West Indies.—British, 20, 6. Cuba, 20, 2. Danish, 44, 6. Dutch, 44, 6. French, 44, 6. Spanish-except Cuba-44, 6.

Pamphlets or bound books, not to exceed four ounces in weight, may be forwarded by mail to foreign countries at the rate of four cents per ounce.

INSTRUCTIONS TO POSTMASTERS-TRANSIENT PRINTED MATTER, ETC. Books, not weighing over four pounds, may be sent in the mail pre-paid by postage stamps, at one cent an ounce, any distance in the United States, under three thousand miles; and at two cents an ounce over three thousand miles, provided they are put up without a cover, or wrapper, or in a cover or wrapper open at the ends or sides, so that their character may be determined without removing the wrapper.

Small newspapers and periodicals, published monthly or oftener, and pamphlets containing not more than sixteen octavo pages each, when put up in single packages weighing at least eight ounces, to one address, and prepaid by postage stamps, may be sent to any part of the United States, at onehalf cent an ounce, or fraction of an ounce.

Unsealed circulars, advertisements, business cards, transient newspapers, and every other article of transient printed matter (except books and packages of small publications as above,) not weighing over three ounces, sent in the mail to any part of the United States, are chargeable with one cent postage each, to be prepaid by postage stamps. Where more than one circular is printed on a sheet, or a circular and letter, each must be charged with a single rate. This applies to lottery and other kindred sheets assuming the form and name of newspapers, and the miscellaneous matter in such sheets must also be charged with one rate. A business card on an unsealed envelop of a circular, subjects the entire package to letter postage. Any transient matter, like a circular or handbill, inclosed in or with a periodical or newspaper sent to a subscriber, or to any other person, subjects the whole package to letter postage; and whenever subject to letter postage from being sealed or from any cause whatever, all printed matter, without exception, must be prepaid or excluded from the mail. It is the duty of the postmaster at the mailing office, as well as at the cffice of delivery, carefully to examine all printed matter, in order to see that it is charged with the proper rate of postage and to detect fraud. At offices where postage stamps can not be procured, postmasters are authorized to receive money in pre-payment of postage on transient matter, but they should be careful to keep a supply of stamps on hand.

It is no part of the duty of a postmaster to receive and deliver to subscribers any other newspapers than those which come in the mail, or to put the address on newspapers sent to clubs, or to deliver them from a furnished list; nor should he do either, even through courtesy, unless it may be done without interfering with the legitimate business of his office.

A postmaster, whose compensation for the last preceding fiscal year did not exceed two hundred dollars, can send through the mail, free of postage, all letters written by himself, and receive letters addressed to himself, on his own private business, the weight of each letter not to exceed half an ounce. He cannot receive free nor frank printed matter of a private nature; nor letters addressed to his wife or any other member of his family; nor can he frank letters to editors or publishers containing money in payment of subscription.

But every postmaster, whatever may have been his annual compensation, can send and receive, free, communications, whether written or printed, relating exclusively to the business of his office, or of the Post-Office Depart

ment.

All letters placed on a mail steamboat, on which the mails are in charge of a route agent, should go into the hands of such agent; and on these letters the master of a vessel is not entitled to receive any compensation. None but pre-paid letters should be received on such steamboat, and these should be duly mailed. But should any chance to be unpaid, they should be deposited by the route agent in the post-office at or nearest the point at which they are received, and the postmaster should post up a list of them, with the unpaid letters dropped into his office, adding that they were put on board the steamboat unpaid.

In like manner, when practicable, all letters should be pre-paid which are received by steamboats or other vessels not in the mail service, or carrying the mail with no route agent on board. When pre-paid, the master of the vessel, if under contract to carry the mail, may receive one cent "way," and if not under contract with the Department, two cents each from the postmaster in whose office he deposits them; and they should be delivered to their address without any charge beyond the amount pre-paid. But if unpaid, they should be treated as ship-letters, and are chargeable as such with a postage of six cents if delivered at the office at which the vessel shall arrive, and with two cents in addition to the ordinary rate of postage if destined to be conveyed by post to another place. On all such letters the master of the vessel is entitled to receive two cents each.

Letters inclosed in stamped envelopes may be carried out of the mail, provided such stamps are equal in value and amount to the rates of postage to which such letters would be liable if sent in the mail; and provided, also, that the envelopes are duly sealed, etc.

A letter bearing a stamp cut or separated from a stamped envelop cannot be sent through the mail as a pre-paid letter. Stamps so cut or separated from stamped envelopes lose their legal value. Stamped envelopes, as well as postage stamps on pre-paid letters, should be canceled immediately on the letters being placed in the post-office.-[Amended, see p. 153.

When a letter is delivered, and the postage paid thereon, the postage should not be returned after the letter has been opened, except in cases where the postmaster is satisfied it has been opened by the wrong person through mistake; in which event the letter should be resealed and a memorandum of the mistake made thereon in writing.

