quired to pay, out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum or sums of money, to which any person, or the legal representatives of any person, may be entitled, by virtue of the act authorizing repayment for lands erroneously sold by the United States, approved the twelfth day of January, in the year eigh teen hundred and twenty-five, upon such person, or his or her legal representatives, complying with the requisitions of that act.

Approved, February 25, 1825.

AN ACT making appropriation for the purchase of Books and Furniture for the use of the Library of Congress. Be it enacted, &c. That the sum of five thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated out of any unappropriated money in the Treasury, for the purchase of books, under the direction of the joint Library Commit. tee, for the use of the Library of Congress.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sum of three hundred and thirty-nine dollars be, and the same is here. by, appropriated, out of any unappropriated money in the Treasury, for the purchase of furniture for the New Library.

Approved-Feb. 25, 1825.

RESOLUTION directing an inventory of the Furniture in the President's House to be taken.

Resolved, &c. That the Commissioner of the Public Buildings be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to take an inventory of the furniture of the President's House, at such time as may be convenient to the President; and to deliver a copy thereof to the President Elect, and one copy to each House of Congress.

AN ACT concerning Charles D. Brodie.

Approved-March 3, 1825.

Be it enacted, &c. That there be paid to Charles D. Brodie, out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise ap propriated, the sum of one thousand dollars, for his invention and services in stopping a leak in the bottom of the Delaware seventy-four.

Approved-March 3, 1825.

AN ACT to reduce into one the several Acts establishing and regulating the Post Office Department. Be it enacted, &c. That there be established at the seat of the Government of the United States, a General Post Office, under the direction of a Postmaster General. The Postmaster General shall appoint two Assistants, and such Clerks as may be necessary for the performance of the business of his office, and as are authorized by law; and shall procure, and cause to be kept, a Seal for the said Office, which shall be affixed to commissions of Postmasters, and used to authenticate all transcripts and copies which may be required from the Department. He shall establish Post Offices, and appoint Postmasters, at all such places as shall appear to him expedient, on the post roads that are, or may be, established by law. He shall give his Assistants, the Postmasters, and all other per sons whom he shall employ, or who may be employed, in any of the departments of the General Post Office, instructions relative to their duty. He shall provide for the carriage of the mail on all post roads that are, or may be, established by law, and as often as he, having regard to the productiveness thereof, and other circumstances, shall think proper. He may direct the route or road, where there are more than one, between places designated by law for a post road, which route shall be considered the post road. He shall obtain, from the Postmasters, their accounts and vouchers for their receipts and expenditures, once in three months, or oftener, with the balances thereon arising, in favor of the General Post Office. He shall pay all expenses which may arise in conducting the Post Office, and in the conveyance of the mail, and all other necessary expenses arising on the collection of the revenue, and management of the General Post Office. He shall prosecute offences against the Post Office establishment. He shall, once in three months, render, to the Secretary of the Treasury, a quarterly account of all the receipts and expenditures in the said Department, to be adjusted and settled as other public accounts. He shall, also, superintend the business of the Department, in all the duties that are, or may be, assigned to it: Provided, That, in case of the death, resignation, or removal from office, of the Postmaster General, all his duties shall be performed by his senior Assistant, until a successor shall be appointed, and arrive at the General Office, to perform the business.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster General, and all other persons employed in the Geners! Post Office, or in the care, custody, or conveyance of the mail, shall, previous to entering upon the duties assigned to them, or the execution of their trusts, and before they shall be entitled to receive any emolument therefor, respectively take and subscribe the following oath, or affirmation, before some magistrate, and cause a certificate thereof to be filed in the General Post Office: "I, A B, do swear or affirm, (as the case may be,) that I will faithfully perform all the duties required of me, and abstain from every thing forbidden by the laws in relation to the establishment of the Post Office and Post Roads within the United States." Every person who shall be, in any manner, employed in the care, custody, conveyance, or management of the mail, shall be subject to all pains, penalties, and forfeitures, for violating the injunctions, or neglecting the duties, required of him by the laws relating to the establishment of the Post Office and Post Roads, whether such person shall have taken the oath or affirmation, above prescribed, or not.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General, upon the appointment of any Postmaster, to require, and take, of such Postmaster, bond, with good and approved security, in such penalty as he may judge sufficient, conditioned for the faithful discharge of all the duties of such Postmaster, required by law, or which may be required by any instruction, or general rule, for the government of the Department: Provid ed, however, That, if default shall be made by the Postmaster aforesaid, at any time, and the Postmaster General shall fail to institute suit against such Postmaster, and said sureties, for two years from and after such default shall be made, then, and in that case, the said sureties shall not be held liable to the United States, nor shall suit be instituted against them.

