He first presented the subject to Governor Fletcher and the New York legislature.[26] The council, meeting at Fort Wm. Henry, October 29, 1692,[27] after reading his proposition, and also a letter from the queen to the governor, urging him to assist Hamilton in settling the office, appointed Colonels Courtlandt and Bayard a committee[28] to deliver the proposition to the house of representatives, and in November (1692) the bill was passed by both houses and signed by the governor. The chief provisions of the bill are as follows:[29] A general letter office was to be “erected and established in some convenient place within the city of New York,” one master of the general office to be appointed from time to time by Hamilton, who with his servant or agent should have the “receiving, taking up, ordering, dispatching, sending post or with speed and delivery of all letters and pacquets whatsoever, which shall from time to time be sent to and from all and every of the adjacent collonies and plantations on the main land and continent of America or any other of their majesties kingdoms and dominions beyond the Seas.” The postmaster was to “prepare and provide horses and furniture unto all through posts and persons riding in post.” Rates for single letters to or from Europe, the West Indies or elsewhere to and from beyond the seas, were 9d., and the same from Boston or Maryland to New York; from Virginia, 12d., and to or from any place not exceeding eighty miles from New York, four pence half penny. [26] _Colonial Documents of N. Y._, Vol. IV, p. 200. [27] _Journal of the Legislative Council of New York_, Vol. I, pp. 26, 31, 32, 34. [28] _Journal of the Assembly_, pp. 26, 28. [29] Copied from the original MS. at Albany. All postmasters were freed from excise and all public services, with the exception of the postmaster of the city of New York, who was exempt only from public services. Any persons or “body politick or corporate others than the P. M. Gen. aforesaid” presuming to “carry, recarry or deliver letters for hire, other than as before excepted, or to set up or imploy any foot-post, horse-post or pacquet boat whatsoever” for the carrying of letters or pacquets, or providing “horses and furniture for the horses of any through posts, or persons riding post with a guide and horn,” should forfeit £100 current money, one-half going to the governor and the other half to the postmaster-general. All letters and pacquets brought by ship or vessel were to be delivered to the postmaster of New York or to his servants, provided “that no letters going up or coming down Hudson’s river and going to or from Long Island shall be carried to the post-office, everything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding,” this clause, together with that regarding exemption from public service and excise, being amendments by the council to the bill as presented by the house.