350 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



^^THE SUPREME DELEGATE, 

 'a HAVE ACCORDED AND DECREED. 



<«lst. That so soon as any vessel shall anchor in any port 

 of the state, from whatever place she may proceed, her captain 

 or supercargo shall notify the passengers, that they may de- 

 liver the letters which they may bring, with those in charge 

 of the captain or supercargo, to the captain of the port, or in 

 his absence, to the sub-delegate of marine ; in order that they 

 may be remitted to the general administration of the post office, 

 or to the chief of the department, to which the port appertains, 

 with a list of the letters, signed by the captain of the vessel, 

 and by him who may receive them. 



2nd. If any letters shall contain bills of exchange or other 

 interesting documents, the same shall be noted by whoever re- 

 ceives them, at the bottom of the list mentioned in the pre- 

 vious article, relying on the statement of the captain or super- 

 cargo. 



3d. The captain, supercargo, or passenger, in any vessel, 

 who shall infringe the first article, shall incur the penalty of 

 five hundred hard dollars, for every letter he shall fail to de- 

 liver as therein expressed. 



*'4th. Whoever shall inform of the infraction of the said 

 article, proving that any letter, even of recommendation, has 

 been delivered, shall receive one-half of the fine, and his name 

 shall not be disclosed. 



5th. Travellers by land, who may carry letters from one 

 point to another of the free* territory, are equally obliged to 

 deliver them to the administration of the post office, on arriv- 

 ing at the place of their destination, under the penalty of fifty 

 dollars for every letter they shall fail to deliver into that office. 



" 6th. Loose copies of this decree shall be printed, and the 

 officer charged with its execution shall give one to the captain 

 or supercargo, so soon as he shall arrive in any port, and the 

 guards at the gate shall give them to those coming from be- 

 yond this capital, that nobody may allege ignorance. 



* Meaning, not occupied by the Spanish armies ; this decree having been 

 first promulgated during the revolution. 



