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diff --git a/28533-h/28533-h.htm b/28533-h/28533-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dcfc91f --- /dev/null +++ b/28533-h/28533-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7991 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The King's Post by R.C. Tombs, I.S.O.. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bracket3 {font-size: 300%;} + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center; width: auto;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center; width: auto;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + ul {list-style-type: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The King's Post, by R. C. Tombs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The King's Post + +Author: R. C. Tombs + +Release Date: April 7, 2009 [EBook #28533] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE KING'S POST *** + + + + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Jane Hyland, The Philatelic +Digital Library Project at http://www.tpdlp.net and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg i-ii]</a></span></p> + + +<p><a name="Illustration_Frontispiece." id="Illustration_Frontispiece."></a></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-001.jpg" width="100%" alt="Frontispiece. +THE RIGHT HON. LORD STANLEY, K.C.V.O., C.B., M.P. +(Postmaster-General.)" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span style="margin-left: 14em;">[<i>Frontispiece.</i></span><br /><br /> +THE RIGHT HON. LORD STANLEY, K.C.V.O., C.B., M.P.<br /><br /> +<i>(Postmaster-General.)</i></span> +</div> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1><a name="The_Kings_Post" id="The_Kings_Post"></a>The King's Post</h1> + +<p class="center"> +Being a volume of historical facts relating to<br /> +the Posts, Mail Coaches, Coach Roads,<br /> +and Railway Mail Services of and<br /> +connected with the Ancient<br /> +City of Bristol from 1580<br /> +to the present<br /> +time.<br /> +</p> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3>R.C. TOMBS, I.S.O.</h3> + + +<p class="center"><i>Ex-Controller of the London Postal Service, and late +Surveyor-Postmaster of Bristol</i>;<br /> + +Author of "The London Postal Service of To-day"<br /> +"Visitors' Handbook to General Post Office, London"<br /> +"The Bristol Royal Mail."<br /><br /><br /><br /> +</p> + +<p class="center">Bristol</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">W.C. Hemmons, Publisher, St. Stephen Street.</span></p> + +<p class="center">1905<br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="center">2nd Edit., 1906. Entered Stationers' Hall. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv-v]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="center"> +TO<br /> +THE RIGHT HON. LORD STANLEY,<br /> +K.C.V.O., C.B., M.P.,<br /> +HIS MAJESTY'S POSTMASTER-GENERAL,<br /> +THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED<br /> +AS A TESTIMONY OF HIGH<br /> +APPRECIATION OF HIS DEVOTION<br /> +TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE AT<br /> +HOME AND ABROAD,<br /> +BY<br /> +HIS FAITHFUL SERVANT,<br /> +THE AUTHOR.<br /> +</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vi-vii]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>When in 1899 I published the "Bristol Royal +Mail," I scarcely supposed that it would +be practicable to gather further historical facts +of local interest sufficient to admit of the compilation +of a companion book to that work. Such, however, has +been the case, and much additional information has +been procured as regards the Mail Services of the District.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, after all, that is not surprising as +Bristol is a very ancient city, and was once the +second place of importance in the kingdom, with +necessary constant mail communication with +London, the seat of Government.</p> + +<p>I am, therefore, enabled to introduce to notice +"The King's Post," with the hope that it will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span> +prove interesting and find public support equal +to that generously afforded to its forerunner, +which treated of Mail and Post Office topics from +earliest times.</p> + +<p>I have been rendered very material assistance +in my researches by Mr. J.A. Housden, late of +the Savings Bank Department, G.P.O., London; +also by Mr. L.C. Kerans, ex-postmaster of Bath, +and Messrs. S.I. Toleman and G.E. Chambers, +ex-assistant Superintendents of the Bristol Post +Office.</p> + +<p>I have gathered many interesting facts from +"Stage Coach and Mail," by Mr. C.G. Harper, to +whom I express hearty indebtedness; and I am +also under deep obligation to Mr. Edward Bennett, +Editor of the "St. Martin's-le-Grand Magazine," +and the Assistant Editor, Mr. Hatswell, for much +valuable assistance.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 45em;">R.C.T.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>September, 1905</i>.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="toc"> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></td></tr> +<tr> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Earliest Bristol Posts, 1580.—Foot and Running Posts. +—The First Bristol Postmasters: Allen and Teague, 1644-1660.—The Post House.—Earliest Letters, 1662.</span> +</td> +<td align='left'>1</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></td></tr> +<tr> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Post House at the Dolphin Inn, in Dolphin Street, Bristol, 1662.— +Exchange Avenue and Small Street Post Offices, Bristol.</span></td> +<td align='left'>8</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></td></tr> +<tr> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Elizabethan Post to Bristol.—The Queen's Progress, 1574.</span></td> +<td align='left'>16</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></td></tr> +<tr> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Roads.—The Coach.—Mr. John Palmer's Mail Coach Innovations, +1660-1818.</span></td> +<td align='left'>22</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Appreciations of Ralph Allen, John Palmer, and Sir Francis Freeling, Mail +and Coach Administrators.</span></td> +<td align='left'>45</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bristol Mail Coach Announcements, 1802, 1830.—The New General Post +Office, London.</span></td> +<td align='left'>62</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Bristol and Portsmouth Mail from 1772 onwards.—Projected +South Coast Railway from Bristol, 1903.—The Bristol to Salisbury Postboy held up.—Mail Coach Accidents.— +Luke Kent and Richard Griffiths, the Mail Guards.</span></td> +<td align='left'>75</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Bush Tavern, Bristol's Famous Coaching Inn, and John Weeks, its worthy +Boniface, 1775-1819.—The White Lion Coaching House, Bristol, Isaac Niblett.—The White Hart, Bath.</span></td> +<td align='left'>93</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Toll Gates and Gate Keepers.</span></td> +<td align='left'>110</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Daring Robberies of the Bristol Mail by Highwaymen, 1726-1781.—Bill Nash, +Mail Coach Robber, Convict, and Rich Colonist, 1832.—Burglaries at Post Offices in London and Bristol, 1881-1901.</span></td> +<td align='left'>119</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Manchester and Liverpool Mails.—From Coach to Rail.—The Western +Railroad.—Post Office Arbitration Case.</span></td> +<td align='left'>141</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Primitive Post Office.—Fifth Clause Posts.—Mail Cart in a Rhine. +—Effect of Gales on Post and Telegraph Service.</span></td> +<td align='left'>151</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bristol Rejuvenated.—Visit of Prince of Wales in connection with the New Bristol Dock.—Bristol-Jamaican +Mail Service.—American Mails.—Bristol Ship Letter Mails.—The Redland Post Office. +—The Medical Officer.—Bristol Telegraphists in the South African War.—Lord Stanley, K.C.V.O., C.B., M.P. +—Mr. J. Paul Bush, C.M.G.</span></td> +<td align='left'>160</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Small (The Post Office) Street, Bristol: its Ancient History, Influential +Residents, Historic Houses; The Canns; The Early Home of the Elton Family.</span></td> +<td align='left'>175</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Post Office Trunk Telephone System at Bristol.</span></td> +<td align='left'>195</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Post Office Benevolent Society: its Annual Meeting at Bristol.—Post +Office Sports: Terrible Motor Cycle Accident.—Bristol Post Office in Darkness.</span></td> +<td align='left'>199</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Quaint Addresses.—The Dean's Peculiar Signature.—Amusing Incidents +and the Postman's Knock.—Humorous Applications.</span></td> +<td align='left'>223</td> +</tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Postmasters-General (Rt. Hon. A. Morley and the Marquis of Londonderry) +Visit Bristol.—The Postmaster of the House of Commons.—The King's New Postage Stamps.—Coronation +of King Edward VII.—Loyalty of Post Office Staff.—Mrs. Varnam-Coggan's Coronation Poem.</span></td> +<td align='left'>232</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[Pg x-xiii]</a></span><br /><br /></p> + +<div class='blockquot'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="illustrations"> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align="center">TO FACE PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>1. <span class="smcap">The Rt. Hon. Lord Stanley, K.C.V.O., C.B., M.P.</span></td><td align='center'><i><a href="#Illustration_Frontispiece.">Frontispiece.</a></i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. <span class="smcap">The Old Post House in Dolphin Street, Bristol</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_6">7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. <span class="smcap">The Bristol Post Office, 1750-1868</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_8">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. <span class="smcap">The Bristol Post Office as enlarged in 1889</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_14">15</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5. <span class="smcap">A State Coach of the period of King Charles I.</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_22">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6. <span class="smcap">The Bath and Bristol Waggon</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_24">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>7. <span class="smcap">John Palmer at the age of 17</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_26">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>8. <span class="smcap">The Old Letter Woman</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_28">29</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>9. <span class="smcap">The Old General Post Office in Lombard Street, London</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_30">31</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>10. <span class="smcap">Anthony Todd</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_34">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>11. <span class="smcap">John Palmer at the age of 75</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_43">44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>12. <span class="smcap">Medal Struck in honour of Ralph Allen</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_48">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>13. <span class="smcap">Mail Coach Tokens</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_50">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>14. <span class="smcap">Birthplace of Sir Francis Freeling</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_52">53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>15. <span class="smcap">The Old Bristol Post Office in Exchange Avenue</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_59">60</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>16. <span class="smcap">How the Mails were conveyed to Bristol in the days of King George IV.</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_68">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>17. <span class="smcap">The Bristol and London Coach taking up Mails without halting</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_71">72</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>18. <span class="smcap">The General Post Office, London, in 1830</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_73">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>19. <span class="smcap">Mail Coach Guard's Post Horn</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_89">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>20. <span class="smcap">Avon Trimobile Motor Van</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_91">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>21. <span class="smcap"> Mural Tablet to John Weeks</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_94">95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>22. <span class="smcap"> The Old White Lion Coaching Inn, Broad Street, Bristol</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_106">107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>23. <span class="smcap">Mr. Stanley White's Coach</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_107">108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>24. <span class="smcap">Mr. Stanley White's Motor Car</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_107">108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>25. <span class="smcap">Bagstone Turnpike House</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_110">111</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>26. <span class="smcap">Charfield Turnpike House</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_111">112</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>27. <span class="smcap">Wickwar Road Turnpike House</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_113">114</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>28. <span class="smcap">Wotton-under-Edge Turnpike House</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_115">116</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>29. <span class="smcap">St. Michael's Hill Turnpike House</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_116">117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>30. <span class="smcap">Stanton Drew Turnpike House</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_118">119</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>31. <span class="smcap">The White Hart Coaching Inn, Bath</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_131">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>32. <span class="smcap">Old Post Office, Westbury-on-Trym</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_135">136</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>33. <span class="smcap">Primitive Great Western Railway Train</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_142">143</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>34. <span class="smcap">Bristol and Exeter Train, 1844</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_144">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>35. <span class="smcap">Great Western Railway Engine: "La France"</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_147">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>36. <span class="smcap">Horton Thatched Post Office</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_151">152</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>37. <span class="smcap">Early Bristol Post Marks</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_153">154</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>38. <span class="smcap">Sir Alfred Jones, K.C.M.G.