Towns > Edinburgh > 1805-1834 - Post Office annual directory > 1825-1826

Postages. 6
Ship Letters. — Letters coming from on board any ship are
chargeable with an additional rate for a single letter of 8d,
Letters conveyed outwards, in sealed bags, are chargeable
with half packet postage, which must be paid when put into
the office.
India Letters to and from the East Indies are regularly
forwarded by ships The postage must be paid here.
The rate outwards is 2d. per package under three ounces ;
if above that weight, one shilling per ounce.
The rate inwards is 4d. per package under three ounces ; if
above that weight, one shilling per ounce.
By the Ship Letter Act it is enacted, that every master of
a vessel, immediately on his arrival in port, shall take the
whole of his letters to the Post-office, under penalty of £200 ;
and the captain must sign a declaration that every letter has
been so delivered, before his vessel can be permitted to report
at the Custom-house.
Vessels to and from Ireland, or Coastwise, are not allowed
to convey letters, under a heavy penalty.
Rates of Postage of Single Letters in Great Britain.
From any Post-office in Scotland, England, or Wales, to
any place not exceeding 15 miles from such office, Os. 4J.
For any distance above 1 5 and not exceeding 20 miles, 5
20
30
50
80 —
120
170
230
And so in proportion, the postage increasing progressively
one penny for a single letter for every like excess of distance
of 100 miles.
Ireland, by way of Holyhead, 3d. Donaghadee, 4d. by
packet-boats, over and above all other rates.
Guernsey and Jersey, 3d. by packet-boats, over and above
all other rates.
All double, treble, and other letters and packets whatever
(except by the penny post) pay in proportion to the respective
rates of single letters ; but no letter or packet to and from
places within the kingdom of Great Britain, together with the
contents thereof, shall be charged more than as a treble letter,
unless the same shall weigh an ounce, when it is to be rated
as four single letters, and so in proportion for every quarter of
an ounce above that weight, reckoning each quarter as a single
letter.
Letters for the penny-post delivery must be under 4 ounce
weight.
Single letters from any seaman in his Majesty's navy, or
from any sergeant, corporal, soldier, &c. in his Majesty's ser-
vice, within any part of his Majesty's dominions, on his own
private concern only, not to be charged more than one penny
each, to be paid when put into the Post-office : — the name of
the writer, his class or description, and the name of the ship,
regiment, &c. must be given by himself ; and the officer ac-
tually having the command must sign his name, and the
name of the ship, regiment, &c. he commands.
Single letters to any seaman or soldier, &c. under the same
restrictions, to pay one penny each, at the office where the let-
ter is put in ; — to specify on the superscription the class of