To inclose or conceal a letter, or other thing, (except bills and receipts for subscription,) in, or to write or print anything after its publication upon, any newspaper, pamphlet, magazine or other printed matter, is illegal, and subjects such printed matter, and the entire package of which it is a part, to letter postage; and if done in order that the same may be carried by post free of postage, subjects the offender to a fine of five dollars for every such offense; and in such cases, if the person addressed refuse to pay such letter postage, the package should be returned to the postmaster from whose office it came, to prosecute the offender for the penalty. Printed slips or circulars stitched or pasted in with the body of periodicals or magazines with which they have no legitimate connection, are attempts to evade the law; and all such matter which does not form, and was not intended aud originally printed to form, a regular part of the contents of any given number of a periodical or magazine and its cover, must be considered as extraneous matter subjecting the whole copy with which it is thus sought to be incorporated to letter postage. All transient printed matter should be distinctly post-marked and rated at the mailing office.-[Amended, see p. 153.

Any word or communication, whether by printing, writing, marks or signs, upon the cover or wrapper of a newspaper, pamphlet, magazine or other printed matter, other than the name and address of the person to whom it is to be sent, subjects the package to letter postage; and such postage should be, like all other letter postage, pre-paid, or the matter should not be mailed. If,

however, it reaches the office of delivery unpaid, and the party addressed shall refuse to pay letter postage thereon, further proceedings shall be waived, there being no concealment or attempt at fraud, and the package placed with the other refused matter in the office. A pen or pencil mark made for the sole purpose of attracting the eye to a particular article or portion of printed matter, does not subject such matter to letter postage.

Contractors and mail carriers may carry newspapers out of the mails, for sale or distribution among regular subscribers; but when such papers are placed in a post-office for delivery, postage must be charged and collected. Contractors and other persons may also convey books, pamphlets, magazines, and newspapers (not intended for immediate distribution,) done up in packages as merchandise, and addressed to some bona fide agent or dealer.

It is proper to forward a letter when duly requested. When forwarded, no additional postage should be charged, if the letter, contrary to its address, has been missent. If it has been sent according to its address, and then forwarded, it must be charged with additional postage, at the pre-paid rate, according to distance, established by the Act of March 3, 1855.

Publishers of newspapers may, without subjecting them to extra postage, fold within their regular issues a supplement, provided the weight of the whole does not exceed one and a half ounces, within the State where printed, or three ounces when sent out of the State. But in all such cases the added matter must be a genuine supplement or appendage to the newspaper in question, and of the same essential character, conveying intelligence of passing events of general interest.

Money and other valuable matters sent by mail, are at the risk of the

owner.

Payment of postage on newspapers, periodicals and magazines, quarterly or yearly in advance, may be made either at the office of mailing or office of delivery. When made at the mailing office, it is the duty of the postmaster to send to the office of delivery evidence thereof. The receipt of the postmaster of the mailing office is sufficient evidence of payment.

Postmasters, assistants and clerks, regularly employed in post-offices, are exempt from militia duty, and from serving on juries, but not from working on roads, nor from obeying a summons to appear in court as witnesses, or to testify before a grand jury. Justices of the peace, unless excluded by their own State laws, may also serve as postmasters.

Daguerreotypes, when sent in the mail, shall be rated and charged with letter postage by weight.

Postmasters are allowed one cent for the delivery of each free letter, except such as come to themselves, and two mills on each newspaper, (to subscribers) not chargeable with postage. They are not allowed any commission on printed matter made free by the frank of a Member of Congress.

Properly franked mail matter, or mail matter addressed to a person enjoying the franking privilege, is entitled to be carried free in the mail when "forwarded" to the person elsewhere as well as in its transportation simply to the office to which originally addressed.

Postmasters receiving letters referring to business not connected with the Department, but designed to promote private interest, without payment of postage, must return said letters to the parties, sending them under a new envelop, charged with letter postage.

The postmaster who collects the postage on newspapers, periodicals, magazines, etc., quarterly or yearly in advance, is entitled to the commissions on the same, although he may go out of office immediately thereafter, and the paper or periodical be delivered by his successor. He should, however, leave in the office a record of all such payments.

Bona fide subscribers to weekly newspapers can receive the same, free of postage if they reside in the county in which the paper is printed and pub

lished, even if the office to which the paper is sent is without the county, provided it is the office at which they regularly receive their mail matter.

Bills of lading and unsealed letters relating exclusively to the whole or any part of the cargo of a vessel or steamboat, may be sent on such vessel or steamboat outside of the mail, unless they are placed in an envelop with other matter. In the latter case, the whole package is subject to letter postage.

When newspapers or periodicals are not taken out of the office by the persons to whom they are addressed, the postmaster will, under his frank, give immediate notice to the publisher, stating the cause thereof, if known.

Postmasters cannot deliver letters from their respective offices which may be addressed to and deliverable from other offices.

Postage cannot be pre-paid on regular newspapers or periodicals for a less term than one quarter; and in all cases postage must be paid on such matter at the commencement of a quarter.

