[10] _Mass. Historical Collections_, 3d Series, Vol. VII., p. 49. [11] _Mass. Historical Collections_, 3d Series, Vol. VII., p. 48. In 1677 (June 1), further action was taken, the general court, in response to a petition of sundry merchants of Boston,[12] appointing John Hayward, scrivener, to “take in and convey letters according to the direction;” evidently there was more than one candidate, and one account poetically says of the court’s decision: “It Richard May suggested John Hayward selected.” The same year (October 8, 1674), the general court of Connecticut, meeting at Hartford,[13] gave specific instructions regarding the allowance for post riders; from Rye to Hartford, 12s. for the expenses of the horse, and 20s. for those of the man, with the addition of 8d. from the “midle of October to the last of Aprill,” and the special injunction that “hyred” horses should not be deprived of their allowance. The number of routes mentioned, twenty-four, shows the extent of the effort made at that time. [12] _Mass. Records_, Vol. V., pp. 147, 148. [13] _Colonial Records of Connecticut_, Vol. II., p. 242. The next move came from New York, Gov. Dongan’s proposition of 1684,[14] to which reference has already been made, adding to Lovelace’s scheme of a post between New York and Boston, the suggestion that post houses be established along the coast from Carolina to Nova Scotia. A letter to him from Sir John Werden (August 27, 1684), whose title to the profits from the English post office[15] was held to include the British provinces, approves the project and suggests that the privilege be offered for three or five years by way of form, with a reservation of not less than one-tenth of the profits to the duke. Six months later (February 18, 1684/5), Dongan writes[16] him that he had sent _permission_ to set up a post house but no _power_ to do it, although the neighboring colonies much desired it and in some places had established foot and horse messengers. He adds, “I am going to Connecticut to-morrow, to do all possible to settle a post office to Pemaquid this spring and endeavor settlement of post house at Boston.” [14] Brodhead, Vol. I. [15] _Colonial Documents of N. Y._, Vol. III., pp. 349-350. [16] _Colonial Documents of N. Y._, Vol. III., p. 355. On his return from Connecticut (March 2, 1684/5), the governor ordained in the New York council,[17] “That for the better correspondence between the colonies of America, a post office be established; and that the rates for riding post be per mile three pence; for every single letter, not above one hundred miles, three pence; if more, proportionably.” [17] _Colonial Documents of N. Y._, Vol. III.