</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_159">160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>39. <span class="smcap">The "Port Kingston"</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_160">161</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>40. <span class="smcap">The "Port Royal"</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_161">162</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>41. <span class="smcap">Mr. F.P. Lansdown</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_170">171</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>42. <span class="smcap">Mr. J. Paul Bush, C.M.G.</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_173">174</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>43. <span class="smcap">Elton Mansion</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_176">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>44. <span class="smcap">Sir Abraham Elton</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_183">184</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>45. <span class="smcap">Lady Elton</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_184">185</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>46. <span class="smcap">Gargoyle in Elton Mansion</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_187">188</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>47. <span class="smcap">Ancient Chimney-piece</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_190">191</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>48. <span class="smcap">Edward Colston</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_191">192</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>49. <span class="smcap">Charles II.</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_192">193</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>50. <span class="smcap">King Charles, Flight of</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_193">194</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>51. <span class="smcap">Columbia Stamping Machine</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_197">198</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>52. <span class="smcap">Postmaster of Bristol</span> <i>(The Author)</i></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_210">211</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>53. <span class="smcap">Quaintly Addressed Envelopes</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_223">224</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>54. <span class="smcap">Prudent Man's Fund Receipt Note</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_230">231</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>55. <span class="smcap">Address to the King</span></td><td align='center'><a href="#Page_240">241</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>THE EARLIEST BRISTOL POSTS, 1580.—FOOT AND RUNNING +POSTS.—THE FIRST BRISTOL POSTMASTERS: ALLEN AND +TEAGUE, 1644-1660.—THE POST HOUSE.—EARLIEST +LETTERS, 1662.</p></div> + + +<p>The difficulty in Queen Elizabeth's time of +communicating with persons at a distance +from Bristol before the establishment of a post +office is illustrated by the following item from +the City Chamberlain's accounts:—</p> + +<p>"1580, August. Paid to Savage, the foot post, +to go to Wellington with a letter to the Recorder +touching the holding of the Sessions, and if not +there to go to Wimborne Minster, where he has +a house, where he found him, and returned with +a letter; which post was six days upon that +journey in very foul weather, and I paid him for +his pains 13s. 4d."</p> + +<p>The next record of a person performing postman's +work in Bristol is that of 1615, when the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +City Chamberlain paid a tradesman 12s. "for +cloth to make Packer, the foot post, a coat." In +1616, Packer was sent by the same official to +Brewham to collect rents, and was paid 3s. 8d. +for a journey, out and home, of 60 miles. This +system of a foot post to collect money in King +James the First's reign appears to be an early +application of the somewhat analogous plan, which +of recent years has been under departmental consideration +as "C.O.D.," or collection of business and trade charges +by the postman on delivery of parcels—an exemplification +of there being nothing new under the sun!</p> + +<p>That travelling and the conveyance of letters +was difficult in 1626 is evident from the fact that +nearly £60 was spent in setting up wooden posts +along the highway and causeway at Kingswood, +for the guidance of travellers, the tracks being +then unenclosed, so that the "foot post" must +have had no enviable task on his journeys. In +October, 1637, John Freeman was appointed +"thorough post" at Bristol, and ordered to provide +horses for all men riding post on the King's +affairs of King Charles I: Letters were not to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +detained more than half a quarter of an hour, and +the carriers were to run seven miles an hour in +summer, and five in winter. A Government +"running post" from London to Bristol and +other towns was ordered on July 31st, 1638. +No messengers were thenceforth to run to and +from Bristol except those appointed by Thomas +Withering, but letters were allowed to be sent by +common carriers, or by private messengers passing +between friends. The postage was fixed at twopence +for under 80 miles, and at fourpence for +under 140 miles.</p> + +<p>In 1644 Lord Hopton "commanded" the +grant of the freedom of Bristol to one Richard +Allen, "Postmaster-General." In August, 1643, +Lord Hopton was appointed Lieutenant-Governor +of Bristol, and held that appointment until 1645, +when Fairfax took the city. Probably Allen was +Postmaster-General of Bristol, and his authority +may have extended to other parts of the country +that were held by the King's forces. Prideaux +was appointed Master of the Posts by Parliament, +and his jurisdiction extended as far as the country +was under the control of Parliament, as distinguished +from such parts of England as adhered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +to the King. In 1644, however, very few places—Bristol +was one of them—still adhered to Charles. +At an earlier stage of the civil war special posts +had been arranged for the King's service, and it is +thought Bristol was one of the places to which +these special posts were arranged.</p> + +<p>In the Calendar of State Papers, under the +year 1660, there is a complaint against one "Teig," +an anabaptist Postmaster of Bristol, who broke +open letters directed to the King's friends.</p> + +<p>The complaint against him appears to have +been very seriously considered by the authorities, +and it induced his friends to take up the cudgels +in his behalf as indicated by the following memorials:—</p> + +<p>"To the Hon. John Weaver, Esq.: of the +Council of State: Honoured Sir—Having so fit a +Messenger I would not omit to acquaint you what +a sad state and condition we are fallen into: How +the good old cause is now sunke and a horrid +spirit of Prophaneous Malignity and revenge is +risen up Trampling on all those who have the face +of godlinesse and have been of ye Parliam<sup>t</sup> party +insoemuch that if the Lord doe not interpose I +doubt a Mascare will follow."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sir—I have a request to make in the behalfe +of this Bearer Mr Teage who is an honest faithfull +sober man That you would stead him what you +can about his continuance in the Post Office for +this Citty. I beleive it will be but for a short +continuance for I beleive that few honnest men in +England shall have any place of trust or profit. +The Cavilears Threaten a rooting out all Suddamly +Thus with the tender of my old love and reall +respects to you I take leave and Rest Your most +humble and obliged servant, Ja Powell Bristoll +this 14th April 60."</p> + +<p>"To the Right Hon<sup>ble</sup> the Comittee appointed +by the Councill of State for the Management of +the Poste affaire Whereas John Teage who hath +formerly beene actually in Armes for ye Parliam<sup>t</sup> +and since that being an Inhabitant of this Citty +hath beene Postmaster here for many years last +past He being a person well qualified and capable +for such an imploiment We doe therefore humbly +recomend him to your Hono<sup>rs</sup> to be continued in +his said place And we doubt not of his faithfull +management thereof</p> + +<p> +"Given under our hands at Bristoll this 14th<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>day of Aprill 1660. Edwd. Tyson (?) <i>Mayr.</i><br /> +Henry Gibbes <i>Aldm</i> Robert Yates <i>Aldm</i><br /> +James Parsons Ch (?) Dooney George Lane,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Junior, J. Holwey Nehe Cotting</span><br /> +Andrew Hooke James Powell Richd Baugh<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tho. Deane Robert Hann</span><br /> +James Phelps (?) Abell Kelly."<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Two other names undecipherable.)</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Having regard to the looseness of the spelling +at that period, it is he, no doubt, who is mentioned +later on as the "Mr. Teague" at the Dolphin, to +whose care a Mr. Browne's letter was addressed +in 1671. If Teig or Teague did continue at his +post until 1671 he must have renounced his +Anabaptist opinions and conformed, for no Postmaster +was to remain in the service unless he was +conformable to the discipline of the Church of +England.</p> + +<p>Evans mentions in his Chronological History, +under 1663, a letter addressed: "To Mr. John +Hellier, at his house in Corn Street, in Bristol +Citty," from which it may be inferred that a +postman was then employed for deliveries in the +principal streets.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-002.jpg" width="100%" alt="THE OLD POST-HOUSE IN DOLPHIN STREET, BRISTOL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE OLD POST-HOUSE IN DOLPHIN STREET, BRISTOL.</span> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> +<p>In the Broadmead Chapel Records (1648-1687), +published in 1847, and now in the Baptist College, +there is mention, at page 126, of a letter of Mr. +Robert Browne, "To my much revered brother, +Mr. Terrill, at his house in Bristol. To be left +with Mr. Mitchell, near the Post Office." The +letter was dated Worcester, 15 d. 1 m. 1670-1, +and signed Robert Browne, with this foot-note, +"I am forced to send now by way of London." +A second letter of Mr. Browne, sent in April, 1671, +is mentioned likewise. It is addressed "To my +respected friend Mr. Terrill, at his house in Bristol. +To be left with Mr. Teague at the Dolphin, in +Bristol," and begins "My dear Brother, I hope +you have receeived both mine, that one sent by the +way of London, the other by the trow from +Worcester."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>THE POST HOUSE AT THE DOLPHIN INN, IN DOLPHIN STREET, +BRISTOL, 1662.—EXCHANGE AVENUE AND SMALL STREET +POST OFFICES, BRISTOL.</p></div> + + +<p>That a Bristol Post-house existed early in the +reign of King Charles II. is indicated by a +letter preserved at the Bristol Museum Library, +which was sent in August of 1662 from Oxford, +and is addressed: "This to be left at the Post-house +in Bristol for my honoured landlord, +Thomas Gore, Esquire, living at Barrow in +Somerset. Post paid to London."</p> + +<p>The Dolphin Inn was for several years—even +down to 1700—the Bristol Post-house, and it was +there that the postboys stabled their horses. +The inn long afterwards gave its name to Dolphin +Street, which the street still retains. It is believed +the inn stood near the low buildings with large +gateway, in Dolphin Street, shown in the illustration. +These premises at the time the picture<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +was drawn, in about 1815, had become the stables +of the Bush Inn in Corn Street, long celebrated as +Bristol's most famous coaching inn. The site has, +until quite recently, been used in connection with +the carrying business.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%"> +<img src="images/illus-003.jpg" width="100%" alt="THE BRISTOL POST OFFICE, 1750-1868." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE BRISTOL POST OFFICE, 1750-1868.</span> +</div> + +<p>In 1700 the first actual Post Office was built. +It was erected in All Saints' Lane, and was held +by one Henry Pine, as Postmaster. This Post +Office served the city's purpose until 1742, when +the site was required in connection with the building +of the Exchange, and the Post Office was +transferred to Small Street. In September of +that year (1742), an advertisement describes the +best boarding school for boys in Bristol as being +kept in Small Street by Mr. John Jones, in rooms +"over the Post-house." What kind of building +this was is uncertain, as there is no picture of it +obtainable. Indeed, the first traceable illustration +of a Bristol Post Office is the engraving, a +copy of which is here reproduced, depicting the +building erected in 1750, at the corner of the +Exchange Avenue as it appeared in 1805, when +it was described as "a handsome freestone building, +situated on the west side of the Exchange,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +to which it forms a side wing, projecting some +feet forward in the street; on the east side being +another building answerable thereto." These +premises served as the Post Office for the long +period of 118 years.</p> + +<p>The first half of the present Bristol Post Office +premises in Small Street was occupied by Messrs. +Freeman and Brass and Copper Company.</p> + +<p>As a matter of history, a copy of the abstract +of conveyance may, perhaps, be fittingly introduced. +It sets forth the particulars of the uses +to which the site was originally put before taken +by the Post Office.</p> + +<p>"21st December, 1865.—By Indenture between +the Bristol City Chambers Company, Limited, +(thereinafter called the Company) of the one part, +and the Right Honourable Edward John Lord +Stanley of Alderley, Her Majesty's Postmaster +General for the time being, of the other part</p> + +<p>"It is witnessed that in consideration of £8,000 +paid by the said Postmaster General to the said +Company the said Company did thereby grant +and convey unto Her Majesty's Postmaster +General his successors and assigns<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Firstly All that plot piece or parcel of ground +situate in the Parish of St.-Werburgh in the City +of Bristol on the South West side of and fronting +to Small Street aforesaid specified in the plan +drawn in the margin of the first Skin of abstracting +Indenture said piece of land being therein +distinguished by an edging of red color which +said plot of ground formed the site of a certain +messuage warehouses and buildings recently +pulled down which said premises were in certain +Deeds dated 13th February, 1861, described as +'All that messuage or Warehouse situate on the +South West side of and fronting to Small Street +in the City of Bristol then lately in the occupation +of Messrs. Turpin & Langdon Book Binders but +then void and also all those Warehouses Counting-house +Rooms Yard and Buildings situate lying +and being behind and adjoining to the said last +named messuage or Warehouse and then and for +some time past in the occupation of Messrs. John +Freeman and Copper Company and used by them +for the purposes of their Co-partnership trade and +business.' Secondly, All that plot piece or parcel +of ground adjoining the heredits firstly thereinbefore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +described on the North West side thereof and +also fronting to Small Street aforesaid and +specified on the said plan and therein distinguished +by an edging of blue color which said +plot of ground formed the site of certain premises +also then recently pulled down which said premises +were in certain Deeds dated 13th February 1861 +described as "All that messuage or dwelling-house +formerly in the holding of Thomas Edwards +Linen Draper since that of William Lewis Tailor +afterwards and for many years of John Powell +Rich then of George Smith as Tenants to Messrs. +Bright & Daniel afterwards of Daniel George but +then unoccupied situate and being No. 6 in Small +Street in the Parish of St.