INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAIL GUARDS. 397 



APPENDIX B. 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAIL GUARDS. 



1. The guard is intrusted with the care of the letter bags, 

 and he is to be answerable at his peril for the security, safe 

 conduct, and delivery of them sealed. 



2. He is not to quit or desert the mail or bags of letters, or 

 suffer any loitering or unnecessary stopping at public-houses, or 

 other misspending of time upon the road, or neglect to give 

 information of such misconduct on the part of the coachman ; 

 if he does he will be liable to be taken before a Justice of the 

 Peace, and committed to prison with hard labour for one month ; 

 and he is subject to all other punishments and penalties which 

 the laws (as specified in the several Acts of Parliament relative 

 to the Post Office) have hitherto inflicted upon post riders who 

 have neglected their duty. 



3. If in post towns, he, on any account, collects or delivers 

 letters or packets, or does so upon the road (except in some 

 particular cases, where the superior officers of the district or 

 postmaster are authorised to order it), he will be liable to an 

 information before a Justice of the Peace, and to the payment of 

 \Os. for every letter, agreeable to an Act of Parliament passed 

 in the first year of the reign of his Majesty George III., and will 

 be dismissed the service. 



4. The guard is to behave with civility to passengers, and 

 to assist the coachman on any occasions that are consistent with 

 his situation as protector of the mails, and do not take him out 

 of sight of the place where they are deposited. 



5. He is on no account whatever to give up his station to 