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster General shall cause a mail to be carried from the nearest Post Office, on any established post road, to the court house of any county, which is now, or may hereafter be, es

tablished in any of the states or territories of the United States, and which is without a mail; and the road on which such mail shall be transported, shall become a post road, and so continue, until the transportation thereon shall cease. It shall, also, be lawful for the Postmaster General to enter into contracts, for a term not exceeding four years, for extending the line of posts, and to authorize the persons, so contracting, as a compensation for their expenses, to receive, during the continuance of such contracts, at rates not exceeding those for like distances, established by this act, all the postage which shall arise on letters, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and packets, conveyed by any such posts; and the roads, designated in such contracts, shall, during the continuance thereof, be deemed and considered as post roads, within the provision of this act and a duplicate of every such contract shall, within sixty days after the execution thereof, be lodged in the office of the Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States.

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster General be authorized to have the mail carried in any steam boat, or other vessel, which shall be used as a packet, in any of the waters of the United States, on such terms and conditions as shall be considered expedient: Provided, That he does not pay more than three cents for each letter, and more than one half cent for each newspaper, conveyed in such mail.

Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of every master or manager of any steam-boat, which shall pass from one port or place in the United States, where a post office is established, to deliver, within three hours after his arrival, if in the day time, and within two hours after the next sunrise, if the arrival be in the night, all letters and packages addressed to, or destined for, such port or place, to the Postmaster there, for which he shall be entitled to receive, of such Postmaster, two cents for every letter or packet so delivered, unless the same shall be carried or conveyed under a contract with the Postmaster General; and if any master or manager of a steam boat shall fail so to deliver any letter or packet, which shall have been brought by him, or shall have been in his care, or within his power, he shall incur a penalty of thirty dollars for every such failure. And every person employed on board any steam boat, shall deliver every letter, and packet of letters, entrusted to such person, to the master or manager of such steam boat, and before the said vessel shall touch at any other port or place; and, for every failure or neglect so to deliver, a penalty of ten dollars shall be incurred for each letter or packet.

Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That no other than a free white person shall be employed in conveying the mail; and any contractor who shall employ, or permit, any other than a free white person to convey the mail, shall, for every such offence, incur a penalty of twenty dollars."

Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That, whenever it shall be made appear, to the satisfaction of the Postmaster General, that any road established, or which may hereafter be established, as a post road, is obstructed by fences, gates, or bars, or other than those lawfully used on turnpike roads to collect their toll, and not kept in good repair, with proper bridges and ferries, where the same may be necessary, it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to report the same to Congress, with such information as can be obtained, to enable Congress to establish some other road instead of it, in the same main direction.

Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That, if any person shall, knowingly and wilfully, obstruct, or retard, the passage of the mail, or of any driver or carrier, or of any horse or carriage, carrying the same, he shall, upon conviction, for every such offence, pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars; and if any ferryman shall, by wilful negligence, or refusal to transport the mail across any ferry, delay the same, he shall forfeit and pay, for every ten minutes that the same shall be so delayed, a sum not exceeding ten dollars.

Sec. 19. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to give public notice, in one newspaper published at the seat of Government of the United States, and in one or more of the newspapers published in the state, or states, or territory, where the contract is to be performed, for at least twelve weeks before entering into any contract for carrying the mail, that such contract is intended to be made, and the day on which it is to be concluded, describing the places from, and to which such mail is to be conveyed, the time at which it is to be made up, and the day and hour at which it is to be delivered. He shall, moreover, within ninety days after the making of any contract, lodge a duplicate thereof, together with the proposals which he shall have received respecting it, in the office of the Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States: Provided, That no contract shall be entered into for a longer term than four years.