-Werburgh in the City +of Bristol between a messuage or tenement +formerly in the possession of Messrs. Harford & +Coy. Iron Merchants but then of the Bristol +Water Works Company on or towards the north +part and a Coach-house yard and premises then +formerly in the occupation of Richard Bright +and Thomas Daniel and then Co-partners trading +under the Firm of the Bristol Copper Company +but then the property of the said James Ford on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +the South part and extending from said Street +called Small Street on the East part backward +to the West unto part of the ground built on by +the said Copper Company the Wall between the +Warehouse and said messuage."</p> + +<p>When, in the year 1867, the plan for this new +Post Office building in Small Street had been +prepared and Treasury authority obtained for +the expenditure of a sum of £8,000 in the erection +of the building, the Inland Revenue Department +asked for accommodation in the structure, and +it was arranged that its staff should be lodged on +the first floor of the new building. The building +itself had, therefore, to be carried to a greater +height than had originally been contemplated. +This alteration cost £3,000. There is still evidence +in the building of the occupation of the Inland +Revenue staff, iron gates and spiked barriers in +the first floor passage to cut off their rooms from +the Post Office section still remaining.</p> + +<p>The authorities of the Post Office accepted +tenders in September, 1887, for the demolition of +certain premises known as "New Buildings" and +for the erection thereon of additional premises<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +for the accommodation of the growing Postal +staff. The work began on the 26th September. +The cost of the new wing was estimated at +£16,000. Beneath the superstructure there were +two tiers of ancient cellars, one below the other, +forming part of the original mediæval mansion +once owned by the Creswick family; and the +removal of these was attended with much +difficulty. The new building was opened for +business on the 4th November, 1889.</p> + +<p>In Parliament. Session 1903. Post Office +(Acquisition of Sites) Power to the Postmaster-General +to acquire Lands, Houses, and Buildings +in Bristol for the service of the Post Office. +Notice is hereby given that application is intended +to be made to Parliament in the next +session for an Act for the following purposes or +some of them (that is to say):—To empower His +Majesty's Postmaster-General (hereinafter called +'the Postmaster-General') to acquire for the +service of the Post Office, by compulsory purchase +or otherwise, the lands, houses, and buildings +hereinafter described, that is to say:—</p> + +<p>"Bristol: (Extension of Head Post Office).<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +Certain lands, houses, offices, buildings and premises +situate in the parish of St. Werburgh, in +the city and county of Bristol, in the county of +Gloucester, and lying on the south-west side of +Small Street, and the east side of St. Leonards +Lane."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-004.jpg" width="100%" alt="[By permission of "The Bristol Observer." + +THE BRISTOL POST OFFICE AS ENLARGED IN 1889." title="" /> +<span class="caption" style="margin-left: 6em;">[<i>By permission of "The Bristol Observer."</i><br /><br /> + +THE BRISTOL POST OFFICE AS ENLARGED IN 1889.</span> +</div> + +<p>Thus commenced a portentous notice which +appeared in a Bristol newspaper, and had reference +to the Bristol Water Works premises being +acquired for the further enlargement of the Post +Office buildings.</p> + +<p>The superficial area of the ground on which the +Bristol Post Office stands is a little over 17,000 +square feet. The new site joins the present Post +Office structure, and has a frontage of 88 feet to +Small Street. Its area is 11,715 superficial feet, +so that the enlargement will be considerable but +by no means excessive, having regard to the +extremely rapid development of the Bristol Post +Office business.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center">ELIZABETHAN POST TO BRISTOL.—THE QUEEN'S PROGRESS, +1574.</p> + + +<p>Particulars are on record respecting a very +early Post from the Court of Queen Elizabeth +to Bristol. At that period it occupied more days +for the Monarch to travel in Sovereign State to +Bristol than it does hours in these days of Great +Western "fliers." It seems that Queen Elizabeth +made a Progress to Bristol in 1574. She travelled +from London by way of Woodstock and Berkeley. +She arrived at Bristol, August 14, 1574, and had +a splendid and elaborate reception:—</p> + +<p>"Before the Queen left Bristol she knighted her +host, John Young, who, in return for the honour +done him, gave her a jewel containing rubies and +diamonds, and ornamented with a Phœnix and +Salamander. She did not get quit of the city +until after she had listened to many weary verses<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +describing the tears and sorrows of the citizens +at her departure, and their earnest prayer for her +prosperity. From Bristol she travelled to Sir +T. Thynne's, at Longleat, and from Longleat +across Salisbury Plain to the Earl of Pembroke's, +at Wilton, where she arrived September 3rd."</p> + +<p>The British Museum records show that in 1580 +Ireland was in rebellion. A Spanish-Italian force +of eight hundred men had been sent, with at +least the connivance of Philip II. of Spain, to +assist the rebels, and the English Government +was compelled to hurry reinforcements and +supplies to Ireland. These reinforcements and +supplies went by way of Bristol, and it was at that +juncture of affairs that a post was established +between London, or Richmond, where the Court +was, and Bristol. This post, if not actually the +first, was certainly one of the earliest posts to +Bristol.</p> + +<p>At a meeting of the Privy Council held September +26, 1580, a warrant was issued "to Robert +Gascoigne for laying of post horses between +London and Bristol, requiring Her Majesty's +officers to be assisting unto him in this service."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +A warrant was also issued "to Sir Thomas +Heneage, Knight, Treasurer of her Majesty's +Chamber, to pay unto Robert Gascoigne the sum +of ten pounds to be employed about the service +of laying post horses between London and +Bristol."</p> + +<p>The duty of laying this post was not entrusted +to the Master of the Posts, Thomas Randolph, +but to Gascoigne, the Postmaster of the Court, +who usually arranged the posts rendered necessary +by Queen Elizabeth's progresses through +her dominions. Gascoigne afterwards furnished +an account of what he had done to carry out the +Order of the Privy Council, and from this document, +which is preserved at the Record Office in +London, it seems that the post travelled from +Richmond, or London, to Hounslow, and thence +to Maidenhead (16 miles), Newbury (21 miles), +Marlborough (16 miles), Chippenham (22 miles), +and thence to Bristol (20 miles). The cost of the +post for a month of 28 days is stated to have been +£14 9s.; but it does not appear if this amount is +in addition to the £10 ordered to be paid to +Gascoigne for laying the post; nor is there any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>thing +to show how often the post travelled, or for +how long it was maintained; Gascoigne describes +it as an "extraordinary" post. At that time +the only ordinary posts were from London to +Berwick, Holyhead, and Dover respectively. It +is, perhaps, as well to add that these posts were +the Queen's posts, and were only intended for the +conveyance of persons travelling on her service +or of packets sent on her business, though other +persons used the posts for travelling and for +sending letters.</p> + +<p>Several complaints were made by Leonard +Dutton and another against Robert Gascoigne, +Postmaster of the Court, in respect of abuses +connected with the posts thus laid down for +Queen Elizabeth's use while on a "Progress." The +complainants charged Gascoigne with neglect of +duty, laying posts to suit his own convenience, +delaying letters, making improper charges, and +stopping something for himself out of money he +should have paid in wages, etc. Among the +papers relating to this affair is a copy of part of +Gascoigne's account, of which the following +is a transcript:—</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">THE OFFICE OF THE POSTE.</p> + +<p>In the office of William Dodington, Esquire, +Auditor of Her Matie. Impreste, in the bill of +accompt for Her Matie poste among other things +is contained the following:</p> + +<p>"Robert Gascoigne's bill for the laying of the +extraordinary post on Her Majesty's Progress.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Bristoll.</span>—Thomas Hoskins and a constable +entered post at Bristol for serving x. days begun +xiij. of August until the xxij. of the same month, +half days included, at ij.s. per diem.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 47em;">"xx.s.</span> +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Mangotsfield.</span>—Philip Alsop and John +Alsop, post at Mangotsfield for serving v. days +begun the xviij. of August and ended the xxij. +of the same month, half days included, at ij.s. +per diem.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 47em;">"x.s.</span> +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Chippenham.</span>—John Barnby and Leonard +Woodland entered post at Chippenham for serving +x. days begun the xviij. August and ended the +xxvij. of the same month, half days included at +ij.s. per diem.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 47em;">"xx.s.</span> +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Marlborough.</span>—Thomas Pike and Anthony +Ditton entered post at Marlborough for serving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +xvij. days begun the xviij. August and ended +the third day of September, half days included +at ij.s. per diem.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 46em;">"xxxiv.s.<br /></span> +<span style="margin-left: 30em;">"Exd. per me <span class="smcap">Barth. Dodington.</span>"<br /></span> +</p> + +<p>As to the Marlborough post, Anthony Ditton +was Mayor of the town, as appears from a certificate +by him (which is with the papers) that he +only received from Gascoigne 15s. for the posts. +Gascoigne claimed to have paid at Marlborough +34s. (see the transcript of his account), and if +Ditton was entitled to half that sum Gascoigne +pocketed 4s. (£19 15s. 4d.). This is the sort of +thing Ditton charged him with doing. To these +charges Gascoigne gave a denial, separately explaining +each charge. His explanation was +accepted, inasmuch as he was continued in office.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>THE ROADS.—THE COACH.—MR. JOHN PALMER'S MAIL +COACH INNOVATIONS, 1660-1818.</p></div> + + +<p>In 1660-1661, James Hicks, Clerk to "The +Roads" in the Letter Office, petitions the +King to be continued in office. He says he sent +the first letter from Nantwich to London in 1637, +and was sent for in 1640 to be Clerk for that +Road (Chester Road). Had settled in 1642 +"Postages between BRISTOL and YORK for +your late father's service."</p> + +<p>In 1661, Henry Bisshopp, farmer of the Post +Office, furnished to the Secretary of State "a +perfect list" of all officers in the Post Office. +According to this list there were eight Clerks of +the Roads, viz.:—Two of the Northern Road, +two of the Chester Road, two of the Eastern +Road, and Two of the Western Road. In 1677, +there were, in addition to these Roads, the Bristol +Road and the Kent Road. As there was a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>Post-House at Bristol in 1661, no doubt the city +was attached to the Western Road.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-005.jpg" width="100%" alt="[From an old print. + +A STATE COACH OF THE PERIOD (17TH CENTURY) WHEN KING CHARLES I. SOJOURNED +AT SMALL STREET, BRISTOL, ON THE SITE OF THE PRESENT POST OFFICE." title="" /> +<span class="caption" style="margin-left: 16em;">[<i>From an old print.</i><br /><br /> + +A STATE COACH OF THE PERIOD (17TH CENTURY) WHEN KING CHARLES I. SOJOURNED +AT SMALL STREET, BRISTOL, ON THE SITE OF THE PRESENT POST OFFICE.</span> +</div> + +<p>There were only six stage-coaches known in +1662. A journey that could not be performed on +horseback was rarely undertaken then by those +who could not afford their own steeds.</p> + +<p>Amongst the State papers in May, 1666, is an +account of the time spent in carrying the mails +on the chief routes throughout the country. +Although the speed fixed by the Government for +the postboys was seven miles an hour in the +summer months, the actual rate attained on the +Bristol, Chester, and York Roads was only four +miles, and was half-a-mile less on the Gloucester +and Plymouth routes. An appended note stated +that a man spent seventeen or eighteen hours in +riding from Winchester to Southampton. In +December, Lord Arlington complained to the +postal authorities that the King's letters from +Bristol and other towns were delayed from ten +to fourteen hours beyond the proper time, and +ordered that the Postmasters should be threatened +with dismissal unless they reformed.</p> + +<p>In 1667 a London and Oxford Coach was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +performing the 54 miles between the two cities +in two days, halting for the intervening night at +Beaconsfield: and in the same year the original +Bath Coach was the subject of this proclamation:</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Flying Machine.</span>"—"All those desirous of +passing from London to Bath, or any other place +on their Road, let them repair to the 'Belle +Sauvage' on Ludgate Hill, in London, and the +'White Lion' at Bath, at both which places +they may be received in a Stage Coach, every +Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, which performs +the whole journey in Three Days (if God permit) +and sets forth at 5 o'clock in the Morning.</p> + +<p>"Passengers to pay One Pound Five Shillings +each, who are allowed to carry fourteen Pounds +Weight—for all above to pay three-halfpence per +Pound."</p> + +<p>It was only after repeated appeals to the +Government that a "Cross Post" was established +between Bristol and Exeter for inland letters +in 1698, thus substituting a journey of under 80 +miles for one of nearly 300, when the letters +were carried through London. In this case, +however, Bristol letters to and from Ireland were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +excluded from the scheme, and they still had to +pass through the Metropolis.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-006.jpg" width="100%" alt="I've nothing to brag on But driving my Waggon." title="" /> +<span class="caption">I've nothing to brag on But driving my Waggon. <i>Temp: Georgius III.</i></span> +</div> + +<p>Even at a later date, when strong representations +were made to the Post Office, Ralph Allen, +of Bath, who had the control of the Western +Mails, refused to allow a direct communication +between Bristol and Ireland, but offered if the +postage from Dublin to London were paid, to +convey the letters to Bristol gratis.</p> + +<p>At this period there were quaint public waggons +on the Bristol Road, as depicted in the illustration.