The number of letters to and from Continental Europe in transit through the United Kingdom for the same year was as follows:

The commissions allowed postmasters are as follows, viz.:1. On the postage collected at their respective offices, not exceeding $100 in any one quarter,

But if mails arrive regularly at any office between 9 P. M. and
5 A. M., then

2. On any sum between $100 and $400 in any quarter,
3. On any sum between $400 and $2,400 in any quarter,
4. On any sum over $2,400 in any quarter,

60 per cent.

5. On the amount of letters and packets received for distribution at offices designated by the Postmaster-General for that purpose,

6. Box rents not exceeding $2,000 per annum. The postmasters at New Orleans and Washington have special allowances for extra labor. To postmasters whose pay does not exceed $500 in any quarter, one cent is paid for the delivery of each free letter or document, except for the delivery of such as are for himself.

On postages on letters and packages received at a distributing office for distribution, the postmaster may be allowed 12 per cent. Those postmasters who are required to keep a register of the arrival and departure of the mails, are allowed ten cents for each monthly return made to the Postmaster-General. Two mills are allowed for delivery of each newspaper not chargeable with postage. Additional allowances may be made to the postmasters at distributing and separating offices, to defray actual and necessary expenses, when the commissions, allowances, and emoluments are insufficient.

The term letter postage includes all postages received, except those which arise from newspapers sent from the offices of publication to subscribers, and from pamphlets and magazines.

6. RATES OF POSTAGE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

For a single letter, sent not exceeding 3,000 miles, if prepaid,
If not prepaid,

Sent over 3,000 miles, if prepaid,

If not prepaid,

For such a letter, conveyed wholly or in part by sea to or from a foreign country (except all cases where different rates have been or shall be established by postal arrangements), sent not exceeding 2,500 miles,

Sent over 2,500 miles,

For a double letter there shall be charged double the above rates; for a treble letter, treble the above rates, &c. Every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce (avoirdupois) in weight is a single letter, and every additional weight of half an ounce or of less than half an ounce is charged with an additional single postage. When advertised, one cent additional is charged on each letter. For a letter delivered by a carrier, there is an additional charge of not exceeding one or two cents.

For drop letters (not to be mailed) each,

For all letters or packages (ship letters) conveyed by any vessel not employed in conveying the mail,

To this charge of 2 cents is added 4 cents, when the letters are not transmitted through the mail, but are delivered at the post-office where deposited; and the ordinary rates of United States postage are added when the letter is transmitted through the mails.

Each newspaper, periodical, unsealed circular, or other article of printed matter, not exceeding three ounces in weight, to any part of the United States,

For every additional ounce or fraction of an ounce,

If the postage on any newspaper or periodical is paid quarterly or yearly in advance, at the office where the same is either mailed or delivered, then half the above rates are charged. Newspapers and periodicals not weighing over one and a half ounces, circulated in the State where published, are likewise charged but half of the above rates.

Small newspapers and periodicals, published monthly or oftener, and pamphlets not containing more than sixteen octavo pages each, when sent in single packages, weighing at least eight ounces, to one address, and prepaid by affixing postage stamps thereto, shall be charged only half a cent for each ounce or fraction of an ounce, notwithstanding the postage calculated on each separate article of such package would exceed that amount. The postage on all transient matter, unless prepaid, shall be charged double the first-mentioned rates.

Books, bound or unbound, not weighing over four pounds, shall be deemed mailable matter, and shall pay,

1 cent. 2"

For all distances under 3,000 miles, per ounce, For all distances over 3,000 miles, Fifty per cent. shall be added in all cases when not prepaid. All printed matter chargeable by weight shall be weighed when dry. The publishers of newspapers and periodicals may send to each other from their respective offices of publication, free of postage, one copy of each publication; and may also send to each actual subscriber, inclosed in their publications, bills and receipts for the same, free of postage. The publishers of weekly newspapers may send to each actual subscriber within the county where their papers are printed and published one copy thereof free of postage.

No printed matter shall be sent at the above rates, unless either without any wrapper, or with one open at the ends or sides, so that the character of the matter may be seen without removing the wrapper; or if any written

or printed communication is put on the same after its publication, or upon the cover or wrapper, except the name and address of the person to whom the same is sent; or if any thing else is inclosed in such printed paper. If these conditions are not complied with, letter postage shall be charged.

