"(3) All such letters by, as also those to and from, all members of the legislative power, are to be carried free from postage, provided that such as are not known by their seals have an endorsement as follows:--'These are for the service of the Commonwealth,' signed by the persons themselves or their clerks. "(4) That the sum of £---- be paid by the undertakers of this business every three months. "(5) They shall receive for single letters carried into Ireland, 6d.; into Scotland, 4d.; to all parts above 80 miles from London, 3d.; to all parts less remote, 2d.--with note of the difference between single, double, and triple letters. "(6) That a weekly intercourse may be continued between England and Ireland, they are to maintain one or more packet boats weekly between Milford and Waterford, and between Chester and Dublin. "(7) That besides the several post stages now in use, there is to be a post settled between Dover and Portsmouth, Portsmouth and Salisbury, London and Yarmouth, and Lancaster and Carlisle. "The persons nominated by the undertakers for posts in their several stages, as also all other officers subordinate to them, shall be approved by persons authorized thereto by the Lord-General and the Council of State." On the 29th June 1653, offers were considered by the Posts Committee, under the foregoing specification of conditions, as follows:-- Henry Robinson £8041 0 0 per annum. Ben. Andrewes 9100 0 0 " John Goldsmith 8500 0 0 " Ralph Kendall 1103 12 9 " John Manley (with good security) 8259 19 11-3/4 " Richard Hicks 9120 6 8 " Rich. Hill 8160 0 0 " Two other offers at least had been made; but they do not seem to have been taken into serious account for certain reasons--one being, apparently, that the offerers had prescribed conditions outside the specifications set down. No time was now lost by the Council of State. On the very next day they passed the following resolution:--"John Manley to carry all packets, public and private, inland and foreign, according to the terms agreed on between him and a Committee of Council for that purpose, and to enter on the execution of the said office to-night, and receive the profits thereof, and a warrant to be drawn for that purpose; power given him to stop all mails of letters carried by any person not authorized by him; and his office for postage of letters to be freed from all taxes." The terms agreed upon as to payment were not those in Manley's offer, but £10,000 a year.