[53] Copied from the original, also in _Hist. Magazine_, Vol. III., p. 351.
[54] _N. H. Provincial Papers_, Vol. III., p. 18.
The next year (May 21, 1695), a petition from Campbell for encouraging the post office, was answered by a bill settling a salary of £12 for the ensuing year.[55] In 1698[56] (April 7th) another petition from Campbell for continuing the support of the post office was read in the council and sent to the assembly, but returned without their allowing anything. July 2d, 1703, a committee of both houses was appointed to consider the petition of John Campbell, Duncan's successor, and in February (8th), 1703/4, £21 4s. was voted.
[55] _N. H. Provincial Papers_, Vol. III., p. 30.
[56] _N. H. Provincial Papers_, Vol. III., pp. 61, 248, 257, 279.
A year later[57] (May 3d, 1705) the council and General Assembly voted to pay £6 out of the next provincial rate, to Campbell for his "extraordinary Service in forwarding his Excellency's and Government letters for her Majesty's service relating to this province;" again in 1707 (April 8th) he was granted[58] £6 out of the treasury, and in 1708 (May 6th) another £6 for "diligent care of expresses and letters."
[57] _N. H. Provincial Papers_, Vol. III., p. 304.
[58] _N. H. Provincial Papers_, Vol. III., p. 343.
The first entry in the Colonial Records of Rhode Island[59] regarding a post is in 1774.
Connecticut's earliest efforts toward the establishment of a post have already been mentioned in connection with New York and Massachusetts. On May 10th, 1694, the court of election at Hartford passed the following Act for the encouragement of a post office.[60]
[60] _Colonial Records of Connecticut_, Vol. IV., p. 123.
"Whereas their most excelent Ma{ ties} King W{ m} and Queen Mary by their letters pattents have granted a Post Office to be set up in these partes of N. E. for the receiving and disspatching of letters and pacquetts from one place to another for their Ma{ ties} speciall service and the benefit of theire Ma{ ties} good Subjects in these parts. This court being willing to encourage so good a worke, doe order and enact that all such persons as shall be imployed by the Post Master Gen. in the severall stages within this Colony of Connecticut shall and may pass and repasse all and every ferry within this Colony, from the day of the date hereof for and during this courts pleasure, without payeing any rate or sume of money either for his own or horses passage."