Wee have advised with Mr. Hamilton who hath settled and managed this Post under Mr. Neale and is recomended to Us by the Governor of Virginia to be well acquainted with that Country about enlarging the Post through Virginia & Maryland and by his Competation hereunto annexed do find that it will require 1200^{d}. further Charge than w^{t} has already been expended to Establish and bring the whole to perfection there. Upon the whole it appears to Us that as the Establishing this American Post whereby the several Colonys have a regular way of Corresponding with each other is of great advantage to the Trade of his Maj^{tys}. Subjects in those parts so it may in few years bring in a cleare proffit over and above what may be required to defray y^{e} necessary Charges but it is to be apprehended that considering the same is in the hands of a private person the severall Governors will not give that encouragem^{t}. to it they would do if the profit and advantage arrising thereby were to accrew to his Maj^{ty}. All which is humbly submitted to your Lordsps. Consideration. Gen^{l}. Post Office 27th April 1699. R: COTTON THO: FRANKLAND. No. 1 (_e_). To the Right Honble &c^{a}. The humble Memoriall of Tho: Neale Esq^{r}. May it please your Lordsps. Though after Strugling with many difficultys in the first settling the American Post I have now at last at a great Charge made it a regular Post and brought it to such a pass that where settled it supports it self and will in a very few yeares bring in a fair Revenue, Yet since the Postm^{r}. Gen^{l}. in their Report to your Lordsps Conserning y^{e} Post have declared their opinion that it will not receive so due encouragement nor so soon attain to perfection in the hands of a private person for the good of the publick, as it would, were it in the hands of the King; I humbly offer to lay my Pattent of that Post office at his Majestys feet rather then an undertaking so usefull & beneficiall to his Majestys subjects in America and to those that trade thither should want the least advantage for its support and to leave my selfe to his Maj^{tys} Justice and goodness for a Recompence of my risque and disbursments by a yearly Pention or otherwise. And Whereas in y^{e} Memoriall annexed to the Report, the abuses hitherto practiced in Conveying letters to America and the method for preventing them for the future are set forth I humbly beseech yo^{r} Lordsps. y^{t} the said Method if approved of by your Lordps. or such other as your Lordsps. shall think more proper may be put in Execusion for the benefit of the Publick and mine till his Maj^{ty}. shall declare his pleasure conserning the surrender of my Patent. All which is most humbly submitted to yo^{r}. Lordsps. Great Wisdom &c^{a}. by My Lords Your ever obedient THO: NEALE. _April 28, 1699._ No. 1 (_f_).