When any printed matter received during any quarter has been in the post-office for the whole of the succeeding quarter, the postmaster shall sell it, and credit the amount of the sales, as directed by the Post-Office Department.

The establishment of private expresses for the conveyance of any letters, packets, or packages of letters, or other matter transmittible in the United States mail (newspapers, pamphlets, magazines, and periodicals excepted), from one city, town, or place, to any other city, town, or place in the United States, between which the United States mail is regularly transported, is prohibited, but letters, &c. may be carried by carriers in stamped envelopes. Contractors may carry newspapers out of the mails for sale or distribution among subscribers. A penalty of $5,000 is imposed on any person taking letters through or over any part of the United States for the purpose of being sent out of the United States without the payment of postage.

Letters addressed to different persons cannot be inclosed in the same envelope or package, under a penalty of ten dollars, unless addressed to foreign countries.

7. PRIVILEGE OF FRANKING.

1. The President, ex-Presidents, and Mrs. Harrison, have the franking privilege, as regulated by former laws.

2. Members of Congress and Delegates from Territories, from thirty days before the commencement* of each Congress until the meeting of the next Congress, the Vice-President and the Secretary of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, during their official terms, may send and receive free letters or packages not exceeding two ounces in weight, and public documents not exceeding three pounds in weight.

3. The Governors of States may send free the laws, records, and documents of the Legislature to the Governors of other States.

4. The Secretaries of State, Treasury, War, Navy, and the Interior; Attorney-General; Postmaster-General and Assistant Postmasters-General; Comptrollers, Auditors, Register, and Solicitor of the Treasury; Treasurer; Commissioners of the different Offices and Bureaus; Chiefs of Bureaus in the War and Navy Departments, General-in-Chief, and Adjutant-General; and the Superintendent of the Coast Survey and his assistant, may send and receive free all letters and packages upon official business, but not their private letters or papers.

5. The Chief Clerks in the several Departments may send free public and official documents.

6. Deputy postmasters may send free all such letters and packages as relate exclusively to the business of their respective offices; and those whose compensation did not exceed $200 for the year ending the 30th of June, 1846, may also send free, through the mails, letters written by themselves, and receive free all written communications on their own private business, not weighing over one half-ounce, but not transient newspapers, handbills, or circulars.

7. Exchange newspapers between editors pass free.

For other free matter, see Rates of Postage.

Public documents are those printed by the order of either house of Congress, and publications or books procured or purchased by Congress, or either house, for the use of the members.

*The commencement of each Congress for this purpose dates from the 4th of March (i. e. the day next) succeeding the termination of the preceding Congress.

8. RATES OF FOREIGN LETTER AND NEWSPAPER POSTAGE BETWEEN ANY POINTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

Great Britain and Ireland.

Between the United States and Great Britain and Ireland, letters are rated, by weight, as in the United States. Between any office in the United States (Oregon and California excepted) and any office in Great Britain and Ireland, by either the United States or British line, the entire postage is 24 cents the single letter, prepayment optional. Five cents are to be added when to or from California or Oregon. Newspapers 2 cents each, to be prepaid. Payment of any thing less than the entire postage goes for nothing, and such matter will be treated as wholly unpaid.

Other Foreign Countries and Cities.

The places marked (a) are via Southampton; (b) via Southampton and India; (c) via Southampton and Lisbon; (d) via England; (e) by private ship, via England; (f) via Plymouth; (g) via Falmouth; () via France; (i) via Marseilles; (j) by French packet, via Marseilles; (k) by closed mail, via Marseilles; (2) via Trieste.

In the first two columns of this list, the rates named must in every instance be prepaid, and with 5 cents more when the letter is from Oregon or California. The 21 cent rate is the United States inland and Atlantic sea, and the 5 cent rate the United States inland postage only. In the Prussian closed mail (third and sixth columns), the rates set down are the full postage to destination. Newspapers must be prepaid. In the British mail the 4 cent rate is United States and British, and the 2 cent the United States postage only.

In the case of letters to go through France, the French postage is rated by the quarter ounce for the single letter. This is ten cents, except on letters for Egypt, Syria, and Tunis, by French packet, when the single French rate is 20 cents. Therefore, on letters marked "via France," or "via Marseilles," the French rate must be doubled for each quarter of an ounce. The asterisk (*) indicates that prepayment is optional; in all other cases prepayment is required.