3rd. That from and after January 1st, 1856, all letters, between places in the United States, must be prepaid either by postage stamps or stamped envelopes. 4th. That the laws relating to the Franking Privilege are not altered. 5th. That the existing rates and regulations in regard to letters to or from Canada, and all foreign countries, remain unchanged. Unpaid letters mailed before April 1st, 1855, will be forwarded and delivered upon payment of the postage, by the person addressed. Postage stamps and stamped envelopes, of the denomination of ten cents, will be prepared and issued speedily, and the Department will use every exertion to supply all post offices with one and and three cent stamps also, as fast as they are required. Absolute prepayment being required on all letters to places within the United States, from and after April 1st, 1855, great care should be used as well in prepaying the proper amount on letters above the weight of half an ounce, as on single letters. Postmasters will post up conspicuously in their respective offices a notice, calling attention to the provisions of the Act requiring prepayment. The provisions in regard to the registration of valuable letters will be carried into effect, and special instructions issued on the subject, as soon as the necessary blanks can be prepared and distributed. (Signed) JAMES CAMPBELL, Postmaster General. _Post Office Department, March 12, 1855._ N. B.--Copy of the Act of March 3d, 1855, on the back. Another circular dated at Washington, Nov. 20th, 1855, also signed by the Postmaster General, after reciting certain regulations which are addressed to and concern only the postmasters themselves, contains the following: "Section 7. The denominations of postage stamps authorized by the Department to be issued, are _one_, _three_, _five_, _ten_ and _twelve_ cents." The one, three and twelve cents of the issue of 1851, remaining in use without apparent change, and the same contract with Messrs. Toppan, Carpenter, Cassilar & Co., of Philadelphia, remaining in force, the following were added to the series: ISSUE OF MAY 5TH, 1855. TEN CENTS. Portrait of Washington, after Stewart, faced three-quarters to the left, on an oval disk with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line between two fine colored lines, the colorless line crossed in parts by small horizontal lines, on a hatched back-ground, bordered by outlined foliations, which form small ovals in the upper corners containing a colorless "X," with "_U. S. Postage_" in colored capitals between them. Thirteen colorless stars on the ground above the oval. "_Ten Cents_" in colorless capitals in a waved line below. Plate impression, 18 by 24 mm., in color, on white paper. 10 cents, green.