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STEAM PACKETS FROM ST THOMAS 1850-1880

Three covers from St Thomas to Lanman & Kemp in New York carried in 1862 & 3 by
“Merlin”, “Delta” & “Alpha” via Bermuda to Halifax, which I don’t fully understand, because of
a lack of back stamps. The third clearly pre-paid the F.W.I. Vi oz. rate of 1/-. Judging by the rate all
three letters were subsequently charged in the States my assumption is that the other two letters were
also prepaid; but this was not shown because they were sent to Halifax under a separate cover. The
first arrived in Halifax on 8th January 1862, was not processed until the 9th and so missed the Cunard
steamer “Canada” ex Liverpool, which arrived on the 8th. There is a forwarding note on the reverse
and a Halifax receiving stamp dated the 9th and my assumption is that it was sent to New York and
charged the 10 cent Treaty rate for over 300 miles between Halifax and New York. According to the
file note the cover was received on the 14lh. The second carried by “Delta” arrived in Halifax on 23rd
May, made the connection with “Asia” on the 25th, arrived at Boston on 27th when the cover was
charged 5 cents and was delivered according to the file note a day later in New York. The third was
put on “Alpha” which arrived in Bermuda on 4th October and Halifax on the 8th. “Africa” had
grounded of Cape Race so HMS Vesuvius took the mails to Boston arriving on the 21st. By then the
cover had been delivered (on the 14th) so again other means were used to take it to New York where
it was charged 10 cents. All ex Pitts.