</p> + +<p>The "Pack Horse" at Chippenham, and the +"Old Pack Horse," and the "Pack Horse and +Talbot," at Turnham Green, were, in 1739, halting +places of the numerous Packmen who travelled +on the Bristol and Western Road.</p> + +<p>By 1742 a stage-coach left London at seven +every morning, stayed for dinner at noon in +Uxbridge, arrived at High Wycombe by four in +the afternoon, and rested there all night, proceeding +to Oxford the next day. Men were content +to get to York in six days, and to Exeter in a +fortnight.</p> + +<p>In 1760, in consequence of frequent complaints<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +as to the dilatoriness of the postal service, the +authorities in London announced that letters or +packets would thenceforth be dispatched from the +capital to the chief provincial towns "at any hour +without loss of time," at certain specified rates. +An express to Bristol was to cost £2 3s. 6d.; to +Plymouth, £4 8s. 9d. Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, +Liverpool, were not even mentioned.</p> + +<p>The mail-coach system had its origin in the +West of England, and Bristol and Bath in particular +are associated with all the traditions of the +initiatory stages, so that the details on record in +ancient newspapers of those cities are copious.</p> + +<p>Mr. John Weeks, who entered upon "The +Bush," Bristol, in 1772, after ineffectually urging +the proprietors to quicken their speed, started a +one-day coach to Birmingham himself, and carried +it on against a bitter opposition, charging the +passengers only 10s. 6d. and 8s. 6d. for inside +and outside seats respectively, and giving each one +of them a dinner and a pint of wine at Gloucester +into the bargain. After two years' struggle, his +opponents gave in, and one-day journeys to +Birmingham became the established rule.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-007.jpg" width="100%" alt="[From "Stage Coach and Mail," by permission +of Mr. C.G. Harper. + +JOHN PALMER AT THE AGE OF 17." title="" /> +<span class="caption">[<i>From "Stage Coach and Mail," by permission +of Mr. C.G. Harper.</i><br /><br /> +JOHN PALMER AT THE AGE OF 17.</span> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> +<p>Soon after this period, John Palmer, of Bath, +came on the scene. He had learnt from the +merchants of Bristol what a boon it would be if +they could get their letters conveyed to London +in fourteen or fifteen hours, instead of three days. +John Palmer was lessee and manager of the Bath +and Bristol theatres, and went about beating up +actors, actresses, and companies in postchaises, +and he thought letters should be carried at the +same pace at which it was possible to travel in a +chaise. He devised a scheme, and Pitt, the Prime +Minister of the day, who warmly approved the +idea, decided that the plan should have a trial, +and that the first mail-coach should run between +London and Bristol. On Saturday, July 31, 1784, +an agreement was signed in connection with +Palmer's scheme under which, in consideration of +payment of 3d. a mile, five inn-holders—one +belonging to London, one to Thatcham, one to +Marlborough, and two to Bath—undertook to +provide the horses, and on Monday, August 2, +1784, the first "mail-coach" started.</p> + +<p>The following was the Post Office announcement +respecting the service:—"General Post Office,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +July 24, 1784. His Majesty's Postmaster-General +being inclined to make an experiment for the more +expeditious conveyance of the mails of letters by +stage-coaches, machines, etc., have (<i>sic</i>) been +pleased to order that a trial shall be made upon +the road between London and Bristol, to commence +at each place on Monday, August 2 next, +and that the mails should be made up at this office +every evening (Sundays excepted) at 7 o'clock, +and at Bristol, in return, at 3 in the afternoon +(Saturdays excepted), to contain the bags for the +following post towns and their districts—viz.: +Hounslow—between 9 and 10 at night from +London; between 6 and 7 in the morning from +Bristol. Maidenhead—between 11 and 12 at +night from London; between 4 and 5 in the morning +from Bristol. Reading—about 1 in the +morning from London; between 2 and 3 in the +morning from Bristol. Newbury—about 3 in the +morning from London; between 12 and 1 at +night from Bristol. Hungerford—between 4 and +5 in the morning from London; about 11 at night +from Bristol. Marlborough—about 6 in the morning +from London; between 9 and 10 at night from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +Bristol. Chippenham—between 8 and 9 in the +morning from London; about 7 in the evening +from Bristol. Bath—between 10 and 11 in the +morning from London; between 5 and 6 in the +afternoon from Bristol. Bristol—about 12 at +noon from London.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-008.jpg" width="100%" alt="The Letter Woman. + + +(From an old print.) + +This simple Boy has lost his Penny, +And She without it won't take any; +What can he do in such a plight? +This Letter cannot go to-night. + + +Printed by Carrington Bowles, 69, St. Paul's Churchyard, London." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">The Letter Woman.</span><br /> + + +<span class="caption" style="margin-left: 10em;"><i>(From an old print.)</i></span><br /><br /> + +<span class="smcap">This simple Boy has lost his Penny,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">And She without it won't take any;</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">What can he do in such a plight?</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">This Letter cannot go to-night.</span><br /> +<br /> + +<i>Printed by Carrington Bowles, 69, St. Paul's Churchyard, London.</i></span> +</div> + +<p>"All persons are therefore to take notice that +the letters put into any receiving house in London +before 6 in the evening, or before 7 at this office, +will be forwarded by this new conveyance; all +others for the said post-towns and their districts +put in afterwards, or given to the bell-men, must +remain until the following post, at the same hour +of 7 o'clock. [At this period there were Post +Office bell-women as well as bell-men. See +illustration.]</p> + +<p>"Letters also for Colnbrooke, Windsor, Calne, +and Ramsbury will be forwarded by this conveyance +every day; and for Devizes, Melksham, +Trowbridge, and Bradford on Mondays, Tuesdays, +Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and for +Henley, Nettlebed, Wallingford, Wells, Bridgwater, +Taunton, Wellington, Tiverton, Frome, +and Warminster, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and +Fridays.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Letters from all the before-mentioned post-towns +and their districts will be sorted and +delivered as soon as possible after their arrival +in London, and are not to wait for the general +delivery.</p> + +<p>"All carriers, coachmen, higglers, news carriers, +and all other persons are liable to a penalty of £5 +for every letter which they shall receive, take up, +order, dispatch, carry, or deliver illegally; and to +£100 for every week that any offender shall +continue the practice—one-half to the informer. +And that this revenue may not be injured by +unlawful collections and conveyances, all persons +acting contrary to the law therein will be proceeded +against, and punished with the utmost severity.</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 30em;">"By command of the Postmaster-General,</span></p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap" style="margin-left: 40em;">"Anthony Todd</span>, Sec."<br /> +</p> + +<p>The <i>Bath Chronicle</i> versions were as follows, +viz.:—"July 29, 1784. On Monday next the +experiment for the more expeditious conveyance +of the mails will be made on the road from London +to Bath and Bristol. Letters are to be put in the +London office every evening before 8 o'clock, and +to arrive next morning in Bath before 10 o'clock,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +and in Bristol by 12 o'clock. The letters for +London, or for any place between or beyond, to +be put into the Bath Post Office every evening +before 5 o'clock, and into the Bristol office before +3 o'clock in the afternoon, and they will be +delivered in London the next day."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-009.jpg" width="100%" alt="[By permission of Kelly's Directories, Lim. + +THE OLD GENERAL POST OFFICE IN LOMBARD STREET, +LONDON." title="" /> +<span class="caption" style="margin-left: 4em;">[<i>By permission of Kelly's Directories, Lim.</i><br /><br /> + +THE OLD GENERAL POST OFFICE IN LOMBARD STREET, +LONDON.</span> +</div> + +<p>The public were also informed that the mail diligence +would commence to run on Monday, August +2, 1784—and that the proprietors had engaged +to carry the mail to and from London to Bristol +in sixteen hours, starting from the Swan with Two +Necks, in Lad Lane, London, at 8 o'clock each +night, and arriving at the Three Tuns, Bath, +before 10 o'clock the next morning, and at the +Rummer Tavern, Bristol, by 12 o'clock. "The mail +is to leave Bristol from the Swan Tavern for +London every afternoon at 4 o'clock, and to arrive +in London before 8 o'clock the next morning."</p> + +<p>On August 5, we are told, "the new mail +diligence set off for the first time from Bristol on +Monday last, at 4 o'clock, and from Bath at +5.20 p.m. From London it set out at 8 o'clock in +the evening, and was in Bath by 9 o'clock the next +morning.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The excellent steps taken to carry out this +undertaking leave no doubt of its succeeding, to +the great advantage and pleasure to the publick. +The mail from this city is made up at 5 o'clock." +This grand achievement of Palmer's was signalised +by the following lines:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +"A safe and quick method is found to convey<br /> +Our bills of exchange, and I promise to pay.<br /> +Political news from all parts of the town,<br /> +The Senate, the play, and each place of renown.<br /> +New pamphlets and schemes, or the prices of stocks,<br /> +That trafficks in ports, and escaped from the rocks.<br /> +At Bristol Hotwells or the New Rooms at Bath<br /> +Arrived Mr. Fancy and Lady Hogarth,<br /> +Who looked so enchanting last week at the races,<br /> +And <i>nemine contra</i> pronounced by the graces.<br /> +Effusions of friendship or letters of love—<br /> +All beautiful, candid, as true as a dove.<br /> +<i>J'espere, ma chere ami, qui ce bien avec vous,</i><br /> +And friendly whip syllabub chat <i>entre nous</i>.<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>The merchant, the lover, the friend, and the sage<br /> +Will daily applaud Mr. Palmer's New Stage."<br /> +</div> + +<p>No sooner was success apparent than troubles +commenced, as may be gathered from the following +paragraph, dated September 9, 1784:—"Bath. +We hear that the contractors for carrying the mail +to and from this city and London have received +the most positive orders to direct their coachmen: +on no account whatever to try their speed against +other carriages that may be set up in opposition +to them, nor to suffer them to discharge firearms +in passing through any towns, or on the road, +except they are attacked."</p> + +<p>"They have generally performed their duty with +great care and punctuality, within an hour of the +contracted time and perfectly to the satisfaction +of the Government and the publick, and this +before any opposition was commenced against +them, and when it was thought impossible to effect +it in sixteen hours instead of fifteen hours. Their +steady line of conduct will be their best recommendation +to this city, which, much to its honour, has supported +them with great spirit. Attempts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> by other drivers of other +coaches, or any other persons whatsoever, to impede the +mail diligence on its journey will be certainly attended +with the most serious prosecutions to the parties so +offending.</p> + +<p>"We are desired by the old proprietors of the +Bath coaches to insert the following:—</p> + +<p>"'Last Sunday evening, as the coachman of the +mail diligence was driving furiously down Kennet +Hill, between Calne and Marlborough, in order to +overtake the two guard coaches, the coach was +suddenly thrown against the bank, by which +means a lady was much hurt, as was also the +driver. The lady was taken out and safely +conveyed in one of the guard coaches to Marlborough.'</p> + +<p>"We are informed:—The proprietors of the two +coaches, with a guard to each, which travel from +Bristol to London in fifteen hours have instructed +their servants not to fire their arms wantonly, +but to be particularly vigilant in case of attack. +The proprietors of these coaches are determined +to have the passengers and property protected +and for the safety of both have ordered their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +coachmen to keep together to make assurance +doubly sure."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-010.jpg" width="100%" alt="[By permission of S.W. Partridge & Co., +Paternoster Row, London. + +ANTHONY TODD." title="" /> +<span class="caption">[<i>By permission of S.W. Partridge & Co., +Paternoster Row, London.</i><br /><br /> + +ANTHONY TODD.</span> +</div> + +<p>September 16, 1784:—"Our mail diligence still +continues its course with the same steadiness and +punctuality. Yesterday its coachman and guard +made their first appearance in Royal livery, and +cut a most superior figure. It is certainly very +proper that the Government carriages should be +thus distinguished; such a mark of His Majesty's +approbation does the contractors great honour, +and it is with much pleasure we see so great a +change in the conveyance of our mail—not only +in its speed and safety, but in its present respectable +appearance, from an old cart and a ragged boy."</p> + +<p>December 16, 1784:—"A writer, under the +signature of 'An Enemy to Schemers,' having +published in the <i>Gazette</i> several letters against the +new mode of conveying the mail, another writer, +under the signature of 'Lash,' has in a masterly +manner replied to all his arguments in that paper +of Monday, and has severely censured the conduct +of Mr. Todd of the Post Office."