was copied from the Germans. In the colonies a postal system was projected as early as 1692, and introduced into Virginia under Sir Edmond Andros. An act, passed shortly after his arrival, in 1693 sets forth a royal patent to Thomas Neale to establish a post in the American colonies for the transportation of letters and packets, "at such rates as the planters should agree to give," or proportionable to the rates of the English post-office. Rates of a postage were accordingly authorized, and the establishment of a post-office in each county. Similar laws being passed in Massachusetts and other colonies,-not, however, without the exhibition of some doubts and jealousy,a colonial post-office system, though of a very limited and imperfect character, was presently established under this patent.' Neale's patent for colonial posts having expired, an act of parliament extended the British post-office system to America. A chief office was established at New York, to which letters were to be conveyed by regular packets across the Atlantic. The same act regulated the rates of postage to be paid in the plantations, exempted the posts from ferriage, and enabled postmasters to recover their dues by summary process. A line of posts was presently established on Neale's old routes, north to the Piscataqua, and south to Philadelphia, irregularly extended, a few years after, to Williamsburg, in Virginia, the post leaving Philadelphia for the south as often as letters enough were lodged to pay the expense. The post-offices was 3,703; the total number of persons employed in the postal service was about 28,000. In 1821, the receipts were 24,000,000 francs ($4,732,000); in 1859, 58,308,000 francs ($11,256,444). The number of letters conveyed by post in France in 1859 was 259,450,000; 90 per cent. of the whole number being prepaid.-American Encyclopædia. 1 Hildreth's History of the United States, ii. 181. postal communication subsequently established with the Carolinas was still more irregular,' but was not organized till 1710. By act of parliament of that year, the postmaster-general of the colonies was "to keep his chief letter office in New York, and other chief offices, at some convenient place or places, in other of her majesty's provinces or colonies in America." The revenue was of course very small. In 1753 Benjamin Franklin was appointed postmaster-general for the colonies, and was guaranteed the sum of £600 per annum for the salary of himself and his assistant.? After Franklin was dismissed from his office of postmaster, by the royal government, one William Goddard seems to have traveled from colony to colony, exerting himself to get up a "constitutional post-office" in opposition to the royal mail, which, by this time was nearly broken down from failure of postages. Finally the Congress of the Confederation established a post-office system of its own, and appointed Franklin postmaster-general. 3 In 1789, the reorganization of the general postoffice was delayed till more complete information could be obtained, the establishment being, meanwhile, continued as it then stood. Franklin, the first continental postmaster-general, had been succeeded in that office by his son-in-law, Richard Bache, and he by Ebenezer Hazard, who still held it. President Wash 1 Hildreth's Hist. of the United States, 262. * Franklin's first astounding innovation was in 1760, when he startled the colonies by proposing to run a stage-wagon, to carry the mail from Philadelphia to Boston, once a week, starting from each city on Monday morning, and reaching its. destination by Saturday night! ' Hildreth's History of the United States, iii. 89. 4 ♦ Id. 2 ser. i. 105. ington appointed Samuel Osgood postmaster-general upon his inauguration in 1789. Upon a bill," says Hildreth,' "for the organization of the post-office system, the same difference of opinion arose which had defeated any organization of that department by the preceding congress. The propriety of vesting in the president, or the postmastergeneral, authority to designate and establish postroads was urged, on the ground of the better knowledge of the subject likely to be possessed by an officer whose whole attention was devoted to it, and free from those local influences to which members of congress might be subjected. But in the act as passed, this authority was reserved to congress. A power, however, by way of compromise, was vested in the postmaster-general, to establish cross post-routes-the contractors undertaking to carry the mail for the postage. The postmaster-general was also authorized to appoint his assistants, and all deputy postmasters; and, after advertising for proposals, to make contracts for carrying the mail by stage-coaches or on horseback, as he might judge convenient; but the whole expenses of the department were to be paid out of the income. The postmaster-general was to settle quarterly with his deputies, and himself as often with the secretary of the treasury. The postage was fixed at rates varying from six cents, for distances of thirty miles or less, to twenty-five cents, for distances of four hundred and fifty miles or over, with like amounts for each inclosure-rates persevered in for more than fifty years, till the danger of private competition led to more moderate charges." Newspapers were to pay one cent each, for every hundred miles or less, and a cent and a half for greater 1 History of the United States, 2 ser. ,485. distances. The franking privilege was given to members of congress, during the session and twenty days afterward; also to the principal executive officers. An attempt was made to strike out this provision, but without success. Robbery of the mail, or embezzlement, by any officer of the post, of letters containing money or valuable papers, was made a capital offense; the opening, obtaining, or destroying other letters was made punishable by a fine of three thousand dollars, and six months' imprisonment. The salary of the postmaster-general was fixed at two thousand dollars, and that office, upon the resignation of Osgood, was conferred on Timothy Pickering. The deputy postmasters were to be paid, as theretofore, by a commission on their receipts; but none were to receive more than eighteen hundred dollars. Though considered, at first, as an inferior office, not entitling the holder to a seat in the cabinet, the extent to which its patronage has reached has since made the station of postmaster-general, in the eyes of politicians at least, one of the most important posts in the government. Perhaps it was a perception of the influence thus to be exerted, that made Jefferson so urgent, with the president, that the general superintendent of the post-office should be annexed to his department, rather than to Hamilton's-a request which he backed with the suggestion that the treasury department possessed already such an influence as to swallow up the whole executive powers, and to threaten to overshadow even the office of president.1 Return J. Meigs, the governor of Ohio, was appointed postmaster-general, in the place of Granger, long distrusted as of the discontented faction, and who now provoked his dismission by giving to Leib, a conspicuous leader of the same 1 Hildreth's History of the United States, 2 ser. clique, the lucrative office of postmaster of Philadelphia."1 The postmaster-general was first made a cabinet officer, under President Jackson. The present postal regulations of the United States provide as follows: 1 Hildreth's History of the United States, 2 ser. "Following is the act of congress approved June 23d, 1874, and sections explanatory thereof: Sec. 5. That on and after the 1st day of January, 1875, on all newspapers and periodical publications mailed from a known office of publication or news-agency, and addressed to regular subscribers or news-agents, postage shall be charged at the following rates: On newspapers and periodical publications, issued weekly and oftener, two cents a pound or fraction thereof; less frequently three cents a pound or fraction thereof: Provided, That nothing in this act shall be held to change or amend section 99 of the act entitled, "An act to revise, consolidate, and amend the statutes relating to the post-office department," approved June 8th, 1872. Sec. 6. That on and after the 1st day of January, 1875, upon the receipt of such newspapers and periodical publications at the office of mailing, they shall be weighed in bulk, and postage paid thereon by a special adhesive stamp, to be devised and furnished by the postmaster-general, which shall be affixed to such matter, or to the sack containing the same, or upon a memorandum of such mailing, or otherwise, as the postmaster-general may, from time to time, provide by reg ulation. Sec. 7. That newspapers, one copy to each actual subscriber residing within the county where the same are printed, in whole or in part, and published, shall go free through the mails; but the same shall not be delivered at letter-carrier offices or distributed by carriers, unless postage is paid thereon as by law provided. Sec. 8. That all mailable matter of the third class, referred to in section 133 of the act entitled "An act to revise, consolidate, and amend the statutes relating to the post-office department," approved June 8th, 1872, may weigh not exceeding four pounds for each package thereof, and postage shall be charged thereon at the rate of one cent for each ounce or fraction thereof; but nothing herein contained shall be held to |