executors, administrators and assignes, full power and authority to erect, settle and establish within the chief parts of their majesties’ colonies and plantations in America, an office or offices for the receiving and dispatching letters and pacquets, and to receive, send and deliver the same under such rates and sums of money as the planters shall agree to give, and to hold and enjoy the same for the terme of twenty-one years.”

To govern and manage the general post office,[24] Neale appointed (April 4th, 1692) Andrew Hamilton, an Edinburgh merchant, who in 1685 had emigrated to New Jersey, and become special agent of the proprietors.

On the deposition of Andros in 1689, Hamilton embarked for England to consult with the proprietors; on the voyage was taken prisoner by the French, but soon released, and in 1692 was made governor of New Jersey. Hamilton’s application to the colonial legislatures[25] to “ascertain and establish such rates and terms as should tend to quicker maintenance of mutual correspondence among all neighboring colonies and plantations and that trade and commerce might be better preserved,” met with a favorable response from the colonial governments.

He first presented the subject to Governor Fletcher and the New York legislature.[26] The council, meeting at Fort Wm. Henry, October 29, 1692,[27] after reading his proposition, and also a letter from the queen to the governor, urging him to assist Hamilton in settling the office, appointed Colonels Courtlandt and Bayard a committee[28] to deliver the proposition to the house of representatives, and in November (1692) the bill was passed by both houses and signed by the governor. The chief provisions of the bill are as follows:[29] A general letter office was to be “erected and established in some convenient place within the city of New York,” one master of the general office to be appointed from time to time by Hamilton, who with his servant or agent should have the “receiving, taking up, ordering, dispatching, sending post or with speed and delivery of all letters and pacquets whatsoever, which shall from time to time be sent to and from all and every of the adjacent collonies and plantations on the main land and continent of America or any other of their majesties kingdoms and dominions beyond the Seas.” The postmaster was to “prepare and provide horses and furniture unto all through posts and persons riding in post.” Rates for single letters to or from Europe, the West Indies or elsewhere to and from beyond the seas, were 9d., and the same from Boston or Maryland to New York; from Virginia, 12d., and to or from any place not exceeding eighty miles from New York, four pence half penny.

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.”

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]

Concerning the passage of this act Lord Cornbury wrote to the Lords of Trade that it was absolutely necessary; otherwise the post to Boston and Philadelphia would be lost.[36]

At the meeting[37] of the first session of the eleventh Assembly at Fort Anne, August 20, 1708, Governor Cornbury in his opening speech said:[38] “I can’t omit putting you in mind that Act for