</p> + +<p>December 16, 1784:—"Dear Sir,—I have just +received some newspapers from a friend in Bath<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +containing an abusive letter against my post +plan, and two answers to it under the signature +of 'Lash.' I rather think that the latter may be +yours, and think myself much obliged to you for +the warmth with which you have taken the matter +up, but could wish you would take no further +notice of it. The letter, if I recollect right, merely +contains the refuse of the observations, sent from +the Post Office to the Treasury, which have been +fully refuted to the board. It might appear these +are like doubting the justice of that Court were +I to suffer myself to be decoyed or provoked into +another. Two years have already been wasted +in wrangling, and I am heartily weary of it. Since +my return I have the satisfaction to find the public, +if possible, still more pleased from the experience +they have had of the punctuality as well as the +expedition of the post in all possible cases, in every +variety of weather our climate gives. And those +who express their surprise that the plan is not +extended yet to other parts of the kingdom I +have taken care to tell the plain truth—that it is +entirely Mr. Todd's fault. I could not express +my sense of his exceeding ill conduct at the com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>mencement +of the trial (so very different from his +profession) in a stronger manner than in my +memorial to the Treasury; nor could they do me +ampler justice than in the resolutions they passed +on the occasion and sent to the Post Office. It +should not therefore be stated to the public his +stopping the Norfolk and Suffolk service by his +assertion of the enormous expenses of the new +beyond the old system, and his strange declaration +that the number of letters sent by the Bath +and Bristol post had decreased and in consequence +of its improvement are so ill-supported by the +statements sent to the Treasury, and the reverse +of these charges so fully established in my answers +that I believe there is an end of the controversy, +and have very little doubt but that I shall shortly +receive the Ministers' commands to carry the plan +into execution to the other parts of the kingdom. +To do this (and I have not the least fear of accomplishing +it) will be the most decisive answer to +abuse, and more satisfactory to the publick. I +rather think, too, from the number of memorials +sent in favour of my plan, and the general indignation +expressed at the mismanagement of the old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +post, Mr. Todd will find it prudent to desist from +further opposition. Nothing possible can be in +better train than the plan is or in the hands of +persons more anxious for its success. It would +be very imprudent, therefore, to run the least +hazard of disturbing it. I beg you'll not imagine +I am the least displeased at what you have done. +On the contrary, I am really much obliged to you; +and be assured I shall never forget the zeal and +attention I have experienced from you in the +course of this business, and that you will always +find me your sincere friend.—<span class="smcap">John Palmer</span>, +Arno's Vale, Bristol, December 2, 1784."</p> + +<p>December 16, 1784:—"Our mail carriage has, +if possible, added to its reputation from its extraordinary +and ready exertions on the bad weather +setting in. It arrived here on Saturday an hour +only after its time, and this morning was within +the limited time. The Salisbury mail, which +should have come in on Saturday by eight in the +morning did not arrive till Sunday morning."</p> + +<p>January 20, 1785:—"The new regulation of our +post turns out a peculiar advantage to this city, +in that letters can be sent from here in the evening<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +and answered in London next morning's mails, +which enables business people to stay here longer."</p> + +<p>On February 22, 1785, the Town Council minutes +contain the following:—"Mr. May acquainted +the members present that the inhabitants of this +city, as well as those of other places, having +derived great benefit from Mr. Palmer's plan +lately adopted for the improvement of the post, +was the occasion of his calling them together to +consider such measures as might be thought +proper for continuance and extension of the +said plan.... It was resolved that a +memorial be sent to the Right Hon. Wm. Pitt, +representing the great benefits received from the +plan, and requesting a continuance of the same, +together with the extension of the same plan to +other parts of the kingdom."</p> + +<p>February 17, 1785:—"At a meeting of the +Bristol Merchants' Society on Saturday last, a +vote of thanks was passed to Mr. John Palmer for +the advantages received from his postal plan."</p> + +<p>February 24, 1785:—"Memorials appear to the +Right Hon. Wm. Pitt for the continuance and +extension of Palmer's plan from the merchants,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +tradesmen, shopkeepers in the city of Bristol, +Common Council of the city of Bristol, Mayor, +Burgesses and Commonality of the city of Bristol, +Mayor, Aldermen and Common Councilmen of +the city of Bristol."</p> + +<p>On March 24, 1785, appeared the following +letter:—"London, February 16, 1785. Sir,—Having +both of us been engaged upon Committees +of the House of Commons, we have been unable to +present the paper you transmitted to us respecting +Mr. Palmer's plan to Mr. Pitt till within these +few days. Mr. Pitt has desired us to acquaint +Mr. Mayor and the Corporation that he feels +himself very happy to have assisted in giving +such an accommodation to the city of Bath as +he always hoped that plan would afford, and in +which he is confirmed by the manner in which the +Corporation have expressed themselves concerning +it. Measures are being taken to carry it +into execution through other parts of the kingdom, +and the plan will be adopted in a few days upon +the Norfolk and Suffolk roads.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 40em;">"A. Moysey and J.J. Pratt.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap" style="margin-left: 30em;">"To Philip Georges, Esq., Deputy Town Clerk."</span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>May 12, 1785:—"Bath Post Office. A further +extension of Mr. Palmer's plan for the more safe +and expeditious conveyance of the mails took +place on Monday, the 9th inst., when the letters +on the cross posts from Frome, Warminster, +Haytesbury, Salisbury, Romsey, Southampton, Portsmouth, +Gosport, Chichester, and their delivery, +together with the Isle of Wight, Jersey and +Guernsey, all parts of Hampshire and Dorsetshire, +will be forwarded from this office at five o'clock +p.m., and every day except Sundays. Letters +from the above places will arrive here every +morning, Mondays excepted:</p> + +<p>"N.B.—All letters must be put in the office +before five o'clock p.m."</p> + +<p>May 18, 1785:—"We hear that Mr. Palmer's +plan for conveying the mails will be adopted from +London to Manchester through Leicester and +Derby, and to Leeds through Nottingham, at +Midsummer."</p> + +<p>June 9, 1785:—"Mr. Williams, the public-spirited +master of the Three Tuns Inn, and the +chief contractor for conveying the mails, had in +the morning of this day placed in the front of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +house His Majesty's Arms, neatly carved in gilt. +In the evening his house was illuminated in a very +elegant manner with variegated lamps, the +principal figure in which was the letters 'G.R.' +immediately over the coat-of-arms. A band of +music with horns played several tunes adapted to +the day, and a recruiting party drawn up before +the doors with drums and fifes playing at intervals +had a very pleasing effect."</p> + +<p>On June 30, 1785, appeared the following paragraph, +which shows how complete was the success +of John Palmer's post plan, in spite of all the +obstacles placed in his way to obstruct his scheme. +We are now informed that the "mail-coaches and +diligences have been found to answer so well that +they will be generally adopted throughout the +kingdom, and conveying of them in carts will be +discontinued."</p> + +<p>On June 30 appeared a long letter showing +how the G.P.O. tried to overthrow Mr. Palmer's +scheme. This is signed Thomas Symons, Bristol, +and describes the scheme as the most beneficial +plan that ever was thought of for a commercial +country. He also complains of the misconduct<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +of the Post Office, as letters had been miscarried +to Dublin, which caused the merchants of Bristol +considerable annoyance, and this mismanagement +without hesitation he declares was by design, in +order to try and overthrow this most excellent +system of John Palmer's post.</p> + +<p>Early in 1787, Palmer had to represent to the +Contractors that the Mails must be carried by +more reliable coaches.</p> + +<p>"The Comptroller-General," he wrote to one +Contractor, "has to complain not only of the +horses employed on the Bristol mail, but as well +of their harness and the accoutrements in use, +whose defects have several times delayed the Bath +and Bristol letters, and have even led to the +conveyance being overset, to the imminent peril +of the passengers.</p> + +<p>"Instructions have been issued by the Comptroller +for new sets of harness to be supplied to the +several coaches in use on this road, for which +accounts will be sent you by the harness-makers. +Mr. Palmer stated also that he had under consideration, +for the Contractor's use, a new-invented +coach."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + +<p>Soon after this, Palmer's active connection with +the Post Office ceased. He died at Brighton in +1818.</p> + +<p>What he looked like at the age of 17 and 75 +respectively, is shewn in the illustrations, the +former taken from a picture attributed to Gainsborough.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-011.jpg" width="100%" alt="[By permission of "Bath Chronicle." + +JOHN PALMER AT THE AGE OF 75." title="" /> +<span class="caption" style="margin-left: 4em;">[<i>By permission of "Bath Chronicle."</i><br /><br /> + +JOHN PALMER AT THE AGE OF 75.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot">APPRECIATIONS OF RALPH ALLEN, JOHN PALMER, AND SIR +FRANCIS FREELING, MAIL AND COACH ADMINISTRATORS.</div> + + +<p>On the 25th April, 1901, the day after a visit +to Bristol to celebrate the establishment +of the new steamship line to Jamaica, the +Marquess of Londonderry, then Postmaster-General, +visited Bath to take part in a ceremony +in honour of Ralph Allen and John Palmer. +These two great postal reformers were both +citizens of Bath, and are greatly honoured in that +city for their work in the Post Office, with the +famous men of the eighteenth and early nineteenth +centuries. By a happy thought there +has lately been started a movement to keep alive +associations with the past by placing tablets on +the houses in which famous men lived. One of +the tablets unveiled by Lord Londonderry was +placed on the house in which Ralph Allen first +conducted the business of the Bath Post Office,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +and of his cross post contracts, and the other on +the house in which John Palmer was born.</p> + +<p>Soon after noon on the eventful day, the Bath +postmen's band, Mr. Kerans, the postmaster, and +his lieutenants, the staff of postmen and messengers, +marched on to the space between the Abbey +and the Guildhall for inspection by the Head of +the Post Office Department. After the inspection, +a procession was formed, in which the Postmaster-General +was accompanied by the Mayor, and +followed by the Town Councillors, two by two. +Before them went the city swordbearer, clad in +striking robes, and the party proceeded to the +North Parade, from which Allen's house is now +reached by a passage way. The house is built of +stone, and has a very handsome front in the +style of the classical Renaissance. In drawing +aside the curtain, which veiled the tablet, on +which was inscribed "Here lived Ralph Allen, +1727-1764," Lord Londonderry said that there +was probably not one of the great men who had +been associated with Bath who was more of a +benefactor to his town, as well as to the public +service of his country, than Ralph Allen. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +procession then moved on to Palmer's house, only +a few yards away, where a similar ceremony took +place. After another short speech by the Postmaster-General, +in which he explained the share +Palmer had borne in developing the modern Post +Office system, the second tablet was unveiled. +It bore the inscription, "Here lived John Palmer, +born 1741, died 1818."</p> + +<p>Afterwards at the Guildhall, where a bust of +Allen in the Council Chamber looked down upon +a large party assembled for luncheon, the Postmaster-General, +in response to the toast of his +health, discoursed more at large upon the topic +of the day. He congratulated Bath upon having +among its citizens two out of the four great men +of Post Office history. It was Allen's task to +provide a general postal system by opening up +new lines of posts between the main roads, and +through new lines of country. Between 1720, +when he began his first contract, and 1764 when +he died, he covered the country with a network of +posts, giving easy communication between all +important towns, and he also increased the number +and speed of the mails on the post roads. While<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +doing this he raised himself from being a humble +clerk, and later, postmaster of Bath, to a position +of great affluence, and of friendship with many of +the great men of his time. Among those friends +was Lord Chatham.</p> + +<p>It was twenty years after Allen's death that +Palmer's Mail Coach system was started. Its +advantage soon made itself apparent, and the +improvement of roads at the end of the 18th +Century enabled the mail coach service to be +brought to great perfection. It lasted less than +60 years, but in those years correspondence and +the revenue of the Post Office multiplied many +times, and when Rowland Hill turned his attention +to postal questions he found a rapid and efficient +service, which was at the same time so cheap that +the cost of conveyance was only a small item in +the expenses of the Post Office.</p> + +<p>The Mayor of Bath proposed the toast of "the +Visitors," and said that they had amongst them +two representatives of the great men they were +honouring. Ralph Allen was represented by +Colonel Allen, a direct descendant, and the owner +of Bathampton Manor, a part of Ralph Allen's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +estate. Colonel Allen had lately returned from +South Africa. John Palmer was represented by +his grandson, Colonel Palmer, R.E.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 30%;"> +<img src="images/illus-012.jpg" width="100%" alt="[From a block kindly lent by the +Proprietors of the "Bath Chronicle."" title="" /></div> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 10em;">[<i><b>From a block kindly lent by the +Proprietors of the "Bath Chronicle."</b></i>]<br /></span></p> + + +<p class="center"><b>MEDAL STRUCK IN HONOUR OF RALPH ALLEN.</b></p> + + +<p>Colonel Allen thanked the company for their +kind reception, and Colonel Palmer said that it +had given him the greatest pleasure to witness +the testimonial to his grandfather's services, and +this pleasure would be shared by the members of +his family, including his sister, who had given the +cup on the table to the Corporation. It had been +a present from the Citizens of Glasgow to John +Palmer.</p> + +<p>Full accounts of the Post Office services of +Allen and Palmer are written in "The Bristol +Royal Mail."</p> + +<p>The photograph of a curious memorial of +Ralph Allen's work in the Post Office here +reproduced is that of a medal bearing the +Royal Arms, and the inscriptions "To the +Famous Mr. Allen, 4th December, 1752," and +"the Gift of His Royal Highness, W.D. of +Cumberland."</p> + +<p>The reverse of the medal is engraved with some +Masonic emblems, and with the words,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center"> +"Amor Honor Justitia,"<br /> +<span class="smcap">Ino Campbell</span>,<br /> +Armagh.<br /> +No. 409.<br /> +</p> + +<p>The history of this relic is rather obscure. It +was purchased in a curiosity shop in Belfast some +fifteen years ago by Mr. D. Buick, LL.D., of Sandy +Bay, Larne. In the year 1752, the Princess +Amelia visited Bath, and was entertained by +Ralph Allen at Prior Park. During her stay at +Bath, the Duke of Cumberland also visited the +town, and is known to have contributed £100 to +the Bath Hospital, of which Allen was one of the +most active supporters. It has been surmised +that the medal was intended as an acknowledgment +of the courtesy and attention received by +the Duke and the Princess on this occasion.</p> + +<p>Whether the medal was ever presented is not +known, or how it came to be converted into a +Masonic jewel. Perhaps it may have been given +away by Allen, or it may have gone astray, or +been stolen. The Masonic Lodge, No. 409, is +said to have been founded by a Mr. John Campbell +in 1761, shortly before the date of Allen's +death: Allen may have been a Freemason.