Stampless cover  (No Contents) to Hastings County, Canada West, via Kingston or Montreal exchange office.  Mail delay

via  British Post office contract Packet Steamship Liverpool - to Halifax Nova Scotia

Via Cunard 'Canada' after initially being sent on Cunard 'RMS America' which broke down 2 days into voyage and turned back.  This was a delayed voyage by one week. The mails originally were sent on The America which sailed from Liverpool on Dec 6 1856 and turned back after a mechanical failure off the south west coast of Ireland. The mails were subsequently transferred to the Cunard 'RMS Canada' which sailed for Halifax and Boston re-scheduled from Liverpool on Dec 12.    

Originating Postmark:   GOLDSPIE NO 29 1856     Scotland 

Transit postmark:   LIVERPOOL DE 2 1856   (and also Liverpool port oval L DE 2 ) 

Originating rate:  6 pence sterling in manuscript 6  .  Single weight rate British PO contract Packet rate to Canada via Halifax (Cunard Line) 5 d for UK inland and transatlantic + 1d for Canada inland = 6d. 

British post office accounting mark fee charged to Canada in sterling d5   (the original manuscript rate 6 accurately applied at Goldspie or other was scratched out to avoid confusion)

Ocean Voyage:  Cunard Line Canada sailed from Liverpool on Dec 12 for Halifax Nova Scotia where it arrived on December 23 . At Halifax the closed bag for Kingston Canada West was unloaded where it transferred to overland road and rail via Quebec, Montreal to Belleville. 

Kingston CW or Montreal Canada east marks:  7 1/2 Cy  

 This is the amount due, 7 1/2 pence  from the addressee in Canadian colonial currency 

Canadian destination Postmarks:  Only Belleville Jan 7 1857 shows. The cover was initially addressed to West Huntington, Trenton and was either corrected at Kingston, Montreal or redirected. The missing backflap may have have had other Canadian postmarks such as Kingston, Trenton or West Huntingdon 

CONDITION NOTES:  Backflap missing. Small envelope repair on front at top center. Minor soiling and foxing. The greenish postmark at left front is merely a reverse transfer of backstamping at Goldspie Scotland.   See ebay images both sides and ruled. 

 The condition of the letter should show clearly in the images. Please contact the seller if you have any question about the item's condition or description!