Sec. 11. And be it further enacted, That every Postmaster shall keep an office, in which one or more persons shall attend on every day on which a mail shall arrive, by land or water, as well as on other days, at such hours as the Postmaster General shall direct, for the purpose of performing the duties thereof; and it shall be the duty of the Postmaster, at all reasonable hours, on every day of the week, to deliver, on demand, any letter, paper, or packet, to the person entitled to, or authorized to receive, the same; and all letters brought to any post office half an hour before the time of making up the mail at such office, shall be forwarded therein, except at such post offices where, in the opinion of the Postmaster General, it requires more time for making up the mail, and which he shall accordingly prescribe; but this shall, in no case, exceed one hour.

Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, That no fees or perquisites shall be received by any person employed in the General Post Office, on account of the duties to be performed by virtue of his appointment.

Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That the following rates of postage be charged on all letters and packets, (excepting such as are excepted by law,) conveyed in the mail of the United States, viz: For every letter composed of a single sheet of paper, conveyed not exceeding thirty miles, six cents. Over thirty, and not exceeding eighty, ten cents. Over eighty, and not exceeding one hundred and fifty, twelve and a half cents. Over one hundred and fifty, and not exceeding four hundred, eighteen and three quarters of a cent. Over four hundred, twenty-five

cents.

And for every double letter, or letter composed of two pieces of paper, double those rates; and for every triple letter, or letter composed of three pieces of paper, triple those rates; and for every packet composed of four or more pieces of paper, or one or more other articles, and weighing once ounce avoirdupois, quadruple those rates; and in that proportion for all greater weights: Provided, That no packet of letters, conveyed by the water mails, shall be charged with more than quadruple postage, unless the same shall contain more than four distinct letters. No postmaster shall receive, to be conveyed by the mail, any packet which shall weigh more than three pounds; and the postage marked on any letter or packet, and charged in the post bill which may accompany the same, shall be conclusive evidence in favor of the postmaster who delivers the same, of the lawful postage thereon; unless such letter or packet shall be opened in presence of the postmaster or his clerk. Every four folio pages, or eight quarto pages, or sixteen octavo, or twenty-four duodecimo pages, or pages less than that of a pamphlet size, or magazine, whatever be the size of the paper of which it is formed, shall be considered a sheet; and the surplus

pages of any pamphlet or magazine shall also be considered a sheet; and the journals of the legislatures of the several states, not being bound, shall be liable to the same postage as pamphlets.

Any memorandum which shall be written on a newspaper, or other printed paper, pamphlet, or magazine, and transmitted by mail, shall be charged with letter postage: Provided, The publisher of a newspaper may send a printed or written notice to a subscriber, stating the amount due on his subscription; which notice shall be attached to the margin of the newspaper, and the postmaster who delivers the paper shall charge for such notice the same postage as for a newspaper.

Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster General be, and he is hereby authorized to allow to each postmaster, such commission on the postages by him collected, as shall be adequate to his services and expenses: Provided, That his commission shall not exceed the following several rates on the amount received in one quarter, viz:

On a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars, thirty per cent.

On any sum over and above the first hundred dollars, and not exceeding four hundred dollars, twenty-five per

cent.

On any sum over and above the first four hundred dollars, and not exceeding two thousand four hundred dellars, twenty per cent.

On any sum over and above the first two thousand four hundred dollars, eight per cent.

Except to the Postmasters who may be employed in receiving and despatching foreign mails, whose compensătion may be augmented, not exceeding twenty-five dollars in one quarter; and excepting to the Postmasters at offices where the mail is regularly to arrive between the hours of nine o'clock at night and five o'clock in the morning, whose commission on the first hundred dollars collected in one quarter, may be increased to a sum not exceeding fifty per cent. The Postmaster General may allow to the Postmasters, respectively, a commission of fifty per cent. on the moneys arising from the postage of newspapers, magazines, and pamphlets; and to the Postmasters whose compensation shall not exceed five hundred dollars in one quarter, two cents for every free letter delivered out of the office, excepting such as are for the Postmaster himself; and each Postmaster, who shall be required to keep a register of the arrival and departure of the mails, shall be allowed ten cents for each monthly return which he makes thereof to the General Post Office. The Postmaster General may allow to the Postmaster at New Orleans, at the rate of eight hundred dollars a year, in addition to his ordinary commissions, The Postmaster General is hereby authorized to allow to the Postmaster of the City of Washington, in addition to the allowance made by this act, for postage collected, and for free letters received by him for delivery, a commission of five per cent. on the amount of mails distributed at his office: Provided, nevertheless, That the whole annual emolument of the said Postmaster, including the extra compensation of eight hundred dollars which is hereby allowed him, shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by the forty-first section of this act.