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-013.jpg" width="100%" alt="[By permission of Mr. Sydenham, of Bath. + +TOKENS COMMEMORATIVE OF PALMER'S MAIL COACH SYSTEM." title="" /> +<span class="caption">[<i>By permission of Mr. Sydenham, of Bath.</i><br /><br /> + +TOKENS COMMEMORATIVE OF PALMER'S MAIL COACH SYSTEM.</span> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> +<p>It is to Mr. Sydenham, of Bath, that indebtedness +is due for the interesting impressions of +tokens struck in commemoration of Palmer's mail +coach system here depicted.</p> + +<p>An interesting tribute was the painting by +George Robertson, engraved by James Fittler, +and inscribed to him as Comptroller-General in +1803, eleven years after he had ceased to hold +that position. A copy of this engraving appears +in "The Bristol Royal Mail." Palmer also received +the freedom of eighteen towns and cities in recognition +of his public services, was Mayor of Bath +in 1796 and 1801, and represented that city in +the four Parliaments of 1801, 1802, 1806, and +1807.</p> + +<p>Francis Freeling, who succeeded John Palmer +in the Secretaryship and General Managership of +Post Office affairs, was as a youth a disciple of +his predecessor, and assisted him in the development +of the Mail Coach system. He was apprenticed +to the Post Office in Bristol, where his +talents, rectitude of conduct, and assiduity in the +duties assigned him gained for him the esteem +and respect of all those connected with the estab<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>lishment; +and, on the introduction by Mr. Palmer +of the new system of Mail Coaches, Mr. Freeling +was appointed in 1785 his assistant to carry the +improvements into effect. He was introduced +into the General Post Office in 1787, and successively +filled the office of surveyor, principal +surveyor, joint secretary with the late Anthony +Todd, Esq., and sole secretary for nearly half a +century.</p> + +<p>In Mr. Dix's "Life of Chatterton," it is stated, +on the authority of a friend of the Chatterton +family, that on Chatterton leaving for London, +"he took leave of several friends on the steps +of Redcliff Church very cheerfully. That at +parting from them he went over the way to +Mr. Freeling's house." It is further stated +that Mr. Freeling was father to the late +Sir F. Freeling.</p> + +<p>As regards Freeling's birthplace, information +is forthcoming which seems conclusive. In a +collection of old Bristol sketches purchased for +the Museum and Library, there is a beautiful +drawing of Redcliffe Hill, executed about eighty +years ago; and the artist, doubtless acting on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +the evidence of old inhabitants—contemporaries +of Freeling—has distinctly marked the house +where that gentleman was born, and noted the +fact in his own handwriting.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-014.jpg" width="100%" alt="+ BIRTHPLACE OF SIR FRANCIS FREELING, BART., + +Secretary to the General Post Office." title="" /> +<span class="caption">+ BIRTHPLACE OF SIR FRANCIS FREELING, BART.,<br /><br /> + +<i>Secretary to the General Post Office.</i></span> +</div> + +<p>Permission has been obtained from the council +of the Bristol Museum and Reference Library for +the picture to be photographed. The following +is the superscription on the back of the original +pencil drawing:—"Redcliffe Pit, Bristol. The +house with this mark + at the door is the house +in which Sir Francis Freeling, Bart., was born. +The high building, George's patent shot tower, +G. Delamotte, del. Jan. 12, 1831." A copy of +the sketch is here reproduced. The house as +"set back" or re-erected is now known as 24, Redcliffe +Hill.</p> + +<p>Sir Francis Freeling first carried on his secretarial +duties at the old Post Office in Lombard +Street, once a citizen's Mansion. There he was +located for 30 years.</p> + +<p>On September 29th, 1829, the Lombard Street +Office was abandoned as Headquarters, and +Freeling moved, with the secretarial staff under +his chieftainship, to St. Martin's-le-Grand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>In 1833 the question arose whether the mail +coaches should be obtained by public competition, +or by private agreement, but Sir Francis Freeling's +idea was to get the public service done well, +irrespective of the means.</p> + +<p>On this point Mr. Joyce, C.B., in his history of +the Post Office, wrote that in 1835 the contract +for the supply of mail coaches was in the hands +of Mr. Vidler, of Millbank, who had held it for +more than 40 years, and little had been done +during this period to improve the construction of +the vehicles he supplied. Designed after the +pattern in vogue at the end of the last century, +they were, as compared with the stage coaches, +not only heavy and unsightly, but inferior both +in point of speed and accommodation. Commissioners +appointed to inquire into the system, +altogether dissatisfied with the manner in which +the contract had been performed, arranged with +the Government not only that the service should +be put up to public tender, but that Vidler should +be excluded from the competition. This decision +was arrived at in July, 1835, and the contract +expired on the 5th of January following. To<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +invite tenders would occupy time, and after that +mail coaches would have to be built sufficient in +number to supply the whole of England and +Scotland. A period of five or six months was +obviously not enough for the purpose, and overtures +were made to Vidler to continue his contract +for half a year longer. Vidler, incensed at +the treatment he had received, flatly refused. +Not a day, not an hour, beyond the stipulated +time would he extend his contract, and on the +5th of January, 1836, all the mail coaches in Great +Britain would be withdrawn from the roads. +Freeling, now an old man, with this difficulty to +overcome, had his old energy revived, and when +the 5th of January arrived there was not a road +in the kingdom, from Wick to Penzance, on which +a new coach was not running. It was then that +the mail coaches reached their prime.</p> + +<p>Amongst the deaths announced in the +<i>Felix Farley's Journal</i> under date of January 14th, +1804, is that of "the lady of Francis Freeling, +Esq., of the General Post Office," and another +part of the paper contains the following paragraph:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"The untimely death of Mrs. Freeling is +lamented far beyond the circle of her own family, +extensive as it is. The amiableness of her manner +and the rational accomplishments of her mind +had conciliated a general esteem for such worth, +through numerous classes of respectable friends, +who naturally participate in its loss."</p> + +<p>Freeling's obituary notice, which appeared in the +same <i>Journal</i> on July 16, 1836, ran as follows:</p> + +<p>"Saturday last, died at his residence in +Bryanston Square, London, in the 73rd year of +his age, Sir Francis Freeling, Bart., upwards of +30 years Secretary to the General Post Office. +Sir Francis was a native of Bristol—he was born +in Redcliffe Parish—and first became initiated in +the laborious and multifarious duties attendant +upon the important branch of the public service +in which he was engaged in the Post Office of this +city of Bristol, from whence he was removed to +the Metropolitan Office in Lombard Street, on the +recommendation of Mr. Palmer, the former M.P. +and Father of George Palmer, the present member +for Bath, who had observed during the period +he was employed in first establishing the mail-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>coach +department the quickness of apprehension, +the aptitude for business, and the steadiness of +conduct of his youthful protégé. Sir Francis +rapidly rose to notice and preferment in his new +situation; and after his succession to the office +of Chief Secretary, it is proverbial that no public +servant ever gave more general satisfaction by +his indefatigable attention to the interests of the +community, or than he invariably shewed to those +of the meanest individual who addressed him; +whether from a peer or peasant, a letter of complaint +always received a prompt reply. The +present admirable arrangements and conveniences +of that noble national establishment, the newly-erected +Post Office, were formed upon the experience +and the suggestions of Sir Francis and +his eldest son. A more faithful and zealous +servant the public never possessed. The title +he enjoyed was the unsolicited reward for his +services, bestowed upon him by his Royal Master +George the 4th, from whom he frequently received +other flattering testimonials of regard and +friendship. In Sir Francis Freeling was to be +found one of those instances which so frequently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +occur in this country of the sure reward to +industry and talent when brought into public +notice. In speaking of his private character, +those only can appreciate his worth who saw him +in the bosom of his family—to his fond and +affectionate children his loss will be irreparable. +To possess his friendship was to have gained his +heart, for it may be truly said he never forgot +the friend who had won his confidence; particularly +if the individual was one who, like himself, +had wanted the fostering hand of a superior. +Sir Francis was always found to be the ready +and liberal patron of talent in every department +of literature, science, and the fine arts. Considering +the importance and multiplicity of his +public avocations, it was surprising to all his +friends how he could have found leisure to store +his mind with the knowledge he had attained of +the works and beauties of all our most esteemed +writers; his library contains one of the rarest +and most curious collections of our early authors, +more particularly our poets and dramatists; in +the acquirement of these works he was engaged +long before it became the fashion to purchase a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +black letter poem, or romance, merely because it +was old or unique. But his highest excellencies +were the virtuous and religious principles which +governed his whole life; his purse was ever open +to relieve the distress of an unfortunate friend, +or the wants of the deserving poor. Many +were the alms which he bestowed in secret; +which can be testified by the writer of this +paragraph, who knew him well, and enjoyed his +friendship."</p> + +<p>Miss Edith Freeling, now resident in Clifton, +grand-daughter of Sir Francis Freeling, and +daughter of Sir Henry Freeling, and who was +actually born in the General Post Office, St. +Martin's-le-Grand, London, where her father had +a residence as Assistant Secretary, has in her +possession several "antiques" belonging to her +ancestors.</p> + +<p>A worn-out despatch box used by Sir Francis +in sending his papers to the Postmaster-General +is one of the prized articles. A very handsome +gold seal cut with the Royal Arms, and bearing +the legend—General Post Office Secretary—is +another of the relics. Likewise a smaller gold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +seal with a Crown, and "God Save the King," +as its legend.</p> + +<p>At the time of his death, Sir Francis Freeling's +snuff boxes numbered 72, the majority of which +had been presented to him. Apparently "appreciations" +took a tangible form in those days! +His son, Sir Henry, likewise had snuff boxes +presented to him.</p> + +<p>A handsome specimen snuff box is now in Miss +Freeling's hands. It is made of tortoise-shell, it +has the portrait of King George the IVth as a gold +medallion on the top, and was known as a Regency +Box. The inscription inside is, "This box was +presented to G.H. Freeling by His Majesty +George IVth on board the Lightning steam packet +on his birthday twelfth August 1821 as a remembrance +that we had been carried to Ireland in a +Steam Boat." As Sir Francis Freeling migrated +from the Bristol service to Bath in 1784, it must +have been at the Old Bristol Post Office, near the +Exchange, indicated by the illustration, that he +commenced that public career which was destined +to be one of brilliant achievements for the department +during the many years he presided over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +it as permanent chief, and of great good to his +country in the way of providing means for people +to communicate with each other more readily +than was the case before his day.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-015.jpg" width="100%" alt="THE OLD BRISTOL POST OFFICE IN EXCHANGE AVENUE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE OLD BRISTOL POST OFFICE IN EXCHANGE AVENUE.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot">BRISTOL MAIL COACH ANNOUNCEMENTS, 1802-1830.—THE +NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE, LONDON.</div> + + +<p>How our forefathers got about the country, +and how the Mails were carried as time +went on after Allen and Palmer had disappeared +from Mail scenes, and Freeling had taken up the +reins, the following announcements, taken from +<i>Bonner and Middleton's Bristol Journal</i>, and +from the <i>Bristol Mirror</i> respecting Mail Stage +Coaches will aptly indicate. They are quoted +just as they appeared, so that editing may not +spoil their originality or interest:—</p> + +<p>"A letter from Exeter, dated May 10, 1802, +said:—'Last Thursday the London mail, horsed +by Mr. J. Land, of the New London Inn, Exeter, +with four beautiful grey horses, and driven by +Mr. Cave-Browne, of the Inniskilling Dragoons, +started (at the sound of the bugle) from St. +Sydwells, for a bet of 500 guineas, against the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +Plymouth mail, horsed by Mr. Phillips, of the +Hotel, with four capital blacks, and driven by Mr. +Chichester, of Arlington House, which got the +mail first to the Post Office in Honiton. The +bet was won easily by Mr. Browne, who drove the +sixteen miles in one hour and fourteen minutes.—Bets +at starting, 6 to 4 on Mr. Browne. A very +great concourse of people were assembled on this +occasion.'"</p> + +<p>On Saturday, October 2, 1802, it was announced +that "the Union post coach ran from Bristol +every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday morning +over the Old Passage, through Chepstow and +Monmouth to Hereford, where it met other +coaches, and returned the following days. Coaches +left the White Hart Inn and the Bush Tavern for +Exeter and Plymouth every morning, by the +nearest road by ten miles. Fares: To Exeter, +inside, £1 1s.; outside, 14s.; to Plymouth, +£1 11s. 6d. and £1 1s. Reduced fares are offered +by the London, Bath, and Bristol mail coaches—to +and from London to Bristol, inside, £2 5s.; +from London to Bath, £2. Parcels under 6lb. +in weight taken at 6d. each, with an engagement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +to be responsible for the safe delivery of such as +are under £5 in value."</p> + +<p>In August, 1803, passenger traffic to Birmingham +caused rivalry among the coach proprietors. A +new coach having started on this route, three +coaching advertisements were issued:—</p> + +<p>Under the heading "Cheap Travelling to +Birmingham," the "Jupiter" coach was announced +to run from the White Lion, Broad Street, every +Monday and Friday afternoon, at two o'clock; +through Newport, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, and +Worcester to Birmingham; the "Nelson" coach +from the Bush Tavern and White Hart every +morning at three; and the mail every evening at +seven. "Performed by Weeks, Williams, Poston, +Coupland and Co."</p> + +<p>The "Union" coach altered its times of leaving +the Boar's Head, College Place—"in order to +render the conveyance as commodious and expeditious +as possible"—to Sunday, Tuesday and +Thursday mornings at seven o'clock, over the +Old Passage, through Chepstow, Monmouth, +Abergavenny, and Hereford, where it met the +Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Chester, and Holyhead<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +coaches, and returned the following days, and +met the Bath, Warminster, Salisbury, and Southampton +coaches every Saturday, Tuesday, and +Thursday mornings at seven o'clock. "Performed +by W. Williams, Bennett, Whitney, +Broome, Young and Co."