Many failures and irregularities having of late occurred in the mail on the route from New York to the City of Washington, & more especially in the transmission of Newspapers & other printed matter, therefore George Plitt Esqr is constituted Agent of the Dep^t for the purpose of thoroughly investigating the causes thereof, whether existing in the Post Offices or upon the roads. He is directed and fully authorized to examine the mode of doing business in the offices on the route aforesaid and more especially in that at New York, to correct all errors & to make all orders respecting the modes of receiving, distributing, separating, & sending mails whether of letters or newspapers, & for the regulation of the duties of the Post Masters, Assistants & Clerks therein, & of the modes & times of performing the same which he may think proper. Post

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Masters & all others employed in their offices will yield prompt obedience to his commands.

The like duties and powers are prescribed & given to the said Agent respecting the transportation of the mail between New-York & the City of Washington.

It is imperatively required by the Dep^t that the while mail shall be daily and in due time transported from one and of the route aforesaid to the other. It is expected that the Agent will promptly take every step that may conduce to effect this object. And to this end he is invested with plenary powers to give orders to contractors and their Agents who will yield full obedience; and if necessary, to make new arrangements for the carriage of the whole or part of the mail, the cost of which will be paid by the Dep^t upon the draft of the said Agent and charged to the failing contractor.