444- C. 10. Anno nono Ann^ Reginae. A^D- 1710. After I June, XXXIX. Provided always, and be it enafled by the Authority aforefaid. That from and after the firft J743. the oU J)ay of 'June one thoufand feven hundred forty and three, the fame Rates and Prices only, and no more Rates to be taken n , i i -^ , ■ i ^ i /-i • ^ ' i i--. i- _ r _ii r _.. _ _ i ^n > „ . ' I for Let°ers &c ° ^^'^ ^^ taken or paid for the Carriage, Conveyance, and Delivery of all Letters and Packets fent by °Geo. i'. C.7." the Poft from one Part of Gr^(7^ 5r/frt/« to another, as alfo for all Letters brought to Great Britain, or , I, fent from thence, from or to any Parts beyond the Seas, than were authorized or allowed to be taken by the Poftmafler General, or his Deputy or Deputies, for the Poftage of fuch Letters, by the faid feveral A<fts hereby repealed. _ ^ No Letters to be ' XL. And whereas Abufes may be committed by wilfully opening, imbezilling, detaining and delay- opened, detained, ' ing of Letters or Packets, to the great Difcouragement of Trade, Commerce, and Correfpondence :' or delayed. ^ot Prevention thereof. Be it enafted by the Authority aforefaid. That from and after the faid firft Day of June one thoufand feven hundred and eleven, no Perfon or Perfons fliall prefume wittingly, willingly or knowingly, to open, detain, or delajr, or caufe, procure, permit,, or fuffer to be opened, detained, or delayed, any Letter or Letters, Packet or Packets, after the fame is or fhall be delivered into the General or otlier Poft-Office, or into the Hands of any Perfon or Perfons employed for the receiving or carrying Poft Letters, and before Delivery to the Perfons to whom they are direfted, or for their Ufe ; except by an exprefs Warrant in Writing under the Hand of one of the Principal Secretaries of State for every fuch Exception. Opening, detaining, or delaying ; or except in fuch Cafes where the Party or Parties, to whom fuch Let- ter or Letters, PaclJet or Packets, fhall be direfled, or who is or are hereby chargeable with the Payment of the Port or Ports thereof, Ihall refufe or negledl to pay the fame; and except fuch Letters or Packets as fhall be returned for want of true Directions, and where the Party, to whom the fame is or are direfted, cannot be found ; and that every Perfon or Perfons offending in Manner aforefaid, or who fhall imbezil any fuch Letter or Letters, Packet or Packets, fliall for every fuch Offence forfeit the Sum of twenty Pounds ; the faid Penaliies for any fuch Offence committed in England, Wales, or Berwick xv)- on Tweed, to be recovered by Aftion, Bill, Plaint, or Information in any of her Majefty's Courts of Re- cord at Wejtminjier ; and for any fuch Offence committed in that Part oi Great Britain called Scotland, to- be recovered in the Court of Seffions, or Exchequer there; fuch Penalties refpeflively to be recovered by fuch Perfon or Perfons as will inform or fue for the fame, together with full Cofts of Suit ; and over and above fuch Penalty as aforefaid, every fuch Perfon or Perfons fo offending as aforefaid, fhall be for ever incapable of having, ufmg, exercifing, or enjoying any Office, Truft or Employment in or relating to the Poft Office, or any Branch thereof. Poftmafler, &c. XLI. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid. That no Perfon or Perfons fhall, after the to be fworn. faid firft Day of June one thoufand feven hundred and eleven, be capable of having, ufing, or exercifing the Office or Offices of Poftmafter General, or any Part thereof, or any other Employment relating to the Poft Office, or any Branch thereof, or be any way concerned in receiving, forting, or delivering of Let- ters or Packets, unlefs fuch Perfon or Perfons fhall firft have taken the following Oath before fome one Ju- ftice of the Peace for the County or Place where fuch Perfon refides, which faid Oath fuch Juftice of Peace is hereby authorized to adminifter in the following Words : The Oathi ' "W A. B. do fwear. That I will not wittingly, willingly, or knowingly open, detain, or delay, orcaufe» ' l procure, permit, or fuffer to be opened, detained, or delayed any Letter or Letters, Packet o^ ' Packets, which fliall come into my Hands, Power, or Cuftody, by Reafon of my Employment in or ' relating to the Poft Office ; except by the Confent of the Perfon or Perfons to whom the fame is or fhall ' be direded, or by an exprefs Warrant in Writing under the Hand of one of the principal Secretaries of ' State for that Purpofe ; or except in fuch Cafes, where the Party or Parties to whom fuch Letter or ' Letters, Packet or Packets fhall be direded, or who is or are hereby chargeable with the Pay.ment of ' the Poit or Ports thereof, fhall refufe or negledl to pay the fame ; and except fuch Letters or Packets as
- fhall be returned for Want of true Directions, or when the Party or Parties to whom the fame is or
- fhall be direiled, cannot be found : And that I will not any Way imbezil any fuch Letter or Letters^
' Packet or Packets as aforefaid.' One third of the XLII. And it is further enafted and declared by the Authority aforefaid. That from the faid firft Day Surplus, over oi June in the Year of our Lord one thoufand feven hundred and eleven, one third Part of the Surplus of and above (hg yearly Produce arifing by the faid Letter or Poft Office, or Duties upon Poftage of Letters and Pac- lo'd. per Ann' ^^^'^ ^V ^^^^ ^^ granted, over and above the Sum of one hundred and eleven thoufand four hundred fixty- ajid 700 1. per " on^ Pounds feventeen Shillings and ten Pence, which was the amount of the grofs Receipt of the Duties Week, difpofable arifing by virtue of the faid former Ads of Parliament (which are now repealed) for one Year ended the by Parliament, nine and twentieth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thoufand feven hundred and ten, and ovrr and above the faid Sum of feven hundred Pounds /ii?r Week, fhall be and is by this Aft referved to the Difpofal of Parliament for the Ufe of the Publick, and fhall not be divertible or diverted to any other Ufe, Intent or Purpofe, other than according to fuch Difpofal. XLIII. And to the Intent the Inheritance of fuch Part of the faid Duties and Revenue arifing in and by the faid General Letter Office or Poft Office, which is hereby vefted in her Majefty, her Heirs and Suc- ceflbrs, undeterminable as aforefaid, may be preferved in the Crown, for the future Benefit thereof; Be This Revenue it further enafted and declared by the Authority aforefaid. That the fame, or any Part thereof, fhall not notalienabk,&c. hereafter be alienable, chargeable or grantable by her Majefty, her Heirs or SuccefTors, for any Eftate, Term, or Time whatfoever, to endure longer than the Life of her Majefty, or of fuch King or Queen as fhall make fuch Alienation, Charge, or Grant refpeftively ; and that all Gifts, Grants, Alienations, and Aflurances whatfoever, to be had or made of, and Charges upon the faid Duties or Revenue, or any Part thereof, contrary to the Provifion of this Aft, flial! be null and voidj without any Inquifition, Scire facias^ or other Proceeding to determine or make void the fame. XLIV. And
