of Letters by such Posts or Post Communications, and for appropriating the Revenue to be derived therefrom. II. [_Where the Postmaster General has actually established posts and his power has not "determined," such colonial acts, etc., shall not take effect until approved by Her Majesty and Privy Council, nor until such time as the assent may be proclaimed in the Colony, or such subsequent time as may be signified._] III. [_After the establishment of Posts by Colonial Legislatures the powers of the Postmaster General shall cease._] IV. [_The Acts of Colonial Legislatures are to apply only to Posts within the limits of the Colony and to rates of postage within such limits._] [4] 12^o & 13^o Vict. Cap. LXVI. Canada lost no time in taking advantage of the above Act, and in the next year (1850) passed the required ordinances for the transfer of its domestic postal system to the control of its own Government. The next chapter will therefore start the Canadian postal history proper. CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY MATTERS The most important of the British North American Colonies in 1850 were Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Though not united politically, they yet had the common bonds of fatherland, of race, of mercantile interest, and the mutual dependence that comes, or should come, from propinquity under these conditions. It is not surprising, therefore, that all three should make provision for assuming control of their domestic postal systems in the same year, nor that they should adopt practically identical ordinances for this purpose, and should make common postal rates for their internal and inter-colonial mail matter. Still less surprising is it when we recall that it was but the breaking up into sections of what had previously been a homogeneous postal system for the whole of British North America, operated under the Imperial Laws as detailed in the last chapter. While the project of turning over local postal systems to the colonies was taking shape in the British Parliament, Canada "took time by the forelock" and made preparations for obtaining its own postage stamps. "In the Journal of May 21, 1849, there is a message to the legislative assembly of Canada relating to the establishing of a general post-office for the Province, when handed over by the Imperial government. A resolution was brought up in the assembly on May 22, 1849, 'That postage stamps for prepayment be allowed and that Colonial stamps be engraved.' This finally passed the assembly on May 25, 1849, and received the assent of the legislative council on the 26th."[5] [5] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, I: 253.