Sec 15 And be it further enacted, That every letter or packet, brought into the United States, or carried from one port therein to another, in any private ship or vessel, shall be charged with six cents, if delivered at the Post Office where the same shall arrive; and if destined to be conveyed by post to any place, with two cents added ta the ordinary rates of postage.

Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, That, if any Postmaster, or other person, authorized by the Postmaster General to receive the postage of letters, shall fraudulently demand or receive any rate of postage, or gratuity, or reward, other than is provided by this act, for the postage of letters, or packets, on conviction thereof, he shall forteit, for every such offence, one hundred dollars.

Sec. 17. And be it further enacted, That no ship or vessel, arriving at any port within the United States where à Post Office is established, shall be permitted to report, make entry, or break bulk, until the master or commander shall have delivered to the Postmaster all letters directed to any person or persons within the United States, or the territories thereof, which, under his care, or within his power, shall be brought in such ship or vessel, except such as are directed to the owner or consignee of the ship or vessel. And it shall be the duty of the Collector er other officer of the port empowered to receive entries of ships or vessels, to require from every master or commander of such ship or vessel, an oath or affirmation, purporting that he has delivered all such letters, except as aforesaid; and if any commander or master of any such ship or vessel shall break bulk before he shall have com plied with the requirements of this act, every such offender shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit, for every such of fence, a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars.

Sec. 18. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster, to whom such letters may be delivered, shall pay the master or commander, or other person delivering the same, except the commanders of foreign packets, two cents for each letter or packet; and shall obtain from the person delivering the same, a certificate, specifying the num ber of letters and packets, with the name of the ship or vessel, and the place from whence she last sailed; winch certificate, together with a receipt for the money, shall be, with his quarterly accounts, transmitted to the Postmaster General, who shall credit him with the amount.

Sec. 19. And be it further enacted, That no stage or other vehicle, which regularly performs trips on a Post Road, or on a road parallel to it, shall convey letters; nor shall any packet, boat, or other vessel, which regularly plies on a water declared to be a Post Road, except such as relate to some part of the cargo. For the violation of this provision, the owner of the carriage, or other vehicle, or vessel, shall incur the penalty of fifty dollars And the person who has charge of such carriage, or other vehicle, or vessel, may be prosecuted under this section, and the property in his charge may be levied on and sold, in satisfaction of the penalty and costs of suit. Provided, That it shall be lawful for any one to send letters by special messenger.

Sec. 20. And be it further enacted, That the Deputy Postmaster, and other agents of the Postmaster General, shall duly account, and answer to him for all way letters which shall come to their hands; and for this purpose, the Post riders, and other carriers of the mail, receiving any way letter or letters, (and it shall be their duty to receive them, if presented more than one mile from a Post Office,) shail deliver the same, together with the postage, if paid, at the first Post Office to which they shall afterwards arrive; where the Postmaster shall duly enter the same, and specify the number and rate or rates, in the post bill, adding to the rate of each way letter, one cent; which shall be paid by the Postmaster to the mail carrier from whom such way letters shall be received.

