Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 17.djvu/351

 Rh mail shall receive any mail-matter presented to him, if properly prepaid by stamps, and deliver the same for mailing at the next post-office at which he arrives; but no fees shall be allowed him therefor.

Sec. 227. That any person concerned in carrying the mail, who shall collect, receive, or carry any letter or packet, or cause or procure the same to be done, contrary to law, shall, on conviction thereof, for every such offence, forfeit and pay not exceeding fifty dollars.

Sec. 228. That no person shall establish any private express for the conveyance of letters or packets, or in any manner cause or provide for the conveyance of the same by regular trips or at stated periods, over any post-route which is or may be established by law, or from any city, town or place to any other city, town or place between which the mail is regularly carried; and every person so offending, or aiding or assisting therein, shall, for each offence, forfeit and pay one hundred and fifty dollars.

Sec. 229. That the owner of every stage-coach, railway-car, steamboat, or other vehicle or vessel, which shall, with the knowledge of any owner, in whole or in part, or with the knowledge or connivance of the driver, conductor, master or other person having charge of the same, convey any person acting or employed as a private express for the conveyance of letters or packets, and actually in possession of the same for the purpose of conveying them contrary to the spirit, true intent, and meaning of this law, shall, for every such offence, forfeit and pay one hundred and fifty dollars.

Sec. 230. That no person shall transmit by private express or other unlawful means, or deliver to any agent of such unlawful express, or deposit, or cause to be deposited, at any appointed place, for the purpose of being transmitted, any letter or packet, and for every such offence the party so offending shall forfeit and pay fifty dollars.

Sec. 231. That no stage-coach, railway-car, steamboat, or other vehicle or vessel which regularly performs trips at stated periods on any post-route, or from any city, town, or place to any other city, town, or place between which the mail is regularly carried, shall carry, otherwise than the mail, any letters or packets, except such as relate to some part of the cargo of such steamboat or other vessel, or to some article carried at the same time by the same stage-coach, railway-car, or other vehicle, except as provided in section two hundred and thirty-nine; and for every such offence the owner of the stage-coach, railway-car, steamboat, or other vehicle or vessel shall forfeit and pay one hundred dollars; and the driver, conductor, master, or other person having charge thereof, and not at the time owner of the whole or any part thereof, shall in like manner forfeit and pay for every such offence fifty dollars.

Sec. 232. That no person shall carry any letter or packet on board any vessel which carries the mail otherwise than in such mail, except as provided in section two hundred and thirty-nine; and for every such offence the party offending shall forfeit and pay fifty dollars.

Sec. 233. That no vessel departing from the United States for any foreign port shall receive on board or convey any letter or packet originating in the United States which has not been regularly received from the post-office at the port of departure, and which does not relate to the cargo of said vessel, except as provided in section two hundred and thirty-nine; and every collector, or other officer of the port empowered to grant clearances shall require from the master of such vessel, as a condition of clearance, an oath or affirmation that he has not received on board, has not under his care or control, and will not receive or convey any letter or packet contrary to the provisions of this section.

Sec. 234. That no vessel arriving within any port or collection-district of the United States shall be allowed to make entry or-break bulk until all letters on board are delivered at the nearest post-office, and the master thereof has signed and sworn to the following declaration, before the collector or other proper customs-officer: