Sir John Werden, on the 27th of August, 1684, writes " As for setting up Post Houses along the coast from Carolina to Nova Scotia, it seems a very reasonable thing, and you may offer the privilege thereof to any undertakers for ye space of 3 or 5 yeares, by way of farme, reserving w' part of ye profitt you thinke fitt to the Duke (not less y° onetenth)." * The next February he fully determined upon the step, after consultation with Governor Treat, of Connecticut, and on the 2d of March ordered that, for the better correspondence between the colonies of America, a post-ofl5ce be established and that the rate for riding post be per mile three pence; for every single letter not above one hundred miles, three pence ; if more, proportionably. It must be stated however, on the authority of Governor Dongan himself, that at the very time this Government arrangement commenced, this transferring of letters was " practiced in some places by foot and horse messengers."

5 "Valentine's Manual ; " Gen. Entries, iii. 252, Sec. office, Albany. 0 X. y. Col. MSS., vol. iii. p. 349.

THE COLONIAL PERIOD.

The following are noticeable indications of the existence of this mail :

On the ItUh of January, 16S9. the mail having just left the house of Colonel Lewis Morris, in this county, was seized by Leisler's order and returned to New- York and examined.'

The Earl of Bellaraont, writing May 25, 1(598, from New York, says : " the sure way of conveying letters to me is by the way of Boston, whence the post comes every week to this place."