Sec. 21. And be it further enacted, That, if any person employed in any of the departments of the Post Office establishment, shall unlawfully detain, delay, or open, any letter, packet, bag, or mail of letters, with which he shall be entrusted, or which shall have come to his possession, and which are intended to be conveyed by post; or, if any such person shall secrete, embezzle, or destroy, any letter or packet entrusted to such person as aforesaid, and which shall not contain any security for, or assurance relating to, money, as hereinafter described, every

such offender, being thereof duly convicted, shall, for every sich offence, be fined, not exceeding three hundred dollars, or imprisoned, not exceeding six months, or both, according to the circumstances and aggravation of the offence. And, if any person, employed as aforesaid, shall secrete, embezzle, or destroy, any letter, packet, bag, or mail of letters, with which he or she shall be entrusted, or which shall have come to his or her possession, and are intended to be conveyed by post, containing any bank note, or bank post bill, bill of exchange, warrant of the Treasury of the United States, note of assignment of stock in the funds, letters of attorney for receiving annuities or dividends, or for selling stocks in the funds, or for receiving the interest thereof, or any letter of credit, or note for, or relating to, payment of moneys, or any bond, or warrant, draft, bill, or promissory note, covenant, contract, or agreement whatsover, for, or relating to, the payment of money, or the delivery of any articles of value, or the performance of any act, matter, or thing, or any receipt, release, acquittance, or discharge of, or from, any debt, covenant, or demand, or any part thereof; or any copy of any record of any judgment, or decree, in any court of law or chancery, or any execution which may have issued thereon; or any copy of any other record, or any other article of value, or any writing representing the same; or if any such person, employed as aforesaid, shall steal or take any of the same out of any letter, packet, bag, or mail of letters that shall come to his or her possession, such person shall, on conviction for any such offence, be imprisoned not less than ten years, nor exceeding twenty-one years; and if any person who shall have taken charge of the mails of the United States, shall quit or desert the same before such person delivers it into the Post Office kept at the termination of the route, or some known mail carrier, or agent of the General Post Office, authorized to receive the same, every such person, so offending, shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars for every such offence; and if any such person concerned in carrying the mail of the United States, shall collect, receive, or carry any letter or packet, or shall cause or procure the same to be done, contrary to this act, every such offender shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding fifty dollars.

Sec. 22. And be it further enacted, That, if any person shall rob any carrier of the mail of the United States, or other person entrusted therewith, of such mail, or any part thereof, such offender or offenders shall, on conviction, be imprisoned not less than five years, nor exceeding ten years; and, if convicted a second time of a like of fence, he or they shall suffer death; or if, in effecting such robbery of the mail the first time, the offender shall wound the person having custody thereof, or put his life in jeopardy, by the use of dangerous weapons, such offender or offenders shall suffer death. And if any person shall attempt to rob the mail of the United States, by assaulting the person having custody thereof, shooting at him or his horse or mule, or threatening him with dangerous weapons, and the robbery is not effected, every such offender, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment, not less than two years, nor exceeding ten years. And, if any person shall steal the mail, or shall steal or take from, or out of, any mail, or from or out of any Post Office, any letter or packet; or, if any person shall take the mail, or any letter or packet therefrom, or from any Post Office, whether with or without the consent of the person having custody thereof, and shall open, embezzle, or destroy, any such mail, letter, or packet, the same containing any article of value, or evidence of any debt, due, demand, right, or claim, or any release, receipt, acquittance, or discharge, or any other article, paper, or thing mentioned and described in the twenty first section of this act; or, if any person shall, by fraud or deception, obtain from any person having custody thereof, any mail, letter, or packet, containing any article of value, or evidence thereof, or either of the writings referred to, or next above mentioned, such offender or offenders, on conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned not less than two, nor exceeding ten years. And if any person shall take any letter, or packet, not containing any article of value, or evidence thereof, out of any Post Office, or shall open any letter or packet, which shall have been in a Post Office, or in custody of a mail carrier, before it shall have been delivered to the person to whom it is directed, with a design to obstruct the correspondence, to pry into another's business or secrets; or shall secrete, embezzle, or destroy, any such mail letter, or packet, such offender, upon conviction, shall pay for every such offence, a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, and be imprisoned not exceeding twelve months.