</p> + +<p>"A new and elegant coach, called the 'Cornwallis,'" +left the Lamb Inn, Broadmead, every +Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon, at +two o'clock, through Newport, Gloucester, Tewkesbury +and Worcester, to the George and Rose Inn, +Birmingham, where it arrived early the next morning, +whence coaches set off for the Midlands, +North Wales, and the North of England. The +proprietors pledged themselves that no pains +should be spared to make this a favourite coach +with the public; and as one of the proprietors +would drive it a great part of the way, every attention +would be paid to the comfort of passengers. +The fares of this coach would at all times be as +cheap as any other coach on the road, and the +proprietors expected a preference no longer than +whilst endeavouring by attention to merit it. +"Performed by Thomas Brooks and Co., Bristol."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>March 10, 1804:—"The 'Cornwallis' coach to +Birmingham is to set out from the Swan Inn, Maryport +Street, at three every morning, Sundays +excepted, through Newport, Gloucester and +Worcester, and arrive at the Rose Inn, Birmingham, +early the same evening. The fares of this +coach and the carriage of goods will be found at +all times as cheap as any other coach on the road." +At this period Admiral Cornwallis, whose name +this coach bore, was fighting the French with his +fleet off Brest.</p> + +<p>On August 19, in that year (1804), the public +were respectfully informed, that "a light four-inside +coach leaves the original Southampton +and general coach offices, Bush Inn and Tavern, +Bristol, every morning (Sundays excepted), at +seven o'clock precisely, and arrives at the Coach +and Horses Inn, Southampton, at five in the +afternoon. The Gosport coach, through Warminster, +Salisbury, Romsey and Southampton, +Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at +five o'clock. To Brighton, a four-inside coach in +two days, through Warminster, Salisbury, Romsey, +Southampton, Chichester, Arundel, Worthing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +and Shoreham, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday +mornings at seven, sleeps at Southampton, and +arrives early the following afternoon. Portsmouth +Royal Mail, through Warminster, Sarum, +Romsey, and Southampton every afternoon at +three o'clock. Also the Oxford Royal Mail, +every morning at seven o'clock."</p> + +<p>On August 18, 1823, the state of the roads +comes under review:—"Mail men, who have to +drive rapidly over long distances, must ever be +on the look-out for the state in which the roads +are kept.</p> + +<p>"In December, 1819, Mr. Johnson, Superintendent +of Mail Coaches, had to report to the +House of Commons on the 'petition of Mr. +McAdam,' who was engaged in constructing and +repairing of the public roads.</p> + +<p>"Previous to this the roads were very bad in +most country places, except the mail coach roads, +built at the time the Romans came to England.</p> + +<p>"McAdam's expenses up to 1814 amounted to +£5,019 6s., actually expended by him up to +August, 1814, and he had travelled 30,000 miles +in 1,920 days.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He held the position of general surveyor of +the Bristol turnpike roads, at a salary, first year +£400, and each subsequent year of £500, but, +taking into account that the annual salary was +£200 for expenses 'incident' to the office, the +remaining £300 was not more than adequate +payment for the constant and laborious duties +attached to the situation."</p> + +<p>Under date of November 8, 1823, there is a list +of Royal mails and post-coaches despatched from +and arriving at the Bush Tavern, Corn Street, +Bristol:—"London, daily, 4.0 p.m.; and at +reduced fares by the 'Regent' at 9.0 p.m.; Milford +and Waterford, via Cardiff and Swansea, +10.30 a.m. daily; Birmingham, Manchester and +Liverpool, every evening at 7.0; Oxford, daily, +at 7.0 a.m.; Portsmouth and Southampton, +every afternoon, at 4.0; Plymouth and Exeter, +every morning, at 8; Birmingham, Manchester +and Liverpool, daily, at 6.0 a.m.; Portsmouth +and Southampton, by the 'Rocket,' at 7.0 a.m.; +Gloster, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, and +Holyhead leaves Bristol each day at 7.0 a.m."</p> + +<p>On July 1, 1826, the "Hero" coach is quoted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +as performing the journey from Bristol to Birmingham +in twelve hours.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-016.jpg" width="100%" alt="[From "Stage Coach and Mail." By permission +of Mr. C.G. Harper. + +HOW THE MAILS WERE CONVEYED TO BRISTOL IN THE DAYS OF KING +GEORGE THE FOURTH." title="" /> +<span class="caption">[<i>From "Stage Coach and Mail." By permission +of Mr. C.G. Harper.</i><br /><br /> + +HOW THE MAILS WERE CONVEYED TO BRISTOL IN THE DAYS OF KING +GEORGE THE FOURTH.</span> +</div> + +<p>On January 21, 1826:—"From Wood's Office, +Bell Yard, Thomas Street, Bristol. Coaches. +The 'London Shamrock,' light post-coach, five +o'clock every evening; arrives in London at half-past +seven next morning. Runs to the Spread +Eagle Inn, Gracechurch Street, and Bull Inn, +Aldgate.</p> + +<p>"'London Chronometer.' Cheap coach. Tuesday, +Thursday and Saturday, twelve o'clock. +Fare: inside, 21s.; outside, 10s. 6d. Runs to +Gerrard's Hall, Basing Lane, Cheapside.</p> + +<p>"Exeter, Plymouth, Devonport, Totnes, Newton-Bushel, +Ashburton, Tiverton, Wellington, +Taunton, and Bridgwater. 'Royal Devon' Coach, +every afternoon at four o'clock.</p> + +<p>"Bath. Every morning, at eight, ten, and +twelve o'clock, and at five in the evening."</p> + +<p>January 21, 1826:—"Plume of Feathers, +General Coach Office, Wine Street, Bristol. W. +Clift takes the present opportunity to return his +sincere thanks to the public for the preference +they have given to his coaches; and begs to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +inform them that the 'Traveller' coach, to Exeter, +is this day removed from Congdon's Hotel to the +Old London Inn, and leaves there for Bristol +every evening, at half-past five, and arrives at +Bristol at half-past five in the morning, in time +for the coaches to Gloucester, Cheltenham, Worcester, +Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Holyhead, +and all parts of the North; leaves Bristol +at seven every morning, proceeds through Bridgwater, +Taunton and Tiverton, and arrives at +Exeter at six the same evening.</p> + +<p>"The proprietors, for the better accommodation +of their friends, have declined the conveyance of +fish by this coach, and pledge themselves that no +pains shall be wanting to render it the most +comfortable as well as the most expeditious coach +on the road.</p> + +<p>"Four-inside coaches to all parts of England +daily. Performed by Clift, Pratt and Co."</p> + +<p>Saturday, December 30, 1826:—"We are informed +that memorials to the Lords of the Treasury +and to the General Post Office, to establish a mail-coach +from Cheltenham, through Tewkesbury, +over the Tewkesbury Severn Bridge to Ledbury,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +and from thence to Hereford, are now in course +of signature through the neighbourhood connected +with that line of road. The advantages of such +an arrangement will be most important, as it will +give to the inhabitants of that city two hours to +answer, on the same day, letters received in the +morning from London, Bristol, Birmingham, and +all parts of the North and West, and also from +Scotland and from all parts of the north of Ireland. +Should this object be attained, the intended new +mail will bring the London letters for Hereford +from Cheltenham on the arrival there of the +Gloucester mail; and the present Bristol and +Birmingham mails will leave the Ledbury and +Hereford letters at Tewkesbury, instead of at +Worcester, as now done."</p> + +<p>October 13, 1827:—"Royal Mail and General +Coach Office, Bush Tavern, Corn Street, Bristol. +New mails to Exeter, Plymouth and Barnstaple. +The public are respectfully informed that the +Royal mail will in future leave the Bush coach +office daily, nine a.m., via Bridgwater, Taunton, +Wellington, Collumpton, and arrive in Exeter +six p.m., leaving for Plymouth six-thirty p.m.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +and arriving there eleven p.m. 'same night,' +making the journey, Bristol to Plymouth, in 'only +fourteen hours.'</p> + +<p>"Also Royal mail to Barnstaple, daily, nine-thirty +a.m., via Taunton, Wiveliscombe, Bampton +and South Molton.</p> + +<p>"Each mail will arrive at Bristol at five p.m., +in time for the London mail at five-twenty p.m., +and of the 'Sovereign' four-inside coach to +London six p.m."</p> + +<p>April 21, 1832:—"From the Bush Coach Office, +the day coach, the 'Regulator,' daily (except +Sundays) at six-thirty p.m., and arrives at the +White Horse Cellars, Piccadilly, and the Bull and +Mouth, St. Martin's-le-Grand, precisely at eight +o'clock."</p> + +<p>"The Weston-super-Mare coach, the 'Magnet,' +left Weston nine a.m., and on return left the Bush +three-forty-five p.m., through Congresbury, Cleeve, +and Backwell.</p> + +<p>"The 'Hope' left Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday, +Thursday and Saturday at eight-thirty a.m., +and returned from the Plume of Feathers at +four-thirty p.m. same day."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-017.jpg" width="100%" alt="[By permission of Mr. F.E. Baines, C.B. From "On +the Track of the Mail Coach." + +THE BRISTOL, BATH AND LONDON COACH TAKING UP MAILS WITHOUT HALTING." title="" /> +<span class="caption">[<i>By permission of Mr. F.E. Baines, C.B. From "On +the Track of the Mail Coach."</i><br /><br /> + +THE BRISTOL, BATH AND LONDON COACH TAKING UP MAILS WITHOUT HALTING.</span> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> +<p>"Royal mail to Portsmouth, daily, five-fifteen +p.m., return journey, Portsmouth seven p.m., +arrive White Lion eight-thirty next day."</p> + +<p>In 1830, the "Bull and Mouth" in St. Martin's-le-Grand +was a great coach rendezvous. A strong +and penetrating aroma of horses and straw pervaded +its neighbourhood, in Bull-and-Mouth +Street.</p> + +<p>The Gloucester and Aberystwith mail-coach +continued to run until the year 1854, and it is +believed that was the last regular main road +mail-coach which was kept on the road. Its +guard from 1836 to its abolition in 1854 was +Moses James Nobbs.</p> + +<p>The London mail coaches of the period loaded +up at about half-past seven at their respective +inns, and then assembled at the Post Office yard +in St. Martin's-le-Grand to receive the bags. All, +that is to say, except seven coaches carrying +West of England mails—the Bath, Bristol, Devonport, +Exeter, Gloucester, Southampton, and Stroud—which +started from Piccadilly.</p> + +<p>A contemporary writer said:—"Wonderful +building, the new General Post Office, opened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +in 1829, nearly opposite. They say the Government +has got something very like a white elephant +in that vast pile. A great deal too big for present +needs, or, indeed, for any possible extension of +Post Office business."</p> + +<p>And yet, in the 75 years which have elapsed two +other Post Offices of equal size have been built +near it, and acres of ground at Mount Pleasant—a +mile off—have been covered with buildings for +Post Office purposes!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-018.jpg" width="100%" alt="THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, ST. MARTIN'S-LE-GRAND, +LONDON, IN 1830." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, ST. MARTIN'S-LE-GRAND, +LONDON, IN 1830.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>THE BRISTOL AND PORTSMOUTH MAIL FROM 1772 ONWARDS.—PROJECTED +SOUTH COAST RAILWAY FROM BRISTOL, 1903.—THE +BRISTOL TO SALISBURY POST BOY HELD UP.—MAIL +COACH ACCIDENTS.—LUKE KENT AND RICHARD GRIFFITHS, +THE MAIL GUARDS.</p></div> + + +<p>In 1903, in connection with a projected new +railway from Bristol to Basingstoke the +promoters made a strong point of the fact that +the letters for the first delivery in the important +South Coast towns, such as Portsmouth and +Southampton, could not be posted quite so late +in Bristol then as could those which were carried +in the olden days by the mail coaches throughout.</p> + +<p>A deputation, consisting of Mr. John Mardon, +Mr. Sidney Humphries, Mr. Bolt, and Mr. H.J. +Spear (Secretary), representing the Chamber of +Commerce and Shipping, waited on the Postmaster-General, +at the House of Commons, London, +respecting the imperfect service, and they did not +fail to point out to him (Mr. Austen Chamberlain)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +the time-table of the old mail coach by way of +contrast with the present service by railway.</p> + +<p>Mr. Austen Chamberlain, replying to the +deputation, said that, as regarded the mail arrangements, +he thought he had no need to show +them that he recognised the importance of Bristol +as a great commercial centre, or how largely +recent developments had increased that importance. +He was also alive to the necessity of +prompt means of communication, but he was not +wholly his own master. They had complained +that the train service to the South and South-Eastern +Counties was very inconvenient. That, +unfortunately, was the only means of communication +upon which he had to rely. If they had +been able to put before him trains which he did +not use for the transmission of mails, he might +have been able to provide facilities. With the +existing train facilities the Post Office business +was conducted as well as it could be conducted. +That being so, there was no way by which he +could improve that service, except by requiring +of the companies concerned that they should +provide a special train for Post Office purposes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +He was afraid that trains run at the hours which +would be necessary to meet their wishes would +not secure much passenger traffic, and the whole +cost of the running would fall upon the Postmaster-General. +He would closely watch the +matter, and if he could see his way he would not +be reluctant to provide them with what they +desired. At present the service was the best in +his power to afford. They were probably aware +that the Post Office was experimenting in certain +places with motor-cars, and if they were found to +be reliable, that might be a way out of the difficulty. +He should keep that before him as a possibility, +if further railway facilities were not forthcoming. +He regretted that he could not make a more +hopeful statement. All he could say was that +he did not think the service was satisfactory for +a great commercial centre like Bristol, and if he +saw his way to provide them with something +better he would certainly not neglect to do so.</p> + +<p>It may be opportune here to recall the mail +services of the past.</p> + +<p>From an "Account of the Days and Hours of +the Post coming in and going out at Salisbury,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +the following has been gleaned. The "Account" +is a broad sheet, and was printed in Salisbury in +1772 by Sully and Alexander. The name of +Daniel P. Safe, postmaster, is inscribed at the +foot of the "Account":—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Comes in from Bristol through Bath, Bradford, +Trowbridge, Devizes, Westbury, Warminster, +Heytesbury, Wells, Shepton Mallet, +Frome, etc., etc., Monday about Seven at +Night; and Wednesday and Friday, about +Three in the Afternoon.