The Post Office in British Guiana. 205 



went to Berbice, and on the same days others went 

 to Essequebo, calling at various points on the route; 

 The postage was 4 cents for the East and West Coasts, 

 8 cents for Mahaicony, Leguan and Wakenaam, and 12 

 cents for Berbice and Essequebo ; newspapers being 

 free. Prepayment was necessary in all cases, to facili- 

 tate which Postage Stamps of the respective values of 

 4, S and 12 cents were being printed, and would be 

 ready for sale on or before the 24th June at the Post 

 Offices in Georgetown, New Amsterdam and at the 

 different receiving offices. 



It is noticeable in this conneflion that Stamp Col- 

 le6tors claim to have a two cent stamp of the same issue, 

 which is so rare as to fetch enormous sums, whenever by 

 chance a specimen appears. This stamp appears to have 

 been issued in accordance with a notice dated February 

 22nd 1 85 1 . By order of the Governor, and upon the request 

 of several of the merchants of Georgetown, it was pro- 

 posed to establish a delivery of letters, twice daily through 

 the principal streets of the city, as far as the Roman 

 Catholic Chapel on the Brick Dam. To pay for this 

 convenience an extra stamp of the value of two cents 

 was to be used, without which the letter would not be 

 delivered, but remain in the Post Office until called for. 

 This delivery was to commence on the ist of March fol- 

 lowing, but as it was discontinued soon afterwards, it is 

 probable that the extra stamp prevented that support 

 jiecessary to pay for the additional Postman. 



While thanking the Governor and Mr. Dalton for 

 establishing a regular Mail along the Coasts, the colo- 

 nists were not very well pleased with the system of 

 charging by distance. A correspondent in the ** Royal 



CC2 



