In 1837, an act of Parliament was passed, consolidating previous acts for the regulation of postage rates within Great Britain and Ireland, between Great Britain and Ireland, and between the United Kingdom and the colonies and foreign countries. The rates within Great Britain remained the same as those established by the act of 1812, including the additional half penny on letters conveyed by mail coaches in Scotland. In Ireland the rates existing since 1814 still held and between Great Britain and Ireland the rates established by 7 and 8 Geo. IV, c. 21.

The rates for letters between the United Kingdom and foreign countries through France and those conveyed directly between the United Kingdom and France remained the same as had been agreed upon by the Treaty of 1836. Some of the more important of the other rates were as follows:—

To Italy, Sicily, Venetian Lombardy, Malta, the Ionian Islands, Greece, Turkey, the Levant, the Archipelago, Syria, and Egypt through Belgium, Holland, or Germany, 20d. for a single letter. Between the United Kingdom and Portugal, 19d. for a single letter.

Single letter
To or from Gibraltar23d.
To or from Malta, the Ionian Islands, Greece, Syria,
and Egypt		27d.
Between Gibraltar (not having been first conveyed
there from the United Kingdom) and Malta,
the Ionian Islands, Greece, Syria, or Egypt [619]		8d.
Between the United Kingdom and Madeira20d.
Between the United Kingdom and the West Indies, Colombia, and Mexico25d.
Between the United Kingdom and Brazil31d.
Between the United Kingdom and Buenos Ayres29d.
Between the United Kingdom and San Domingo15d.
Between the British West Indies and Colombia or Mexico12d.

Letters between the United Kingdom and Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, and Norway were charged in addition the same postage as if they had been sent from or to London. Letters from and to France paid no additional postage. All letters to and from non-commissioned officers, privates and seamen while in actual service were still carried for one penny each, payable in advance, but letters sent by them from Ceylon, the East Indies, Mauritius, and the Cape were charged an additional 2d. payable by the receiver.[620]

After the transference of the packet boats to the Admiralty in 1837, the Postmaster-General was authorized to charge regular packet rates for the conveyance of letters by such ships as he had contracted with for such conveyance. He might also forward letters by any ships and collect the following rates for each single letter:—

When the letter was posted in the place from which
the ship sailed except when sailing between Great
Britain and Ireland		8d.
If posted anywhere else in the United Kingdom12d.
Between Great Britain and Ireland in addition to inland rates8d.
For a single letter coming into the United Kingdom except from Ceylon, the East Indies, Mauritius, and the Cape in addition to inland rates8d.
For letters from Ceylon, the East Indies, Mauritius, and the Cape in addition to inland rates—
If not exceeding 3 ounces in weight4d.
If exceeding 3 ounces in weight12d. an oz.
For letters delivered to the Post Office to be sent to Ceylon, the East Indies, Mauritius, and the Cape in addition to all inland rates—
If not exceeding 3 ounces in weight 2d.
If exceeding 3 ounces in weight 12d. an oz.
[621]

The end of high postage rates was now at hand. In 1839, the Treasury was empowered to change the rating according to the weight of the letter or package,[622] and they proceeded to do so in the case of letters from one country to another passing through the United Kingdom, between any two colonies, between any South American ports, and between such ports and Madeira and the Canaries.[623] Parliament followed up the good work in 1840 by enacting that in future all letters, packages, etc. should be charged by weight alone, according to the following scheme:—