PREFACE.

The principal object of this little work is the dissemination of information in regard to the Canadian Postal Service. It is published with the kind permission of the Postmaster General, and it is hoped will be useful to the public as well as conducive to the interests of the Post Office.

The short and imperfect sketch of the progress of the post office in Canada, which has been compiled from authentic sources, will be found interesting. It extends over a period of one hundred years, and serves to mark a rapidity of improvement which, in a country purely agricultural, has seldom been surpassed.

As the regulations of the post office are subject to constant change, it is proposed to issue new editions of the Canadian Postal Guide, revised and corrected to the latest date, half-yearly, or yearly, as circumstances may appear to require.

Toronto, January, 1863.


CONTENTS.

Page
A Few Facts about the Post Office in Canada9
Chief Officers of the Department at Quebec15
Post Office Inspectors15
Postal Divisions16
RULES AND REGULATIONS:
Officers17
Post Office17
Office Hours18
Mails18
Rates of Postage on Letters19
Soldiers' and Seamen's Letters20
Rates of Postage on Newspapers21
Periodical Publications24
Book Post25
Printed Papers, Prices Current, Hand Bills, &c.26
Printed Votes and Proceedings of the Imperial Parliament
and Colonial Legislatures27
Parcel Post27
Franking and Free Letters28
Abating and Refunding Postage28
Undelivered and Dead Letters29
Registration30
Postage Stamps30
Money Orders31
General Regulations33
Suggestions to the Public34
Rates of Postage from Canada to British Colonies and Foreign
Countries, by Canadian Ocean Steamers36
Rates of Postage from Canada to British Colonies, &c., by
Cunard Steamers39
Do. do. do. by the United States40