I have 4e.
Alfred Lister. Postmaster General.
Opinion (Vide Paragraph 9)
There is no power to compel the Master of a British vessel to carry a Letter Bag or Letters "on Service" from one Port to another or elsewhere.
Under treaty the only provision rendering it compulsory upon the Master of a British Ship to take and carry Letter Bags is the 6th section of the Consolidation Act "Will IV and 1 Vic c 36" which is limited to Masters of Vessels outward bound from England to Ceylon, the Mauritius, the East Indies, and the Cape of Good Hope!
By Section 25 of the same Act, every person employed by or under the Post Office (which would include Master of a Vessel entrusted with a Letter Bag for conveyance. Reg v. Reason, Dearsly's Crown cases 226) who shall wilfully detain or delay a post-letter shall be guilty of misdemeanor and being convicted thereof shall suffer such punishment by fine or imprisonment or by both as the Court shall deem meet.
I think this last Provision meets ...