THE Lords of His Majesties Privy council considering, That by a Tack of the Date the fourteenth day of August last by- [...] They did Set to John Blair Post-master-general, therein Designed Apothecary in Edinburgh, his Heirs or Assigneys, the P [...] and Office of General Post-master, and Overseer of all Posts, Horse, and Foot within the Kingdom of Scotland, for the spac [...] seven years, from and after the Term of Martinmass One thousand six hundred eighty-nine years, and have granted Power a [...] Warrant to him to appoint and settle Post-masters, for establishing Horse and Foot Posts, at the several Stages where the [...] may be necessary, for carrying not only of His Majesties Dispatches, Letters and Expresses; But also the Letters and Dispatc [...] of all His Subjects, and others from place to place, for whom he shall be answerable: And that Power is also granted to him and [...] ­foresaids, to Settle and Appoint a General Letter-Office within the Town of Edinburgh, from which all Letters, Pa [...] and Dispatches may be sent with all expeditions, to any place or places within this Kingdom, according to their respective [...] ­rections: And at which Office, all Letters, and their Answers shall likewayes be Received; As also, such other particular [...] ­ter-Office at such sit places as shall seem to him most convenient: And with Power also to him, and such Deputs as should be Nominat by him to pro [...] and furnish Horses for Pacquets, and Post, or Journey-Horses, he and they always exacting such prices a [...]ly, as is set down and contained in the [...] ­ticles of the Roup, for each Horse that shall be furnished by them, and for Transporting the Pacquets and Letters, whereof the Tenor follows; [...] ters from Edinburgh to Drumfreis, Glasgow, Air, Dundee, Kelso, Fedburgh, Perth and Striviling, at two shilling [...] single Letter, and [...] the double, and so proportionally; and the like Rates to Hamilton. 2^o. Betwixt Edinburgh and Carlyle, Port-patrick, Aberdene and Dunkeld [...] ­ling the single Letter, six shilling the double Letter, and so proportionally. 3^o. Betwixt Edinburgh and Kirkcudbright, Inverness, and all other [...] beyond Aberdene, four shilling the single Letter, eight shilling the double-Letter, and so proportionally, 4^o. Item; all by-roads, for bringing L [...] from the several Towns and Villages in the Countrey, to the next adjacent Post-Office, at one shilling per Letter, to the persons who shall be app [...] ­ed to carry the Letters from the Countrey Villages, to the next fixed Post-Office; and where no Posts are settled, that Carriers may have freedom [...] bring Letters. 5^o. All Pacquets at three Ounce Weight, where there are no Letters within, shall pay to such places as the Letters pay, two [...] six shilling each Pacquet; and where the Letters pay three shilling, each Pacquet shall pay nine shilling, And the saids Lords of His Majesties [...] Council, have thereby Prohibited and Discharged, all Persons, Bodies Politick, Magistrats of Burghs, and Incorporations, from erecting, or set [...] Letter-Office, or presuming to act in, or meddle with any Post-Office within this Kingdom, by establishing, or sending any way Posts; Horse, or [...] for carrying or receiving Letters, Pacquets, or Answers, or doing any other thing to the hurt and prejudice of the said Office of Post-master-general, [...] the time foresaid; With Certification the Contraveeners, that they should be summarly Called, and severely punished therefore: And [...] do also thereby Require and Command, all the Sheriffs of Shires, Magistrats of Burghs, and others, to concur with, and assist the-said John Blair, [...] his foresaids, in settling and establishing Posts and Post-Offices, within their respective Jurisdictions; as the said Tack, containing several other C [...] of the Date foresaid, at more length bears, And the saids Lords of Privy Council also Considering, that erecting and establishing of the saids [...] will be of great import to the whole Leidges, and that it is absolutely necessary, that they be Certiorat of their danger, in contraveening the Pre [...] by a publick Proclamation; Therefore the saids Lords of His Majesties Privy Council, Do, in Their Majesties Name and Authority, Require [...] Command, all the Sheriffs of Shires, Magistrats of Burghs, and others to concur with, and assist the said John Blair and his foresaids, in settling [...] establishing Posts and Post-Offices within their respective Jurisdictions, and Prohibite and Discharge all persons, Bodies Politick, Magistrats of Burgh [...] or Incorporations whatsomever, from erecting or settling any Letter Offices, or presuming to act, or meddle with any Post-Offices within this K [...]dom, by establishing, or sending any way Posts, Horse, or Foot, for carrying or receiving Letters, Pacquets, Or Answers, or doing any other thing [...] the hurt or prejudice of the said Offfice of Posts-master-general, during the space foresaid, With Certification to these who shall transgress herein, [...] shall be summarly called, and severely punished therefor, according to the guilt and quality of their Offence; And because it will be a great diversion [...] the Post-master general and his Deputs, from attending upon their Offices, to prosecute and pursue all the Contraveeners before the Council, who [...] the most part may be only mean and inconsiderable persons, Therefore the saids Lords Declare, that it shall be competent to the Post-master-general, [...] pursue the Contraveeners hereof before the saids Lords, or the Magistrats and Judges of the respective Jurisdictions, where any such person Contrave [...] ­ing shall happen to be apprehended, as they shall think most sit and convenient. And they Do hereby grant power and warrant to such Magistrats [...] Judges, before whom any such Contravention shall be pursued, to punish them with all rigor, according to Law, for the same. And the saids Lords [...] His Majesties Privy Council, notwithstanding hereof, Allow and Declare, that it shall be leisum and lawful to all Noblemen and Gentlemen within t [...] Kingdom, to send to, or from this place, or elsewhere, their own Servants with Letters, about their own Affairs and Businesse allanerly: And [...] Declaring, that until the said John Blair and his foresaids, have sit and convenient Letter-Offices and Posts-established for transporting of their Letters and Pacquets, it shall be-leisum and lawful to all His Majesties Leidges, where such Letter-Offices and Posts are not settled, to send their Letters [...] Pacquets as formerly: And also Declaring, that these Presents are, and shall be without prejudice to the Post-masters betwixt Edinburgh and [...] ­wick, who had their Commissions before the decease John Grahame his Gift of the Office of Post-master-general, to brook and enjoy the benefit of t [...] fore­saids Gifts, during the space therein-contained, unprejudged or molested in any sort; And seing it will be highly prejudicial to the interest of His Ma­jesty and the Leidges, if the Horses belonging to the Post-master-general, or his Deputs, (which must on all occasions be in a readinesse for carrying Pacquets and Expresses) should be prest, or taken from them upon any pretext, of occasion whatsoever; Thefefore the saids Lords Do, in [...] and Authority foresaid, strictly Prohibite and Discharge all persons whatsomever, from pressing any Horses belonging to the saids Posts-master-general his Deputs, and keeped at the respective Stages where they are imployed, and made use of, for carrying the Pacquets and Expresses. And Ordains [...] Presents to be Published at the Mercat-Crosse of Edinburgh, and whole other Mercat-Crosses of the Royal Burrows within this Kingdom; and [...] places needful, by Macers of Privy Council, Messengers at Arms, and Sheriffs in that part, that none may pretend ignorance.

God save King William and Queen Mary.