Sec. 23. And be it further enacted, That, if any person shall rip, cut, tear, burn, or otherwise injure, any valise, portmanteau, or other bag, used, or designed to be used, by any person acting under the authority of the Postmaster General, or any person in whom his powers are vested, in a conveyance of any mail, letter, packet, or newspaper, or pamphlet; or shall draw or break any staple, or loosen any part of any lock, chain, or strap, attached to, or belonging to any such valise, portmanteau, or bag, with an intent to rob, or steal any mail, letter, packet, newspaper, or pamphlet, or to render either of the same insecure, every such offender, upon conviction, shall, for every such offence, pay a sum not less than one hundred dollars, nor exceeding five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned, not less than one year, nor exceeding three years, at the discretion of the court before whom such conviction is had.

Sec. 24. And be it further enacted, That every person, who, from and after the passage of this act, shall procure, and advise, or assist, in the doing or perpetration of any of the acts or crimes by this act forbidden, shall be subject to the same penalties and punishments as the persons are subject to, who shall actually do or perpetrate any of the said acts or crimes, according to the provision of this act.

Sec. 25. And be it further enacted, That every person who shall be imprisoned by a judgment of court, under and by virtue of the twenty-first, twenty-second, twenty-third, or twenty-fourth sections of this act, shall be kept at hard labor during the period of such imprisonment.

Sec. 26. And be it further enacted, That the Postmasters shall, respectively, publish, at the expiration of every three months, or oftener, when the Postmaster General shall so direct, in one of the newspapers published at or nearest the place of his residence, for three successive weeks, a list of all the letters remaining in their respective offices, o, instead thereof, shall make out a number of such lists, and cause them to be posted at such public places in their vicinity, as shall appear to them best adapted for the information of the parties concerned; and, at the expiration of the next three months, shall send such of the said letters as then remain on hand, as dead letters, to the General Post Office, where the same shall be opened and inspected; and if any valuable papers or matters of consequence shall be found therein, it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to return such letter to the writer thereof, or cause a descriptive list thereof to be inserted in one of the newspapers published at the place most convenient to the supposed residence of the owner, if within the United States; and such letter, and the contents, shall be preserved, to be delivered to the person to whom the same shall be addressed, upon payment of the postage and expense of publication. And if such letter contain money, the Postmaster General may appropriate it to the use of the Department, keeping an account thereof, and the amount shall be paid by the Depart ment to the rightful claimant so soon as he shall be found.

Sec. 27. And be it further enacted, That letters and packets to and from the following officers of the United

States, shall be received and conveyed by post, free of postage. Each Postmaster, provided each of his letters or packets shall not exceed half an ounce in weight; each member of the Senate, and each member and delegate of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, the Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Representatives, provided each letter or packet, (except documents printed by the order of either House of Congress,) shall not exceed two ounces in weight, and during their actual attendance in any session of Congress, and sixty days before and after such session; and in case of excess of weight, that excess alone shall be paid for; the President of the United States, Vice President, the Secretaries of State, of the Treasury, of War, of the Navy, Attorney General, Postmaster General, and the Assistants Postmaster General, the Comptrollers of the Treasury, Auditors, Register, Treasurer, and Commissioner of the General Land Office, and such individuals who shall have been, or may hereafter be, President of the United States, and each may receive newspapers by post, free of postage: Provided, That Postmasters shall not receive, free of postage, more than one daily newspaper, each, or what is equivalent thereto; nor shall members of the Senate, or of the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the House, or Secretary of the Senate, receive newspapers, free of postage, after their privilege of frank. ing shall cease.

Sec. 28. And be it further enacted, That, if any person shall frank any letter or letters, other than those written by himself, or by his order, on the business of his office, he shall, on conviction thereof, pay a fine of ten dollars, and it shall be the especial duty of Postmasters to prosecute for said offence: Provided, That the Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Navy, and Postmaster General, may frank letters or packets on official business, prepared in any other public office, in the absence of the principal thereof. And if any person, having the right to receive his letters free of postage, shall receive enclosed to him any letter or packet addressed to a person not having that right, it shall be his duty to return the same to the post office, marking thereon the place from whence it came, that it may be charged with postage. And if any person shall coun terfeit the hand writing or frank of any person, or cause the same to be done, in order to avoid the payment of postage, each person, so offending, shall pay for every such offence, five hundred dollars.

Sec. 29. And be it further enacted, That every printer of newspapers may send one paper to each and ev ery other printer of newspapers within the United States, free of postage, un ler such regulations as the Postmaster General shall provide.

Sec. 30. And be it further enacted, That all newspapers conveyed in the mail shall be under cover, open at one end, and charged with a postage of one cent each, for any distance not more than one hundred miles, and one and a half cents for any greater distance: Provided, That the postage of a single newspaper from any one place to another in the same state, shall not exceed one cent, and the Postmaster General shall require those who re ceive newspapers by post, to pay always the amount of one quarter's postage in advance; and should the pub lisher of any newspaper, after being three months previously notified that his paper is not taken out of the office, to which it is sent for delivery, continue to forward such paper in the mail, the postmaster to whose office such paper is sent, may dispose of the same for the postage, unless the publisher shall pay it. If any person employed in any department of the post office, shall improperly detain, delay, embezzle, or destroy any newspaper, or shall permit any other person to do the like, or shall open, or permit any other to open, any inail or packet of newspa pers, not directed to the office where he is employed, such offender shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit a sum, not exceeding fifty dollars, for every such offence. And if any other person shall open any mail or packet of news. papers, or shall embezzle or destroy the same, not being directed to such person, or not being authorized to re ceive or open the same, such offender shall, on conviction thereof, pay a sum not exceeding twenty dollars, for every such offence. And if any person shall take, or steal, any packet, bag, or mail of newspapers, from or out of any post office, or from any person having custody thereof, such person shall, on conviction, be imprisoned, not exceeding three months, for every such offence, to be kept at hard labor during the period of such imprison ment. If any person shall enclose or conceal a letter, or other thing, or any memorandum in writing, in a newr paper, pamphlet, or magazine, or in any package of newspapers, pamphlets, or magazines, or make any writing of memorandum thereon, which he shall have delivered into any post office, or to any person for that purpose, inor der that the same may be carried by post free of letter postage, he shall forfeit the sum of five dollars for every such offence and the letter, newspaper, package, memorandum, or other thing, shall not be delivered to the person to whom it is directed, until the amount of single letter postage is paid for each article of which the pack age is composed. No newspapers shall be received by the Postmasters, to be conveyed by post, unless they are sufficiently dried, and enclosed in proper wrappers, on which, besides the direction, shall be noted the number of papers which are enclosed for subscribers, and the number for printers: Provided, that the number need not be endorsed if the publisher shall agree to furnish the postmaster, at the close of each quarter, a certified statement of the number of papers sent in the mail chargeable with postage.

The Postmaster General, in any contract he may enter into for the conveyance of the mail, may authorize the person with whom such contract is to be made, to carry newspapers, magazines, and pamphlets, other than those conveyed in the mail: Provided, That no preference shall be given to the publisher of one newspaper over that of another, in the same place. When the mode of conveyance, and the size of the mail, will admit of it, such ma gazines and pamphlets as are published periodically, may be transported in the mail, to subscribers, at one and a half cents a sheet, for any distance not exceeding one hundred miles, and two and a half cents for any greater dis tance. And such magazines and pamphlets as are not published periodically, if sent in the mail, shall be charged with a postage of four cents on each sheet, for any distance not exceeding one hundred miles, and six cents for any greater distance.

Sec. 31. And be it further enacted, That, if any Postmaster, or other person authorized to receive the postage of letters and packets, shall neglect or refuse to render his accounts, and pay over to the Postmaster General the bal ance by him due, at the end of every three months, it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to cause a suit to be commenced against the person or persons so neglecting or refusing. That all suits, which shall be hereafter commenced, for the recovery of debts or balances due to the General Post Office, whether they appear by bond or obligations, made in the name of the existing, or any preceding Postmaster General, or otherwise, shall be in stituted in the name of the "Postmaster General of the United States." That certified statements, under the seal of the General Post Office, of the accounts of the several Postmasters and contractors, after the same shall have been examined and adjusted at that office, shall be admitted as evidence in all suits brought by the Postmaster General for the recovery of balances or debts due from Postmasters or contractors; and also, certified copies of the quarterly accounts of Postmasters; or, if lodged in the Treasury, copies, certified by the Register, under the seal of his office, shall be admitted as evidence.