Under no circumstances can a postmaster open a letter not addressed to himself.

Exchange newspapers and periodicals cannot be remailed without being chargeable with postage.

The same person cannot act as a mail contractor or mail carrier, and as postmaster or clerk in a post-office, at the same time.

A pamphlet is a printed but unbound publication, relating solely to some subject of local, ephemeral, or temporary interest or importance; or, if upon a subject of general interest or importance, called forth, like a lecture or an address, by or for some local event, or as appropriate to some particular occasion. Hence, with the exception of those not containing more than sixteen octavo pages each, for which, under certain conditions, the Act of August 30, 1852, has made special provision, no publication, although folded and unbound, can be permitted to pass in the mail as a "pamphlet " instead of a book," ," unless its scope and subject are such as to bring it fairly within the distinctive definition above given.

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By the Act of March 3, 1855, requiring from and after April 1, 1855, prepayment either by stamps, stamped envelopes, or in money, of all letters not entitled to go free, to places within the United States, the single rate, under three thousand miles, is three cents, and over three thousand miles, ten cents. It does not change the then existing franking privilege, which, by another act is extended to Ex-Vice-Presidents of the United States. By the Act of March 3, 1855, also, the Postmaster-General may require postmasters, from and after January 1, 1856, to "place postage stamps upon all prepaid letters upon which such stamps may not have been placed by the writers." The Postmaster-General requires Postmasters to comply with, and carry into effect, this provision of the law. They will take care, if not already done, to supply themselves with postage-stamps accordingly, by sending orders for them, addressed to the Third Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C.; and until a supply reaches them, will continue to forward all pre-paid letters in the same manner as they have done before January 1, 1856.

On drop-letters, pre-payment is optional.

The Act of March 3, 1855, making no provision for unpaid letters to places within the United States, on the same day or day following any such unpaid letter or letters being put into a post-office, the postmaster thereof will post up conspicuously in his office a list of the same, stating that they are held up for postage. If not attended to, such letters must be returned monthly to the Dead Letter Office. Letters part paid should be dispatched, charged with the additional postage due, at the pre-paid rate, according to distance, established by said Act, except where the omission to pay the correct amount is known to have been intentional, when they shall be treated the same as letters wholly unpaid.

Ship letters, as they cannot be prepaid, and are not supposed to be embraced in the new Act, will continue to be dispatched agreeably to the provisions of the 15th section of the Act of March 3, 1855.

Copyright books, charts, etc., required to be delivered to the Library of Congress or Smithsonian Institution, and which are entitled to pass free in the mail, should be superscribed "Copyright for Congress Library, or Smithsonian Institution," as the case may be.

REGISTRATION OF VALUABLE LETTERS.

Letters alleged to be valuable, posted at one post-office in the United States and deliverable at another such office, shall be registered at the office of mailing, on the application of the person posting the same, and the payment of a registration fee of five cents.

Postmasters are instructed to enter all such letters in a book to be prepared and kept for the purpose, to be called the Receipt Book, (which in small offices will be prepared by stitching together the several sheets of blank receipts furnished by this Department,) containing blank receipts, with a wide margin for a brief duplicate of each, as in bank check books. The postmaster will enter in this margin the number of the receipt, the date of filling it, the name of the person to whom the letter is addressed, and of the place to which it is to be mailed. He will then fill up the receipt to correspond with this marginal entry, separate it from the margin and deliver it to the person who deposited the letter.

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE COMPULSORY PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE ON ALL TRANSIENT PRINTED MATTER.-APPROVED, JAN. 2, 1857.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the provision in the Act approved August thirtieth, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, entitled “An Act to amend the Act entitled 'An Act to reduce and modify the Rates of Postage in the United States and for other purposes,' passed March third, one thousand, eight hundred and fifty-one, permitting transient printed matter to be sent through the mail of the United States without prepayment of postage, be and the same is hereby repealed. And the postage on all such transient matter shall be prepaid by stamps or otherwise, as the PostmasterGeneral may direct.

XIV.-OVERLAND MAILS.

1. GREAT OVERLAND MAIL.

The Great Overland Mail, from Memphis and St. Louis to San Francisco, via Fort Smith near the head of navigation on the Arkansas River; thence in the direction of Preston on the Rio Grande; thence to Fort Fillmore above El Paso on the Rio Grande; thence to Fort Yuma on the Colorado, to Los Angeles, and thence by the Tejon Pass to San Francisco. Semi-weekly; schedule time, twenty-five days. Butterfield & Co., Contractors.

2. CENTRAL OVERLAND MAIL.

The Central Overland, or Salt Lake City Mail, from St. Josephs, Missouri, to Salt Lake; thence through Carson Valley to Placerville. Weekly; leaves St. Josephs and Placerville every Saturday. Schedule time from St. Josephs to Salt Lake, twenty-two days; from Salt Lake to Placerville, sixteen days. Hockaday & Chorpenning, Contractors.