[26] _Colonial Documents of N. Y._, Vol. IV, p. 200.

[27] _Journal of the Legislative Council of New York_, Vol. I, pp. 26, 31, 32, 34.

The Early History of the Colonial Post-Office — Part 6

[28] _Journal of the Assembly_, pp. 26, 28.

The Early History of the Colonial Post-Office — Part 6

[29] Copied from the original MS. at Albany.

The Early History of the Colonial Post-Office — Part 6

All postmasters were freed from excise and all public services, with the exception of the postmaster of the city of New York, who was exempt only from public services. Any persons or "body politick or corporate others than the P. M. Gen. aforesaid" presuming to "carry, recarry or deliver letters for hire, other than as before excepted, or to set up or imploy any foot-post, horse-post or pacquet boat whatsoever" for the carrying of letters or pacquets, or providing "horses and furniture for the horses of any through posts, or persons riding post with a guide and horn," should forfeit £100 current money, one-half going to the governor and the other half to the postmaster-general. All letters and pacquets brought by ship or vessel were to be delivered to the postmaster of New York or to his servants, provided "that no letters going up or coming down Hudson's river and going to or from Long Island shall be carried to the post-office, everything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding," this clause, together with that regarding exemption from public service and excise, being amendments by the council to the bill as presented by the house.

The act was in force for three years,[30] and in 1695 (July 2d and 3d) a bill was passed for continuing the act three years longer, "every article,[31] rule and clause therein mentioned to remain in full force and effect."

[30] _Journal of Legislative Council_, I., pp. 79, 80.

In 1699 (May 5) the act was again continued,[32] this time for two years, the new bill stating that "the advantage which the inhabitants of this province daily have, the mutual correspondence which they have with their neighboring collonies and plantations and for the promoting of trade and wealth of each other, encourage to the continuance of the same." In 1702[33] the act coming again before the Assembly and Council was continued for four and one-half years from 1700; and in 1705[34] (July 5, 6, 8 and 10, and August 14) it was re-continued for three years from October, 1704.[35]