks before the entering into any contract for the conveyance of the mail, that fuch contract is intended to be made, and the day, on which it fhall be concluded, defcribing the places, from and to which, fuch 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 ftipulations: He fhall, moreover, within thirty days after the and lodge making of any contract, lodge the fame, toge- tract in ther with the propofals, which he thall have Comptrolreceived, respecting it, in the office of the Comptroller of the Treafury of the United States: Provided, That no contract fhall be entered into, for a longer term than four years. Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That every deputy-poftmafter fhall keep an office, in Deputywhich one or more perfons fhall attend, at fuch poftmafter hours, as the Poftmafter-General fhall direct, office. for the purpose of performing the duties there

"

the con

ler's Office.

to keep an

to post

mafter-ge

his affiftant.

of; and all letters brought to any post-office, half an hour before the time of making up the mail at fuch office, fhall be forwarded therein; except at fuch poft-offices, where, in the opinion of the Poftmafter-General, it requires more time for making up the mail, and which he fhall accordingly prescribe; but this fhall, in no cafe, exceed one hour.

Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That from and after the first day of June next, the Allowance Poftmafter-General fhall be allowed, for his fervices, at the rate of two thoufand four hunneral and dred dollars per annum, his affiftant, at the rate of one thoufand two hundred dollars per annum, and the Poftmafter-General fhall be allowed four clerks, whofe compenfation fhall be regulated in fuch manner, as not to exceed five hundred dollars per annum to each: All the abovementioned compenfations to be paid quarterly out of the revenues of the post-office; and no fees or perquifites fhall be received by any perfon employed in the general poft-office, on account of the duties to be performed, in virtue of his appointment.

Rates of postage.

Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the deputy postmasters and perfons authorized by the Poftmafter General, fhall demand and receive for the conveyance of letters and packets, except fuch as are hereinafter excepted, the following rates of poftage: For every single letter conveyed by land, not exceeding thirty miles, fix cents; over thirty miles and not exceeding fixty, eight cents; over fixty, 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 faid rates; for every triple letter, triple; and for every packet weighing one ounce avoirdupois, at the rate of four fingle letters; and in that proportion for any greater weight.

Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That for Rates of all letters and packets paffing by fea, to and letters paffrom the United States, or from one port to fing by fea. another therein, in packet-boats or vessels, the property of, or provided by the United States, postage shall be charged as follows: For every fingle letter, eight cents; for every double letter, fixteen 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 fea, in any private fhip or veffel, four cents, if delivered at the place where the fame fhall arrive; and if directed to be delivered at any other place, with the addition of like postage, as other letters are made fubject to the payment of, by this act.

Penalty on

Sec. 11. And be it further enacted, That if any deputy poftmaster, or other perfon autho- demanding rized by the Poftmafter-General to receive the or receivpostages of letters, fhall fraudulently demand fipulated ing beyond or receive any rate of poftage, or any gratuity postage. or reward, other than is provided by this act, for the postage of letters or packets, on conviction thereof, he fhali forfeit, for every fuch offence, one hundred dollars, and shall be ren

Duty of

vious to

port, &c.

dered incapable of holding any office or appointment under the United States.

Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, That no mafters of fhip or veffel arriving at any port within the veffels pre- United States, where a poft-office is establishmaking re- ed, fhall be permitted to report, make entry, or break bulk, until the mafter or commander shall have delivered to the poftmafter, all letters directed to any person or perfons within the United States, which, under his care, or within his power, fhall be brought in fuch fhip or veffel, except fuch as are directed to the owner or confignee of the fhip or veffel, and except alfo fuch as are directed to be delivered at the port of delivery, to which fuch fhip or veffel may be bound. And it fhall be the duty of the collector, or other officer of the port empowered to receive entries of fhips or vef fels, to require from every mafter or commander of fuch fhip or veffel, an oath or affirmation, purporting that he has delivered all fuch letters, except as aforefaid.

Duty of collectors herein.

Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That the poftmafters, to whom fuch letters may be delivered, fhall pay to the master, commander or other perfon delivering the fame, except the commanders of foreign packets, two cents for each letter or packet, and fhall obtain from the perfon delivering the fame, a certificate fpecifying the number of letters and packets, with the name of the fhip or veffel, and the place from whence the laft failed; which certificate, together with a receipt for the money, fhall be, with his quarterly accounts, tranfmitted to the Poftmafter-General, who fhall credit him with the amount.

Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, That if any perfon, other than the Poftmafter-Gene