The act was in force for three years,[30] and in 1695 (July 2d and 3d) a bill was passed for continuing the act three years longer, “every article,[31] rule and clause therein mentioned to remain in full force and effect.” [30] _Journal of Legislative Council_, I., pp. 79, 80. [31] _Journal of the Assembly._ In 1699 (May 5) the act was again continued,[32] this time for two years, the new bill stating that “the advantage which the inhabitants of this province daily have, the mutual correspondence which they have with their neighboring collonies and plantations and for the promoting of trade and wealth of each other, encourage to the continuance of the same.” In 1702[33] the act coming again before the Assembly and Council was continued for four and one-half years from 1700; and in 1705[34] (July 5, 6, 8 and 10, and August 14) it was re-continued for three years from October, 1704.[35] [32] _Journal of the Legislative Council_, I., pp. 136, 137, 138, 143. [33] _Journal Legislative Council_, I., 186, 187, 189. [34] _Journal of the Assembly_, pp. 154, 226, 227, 234. [35] _Journal of the Assembly_, pp. 198, 200, 203. Concerning the passage of this act Lord Cornbury wrote to the Lords of Trade that it was absolutely necessary; otherwise the post to Boston and Philadelphia would be lost.[36] [36] _Colonial Documents of N. Y._, IV., pp. 1167-68. At the meeting[37] of the first session of the eleventh Assembly at Fort Anne, August 20, 1708, Governor Cornbury in his opening speech said:[38] “I can’t omit putting you in mind that Act for encouraging a Post Office is expired; that it is of so general Advantage that I hope you will revive it.” The next month (September 3, 7, 10, 13, and 18, 1708) the act was considered and passed. At a meeting of the council in New York,[39] June 21, 1709, one of the members was ordered to go to the assembly and “desire them to provide for and settle a Post from Albany to Westfield for holding a Correspondence Between Boston and Albany for the service of the present Expedition the Province of Massachusetts Bay having already settled a Post from Boston to Westfield;” but action was not taken before 1715. [37] _Journal of the Council_, I., p. 247. [38] _Journal of the Assembly_, 219, 223, 224. [39] _Journal of the Legislative Council_, I., p. 285. The letters of this period throw light upon the condition of the post with regard to regularity and frequency.