1731: 4 George 2 c.33: Obviating doubts about the Penny Post

1731: 4 George 2 c.33: An act for obviating a doubt which hath arisen concerning the usual allowance made upon the delivery of letters sent by the penny-post to places out of the cities of London and Westminster, and borough of Southwark, and the respective suburbs thereof.

WHEREAS upon the first establishment of the office called the Penny Post Office, the carriage or conveyance of the letters by that post was confined to the cities of London and Westminster, the borough of Southwark, and the respective suburbs thereof; and whereas upon the application of the inhabitants of several towns and places within the compass of ten miles round the city of London, and upon their voluntary offer to allow and pay to the messengers or persons carrying or transmitting such letters, in consideration of their being obliged to travel with an horse to places at that distance, one penny upon the delivery of every letter directed to any person at any place out of the cities of London and Westminster and borough of Southwark, and the respective suburbs thereof over and above the penny paid upon putting every such letter into the penny post office in London, the carriage or conveyance of letters and pacquets by the said post commonly called The Penny Post, was extended ten miles round the city of London, and one penny hath been constantly allowed to and taken by such messengers, on the delivery of every letter directed to any person at any place out of the cities of London and Westminster, the borough of Southwark, and the respective suburbs thereof, over and above the penny paid upon putting such letter into the penny post office in London; and whereas by reason of the provision contained in an act of parliament made in the ninth year of the reign of her late majesty Queen Anne, intituled,  An act for establishing a general post office for all her  Majesty’s dominions, and for settling a weekly sum out of the revenues thereof, for the  service of the war, and other her  Majesty’s occasions, some doubts have lately arisen, whether the messengers or persons carrying or transmitting such letters, could lawfully receive. and take the said allowance of one penny, upon the delivery of every letter, directed or delivered to or for any person, at any place out of the cities of London and Westminster, the borough of Southwark, and the respective suburbs thereof over and above the penny paid upon putting such letter into the penny post office in London; for obviating and taking away all such doubts, be it declared and enacted by the King’s most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal and commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That nothing in the said act of the ninth year of her said late Majesty’s reign shall or ought to be construed to extend to restrain or hinder any such messenger or person carrying or transmitting letters by the said post, commonly called The Penny Post, from demanding or taking for every letter originally sent by the penny post, and not first passing by the general post and from thence transmitted by the penny post, which hath been or shall be delivered to or for any person, at any place out of the cities of London and Westminster, the borough of Southwark, and the respective suburbs thereof, one penny, over and above the penny paid upon putting every such letter into the penny post office, and that no such messenger or other person shall incur, or shall be deemed, adjudged or taken to have incurred, or to incur any penalty or forfeiture whatsoever, for demanding and taking for any such letter so delivered or to be delivered as aforesaid, one penny, over and above the penny paid upon putting such letter into the penny post office, or for detaining or delaying any such letter, until such one penny for any such letter so delivered or to be delivered as aforesaid, was or shall be paid; any thing in the said act, or in any other law or statute to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

Source: Pickering, Statutes At Large, volume 16.