CONTRACT MAIL PACKETS TO AUSTRALIA VIA THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
GENERAL Post Office, May, 1852.—On the evening of the 2nd June next, and on the evening of the 2nd of every alternate month, mails will be made up in London for St. Vincent, (Cape de Verde,) the Cape of Good Hope, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, (Port Philip), Van Dieman's Land and New South Wales, to be conveyed from Plymouth on the following day, by the packets of the Australian Royal Mail Steam Navigation Company, under contract with
her Majesty's government.
All letters and newspapers for the Australian Colonies above mentioned will, hereafter, be forwarded by these packets, unless specially addressed to be otherwise sent.
Letters and newspapers for the Cape of Good Hope will be forwarded by these packets, or by the packets of the General Screw Steam Shipping Company leaving Plymouth on the 15th of each month, according as such letters and papers may be posted in time for either line of packets.
Letters for any of the British Colonies will be liable to a postage of 1s when not exceeding half an ounce in weight—letters of greater weight being charged in proportion according to the scale of weight for charging Inland letters, which postage must be paid in advance. Newspapers will be conveyed free from charge.
Letters for the Cape de Verde will be liable to a postage of 1s 10d when not exceeding half-an-ounce, and newspapers to a postage of two pence each. The postage, whether for letters or newspapers, must be paid in advance.—Those postmasters whose instructions direct them to send their letters for Plymouth by cross post, will of course forward the correspondence intended for these mails in the same manner.