</p> + +<p>Goes out to Heytesbury, Westbury, Devizes, +Trowbridge, Bradford, Bath, Bristol, Warminster, +Frome, Shepton Mallet, Wells, etc., +etc., Sunday at Ten at Night; and Wednesday +and Friday at Six in the Evening.</p> + +<p>Comes in from Portsmouth, Gosport, Isle of +Wight, Guernsey, Jersey, Southampton, New +Forest, Winton, Romsey, on Sunday, Wednesday +and Friday, at Six in the Evening.</p> + +<p>Goes out to Romsey, Winton, New Forest, +Southampton, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Wight, +Gosport, Portsmouth, on Sunday, Tuesday, and +Thursday at Eleven in the Morning.</p></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> +<p>The official bag seal of the +period was inscribed thus:—</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 10%;"> +<img src="images/seal.jpg" width="100%" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>The Bristol and Portsmouth Mail Coach was +established under the immediate superintendence +of Francis Freeling, Secretary to the General Post +Office, who travelled on the coach on its first +journey about the year 1786.</p> + +<p>In the year 1793 the Salisbury, Portsmouth, +and Chichester mails went out from Bristol +every morning at seven, and arrived in Bristol +every evening between nine and eleven. At +that period the coaches from Bristol for the +Southern Counties started thus:—Bush Tavern, +Corn Street, John Weeks; for Weymouth a post +coach every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday +morning at 5; for Portsmouth a post coach every +Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning at +four, so that probably the mail which left at +7 a.m. daily was carried by mail cart and postboy.</p> + +<p>In about the year 1798 a "long" coach set +out from Mr. Crosse's, the Crown Inn, Portsmouth, +to Southampton, Salisbury, Bath, and +Bristol, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +afternoon; and from Gosport every Tuesday, +Thursday, and Saturday, to the White Hart Inn, +Bristol.</p> + +<p>The methods of service in 1798 and the perils +of the road are indicated by the following public +notice, viz.:—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 32em;">"General Post Office,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 35em;">"October 11th, 1798.</span> +</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The postboy carrying the mail from Bristol +to Salisbury on the 9th instant was stopped +between the hours of eleven and twelve o'clock +at night by two men on foot within six miles of +Salisbury, who robbed him of seven shillings in +money, but did not offer to take the mail. Whoever +shall apprehend the culprit, or cause to be +apprehended and convicted both or either of the +persons who committed this robbery, will be +entitled to a reward of fifty pounds over and +above the reward given by Act of Parliament for +apprehending highwaymen. If either party will +surrender himself and discover his accomplice he +will be admitted as evidence for the Crown, +receive His Majesty's most gracious pardon, and +be entitled to the said reward.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 25em;">"By command of the Postmaster-General.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap" style="margin-left: 30em;">"Francis Freeling</span>, Secretary."<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>There is no record that anyone claimed the +reward.</p> + +<p>In 1828 the mail went out from Bristol at +twenty minutes past five o'clock for Salisbury, +Southampton, Portsmouth, and Chichester, and +arrived every day previously to the London mail—thus +Chichester, in Sussex, was linked up with +the Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, and Hampshire mails +at that early period. The charge for the postage +of a letter from Bristol to Portsmouth was at that +time ninepence.</p> + +<p>Luke Kent was the first individual who filled +the place of Guard of the Chichester mail coaches. +At his death he left a sum of money, on the condition +of the Mail Guard always blowing the horn +when he passed the place of his interment, Farlington +Church, near Havant.</p> + +<p>Prior to becoming a Mail Guard, Luke Kent +kept the turnpike gate at Post Bridge, and afterwards +became landlord of the Goat public house, +where he amassed a good fortune. He then +opened the Sadler's Wells and was assisted by +James Perry, the most celebrated mimic of his +time, who assumed the name of Rossignal. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +was accustomed to procure a variety of birds, +and, having first given his excellent imitation of +the songs of each, to let them loose amongst the +audience, to their no small gratification. The +scheme failed.</p> + +<p>In June, 1804, one of the Portsmouth night +coaches, having six inside and fifteen outside +passengers, besides a surplus of luggage, was +overturned near Godalming, Surrey. Twelve of the +passengers sustained considerable hurt, and nine +were obliged to be left behind; the lives of two +children were said to be despaired of. "We are +astonished at the temerity of the public in trusting +themselves to such vehicles."</p> + +<p>A Time Bill of 1823, which gives details of a +Coach Service at that period, appears on page 83.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"> +GENERAL POST-OFFICE.<br /> +THE EARL OF CHICHESTER AND THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, HIS<br /> +MAJESTY'S POSTMASTERS-GENERAL.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Portsmouth and Bristol</span>:<br /> +<br /></p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="bristol"> +<tr><td align="center">Contractors'<br />Names.</td><td> </td><td colspan="2">Number of<br />Passengers.<br /></td><td align="center">Miles.</td><td align="center" colspan="2">Time<br />allowed.</td><td align="left">Dispatched from the +Post Office, Portsmouth, 1823,<br />at 7.20, 22nd March.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td align="center">In.</td><td align="center">Out.</td><td> </td><td align="center">H.</td><td align="center">M.</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td valign="bottom">Rogers</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 12em;">by Clock.</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 10em;">{With a Time-Piece safe.</span><br />Coach No. 240 sent out {No. 69 to Devonshire.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="3">Rogers</td><td rowspan="3"><span class="bracket3">{</span></td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">9</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">10</td><td align="left">Arrived at Fareham, at 8.30.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">12½</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">50</td><td align="left" rowspan="2">Arrived at Southampton, at 10.20.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 8em;">Ten Minutes allowed for Office Duty.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="center">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Rogers</td><td> </td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="left">Arrived at Rumsey, at 11.35.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Weeks</td><td> </td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">16</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">20</td><td align="left" rowspan="2">Arrived at Salisbury, at 1.55.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 8em;">Ten Minutes allowed for Office Duty.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="center">10</td></tr> +<tr><td>Hilliar</td><td> </td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">22</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="left">Arrived at Warminster, at 5.5.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="4">Pickwick</td><td rowspan="4"><span class="bracket3">{</span></td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="left">Arrived at Beckington, at 6.10.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">10</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">40</td><td align="left" rowspan="2">Arrived at Bath, at 7.50.<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 8em;">Ten Minutes allowed for Office Duty.</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="center">10</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">13½</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">40</td><td align="left" rowspan="3">Arrived at the Post-Office, Bristol, the 23 of March, 1823,<br /> + at 9.40 by Time-Piece<br /> + at 9.40 by Clock.<br /> + Devonshire.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td colspan="3" align="center">_____________</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="center">99</td><td align="center">14</td><td align="center">20</td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 10em;">{Delivered the Time-Piece safe.</span><br /> +Coach No. 240 arrived { No. 69 to Office.<br /> + Thomas Cole.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><i>The Portsmouth and Bristol Time Bill.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Time of working each Stage is to be reckoned from the Coach's +Arrival, and as any Time lost, is to be recovered in the course of +the Stage, it is the Coachman's Duty to be as expeditious as possible, +and to report the Horse-keepers if they are not always ready when the +Coach arrives, and active in getting it off. The Guard is to give his +best assistance in changing, whenever his Official Duties do not prevent +it.</p> + +<p> +November, 1832.——250.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 20em;">By Command of the Postmasters-General,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 24em;">CHARLES JOHNSON,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 27em;">Surveyor and Superintendent.</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> +<p>In 1826, a coachman on this road was accused +of imperilling his passengers through having +imbibed too freely, and the Mail Guard was +called on in the following letter to report on the +matter:—</p> + +<p>"General Post Office, 29th July, 1826. Sir,—The +passengers who travelled with the Portsmouth +and Bristol mail on the 26th instant, +having complained that the coachman who drove +on that day from Bristol to Warminster was +drunk and unfit to drive I have to desire you +will explain the reason why you neglected to +report to me so great and so disgraceful an irregularity, +and also how it happened that you did not +know the coachman's name when the passengers +asked you for it. I am, sir, yours, etc.,</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap" style="margin-left: 30em;">C. Johnson.</span>—Mr. Folwell, Mail Guard, Bristol."<br /> +</p> + +<p>The explanation is not forthcoming.</p> + +<p>In 1830, many of the public coaches started +from Portsmouth and passed through Portsea +and Landport, but—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +"In olden time two days were spent<br /> +'Twixt Portsmouth and the Monument;<br /> +When flying Diligences plied,<br /> +When men in Roundabouts would ride<br /> +And, at the surly driver's will,<br /> +Get out and climb each tedious hill.<br /> +But since the rapid Freeling's age,<br /> +How much improved the English stage,<br /> +Now in eight hours with ease, the post<br /> +Reaches from Newgate Street our coast."<br /> +</div> + +<p>In the years 1837 and 1838 the Portsmouth +mail coach was despatched at 7.5 p.m., from +Bristol Post Office—then located at the corner of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +Exchange Avenue. The posting of letters without +fee was allowed up to 6.35 p.m., and, with +fee, paid and unpaid letters alike up to 6.50 +p.m. The coach started from the White Lion +coach office, Broad Street, at 6.45 p.m., so as to +be in readiness at the Post Office to take up the +mails at the appointed time. The arrival of the +mail at Portsmouth from Bristol was at 6.45 +a.m. These times are an improvement upon +the service in operation in 1836. At that time +the coach left Bristol at 5.30 p.m., with a posting +up to 5.0 p.m. without fee, and with fees paid, up +to 5.15 p.m. On the inward journey the Coach +did not arrive until 8.9 a.m.</p> + +<p>It will be appropriate here to enumerate certain +interesting incidents connected with the carrying +on of the Mail Coach system.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, Jan. 5, 1805, the London Mail of +Friday se'nnight, had not arrived at Swansea +where it was due early in the morning, till eleven +o'clock that night, having been detained seventeen +hours at the New Passage, in consequence of +such large shoals of ice floating down the Severn +as to render it unsafe for the mail boat to cross +until Friday morning.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thursday se'nnight, an inquest was held at +Swansea on the body of John Paul, driver of the +mail coach between that place and Caermarthen +which on Sunday was overturned about two miles +from Swansea, while proceeding with great +rapidity down a hill, it being supposed the coachman's +hands were so benumbed with cold that he +could not restrain the horses' speed, the consequence +of which was that he was so much +bruised as to occasion his death on Wednesday +night. The guard was slightly hurt, but the +passengers escaped uninjured. Verdict, accidental +death.</p> + +<p>Very few details exist of that exceptional +season, in 1806, when Nevill, a guard on the +Bristol mail, was frozen to death; but the records +of the great snowstorm that began on the Christmas +night of 1836 are more copious.</p> + +<p>A valuable reminiscence of that night—Dec. 27, +1836—is Pollard's graphic picture of the Devonport +mail snowed up at Amesbury. Six horses +could not move it, and Guard F. Feecham was +in parlous plight. Pollard's companion picture +of the Liverpool mail in the snow near St. Alban's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +on the same night is equally interesting. Guard +James Burdett fared little better than his comrade +on the Devonport mail:</p> + +<p>"An accident occurred to the Worcester mail +Coach on Friday evening, March 27, 1829, opposite +the Bull and Mouth Office, in Piccadilly, which, +we are sorry to say, has proved fatal to Turner, +the coachman. Just as Turner had taken hold +of the reins, and while he was wrapping a large +coat over his knees, the leaders started, and, +turning sharply to the right, dashed one of the +fore-wheels against a post. The shock was so +violent that the coachman was flung from his +seat. He fell on his back, and his neck came +violently against the curb-stone. Not a moment +was lost in securing the assistance of a surgeon, +by whom he was bled. The poor man was shortly +removed to St. George's Hospital, where he died +at about eight o'clock on Saturday evening. +He left a wife and three infant children in a state +of destitution, without even the means of buying +a coffin."</p> + +<p>As a "Caution to Mail Coachmen," the following +notice was issued on June 20, 1829:—"On<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +Friday, Thomas Moor, the driver of the London +mail from Bristol to Calne and back, appeared +before the Magistrates at Brislington to answer an +information laid against him by Mr. Bull, the +Inspector of Mail Coaches, by order of the G.P.O. +for giving up the reins to an outside passenger, +and permitting him to drive the mail, on May 29 +last, from Keynsham to Bath, against the remonstrances +of the guard. The magistrates convicted +Moor in the mitigated penalty of £5 and +11s. costs. Mr. Bull presented the Bath Hospital +with the amount of the fine."</p> + +<p>On September 8th, 1837, a coachman named +Burnett was killed at Speenhamland, on the Bath +Road. He was driving one of the New Company's +London and Bristol stages, and alighted at the +"Hare and Hounds," very foolishly leaving the +horses unattended, with reins on their backs. +He had been a coachman for 20 years, but experience +had not been sufficient to prevent him +thus breaking one of the first rules of the profession. +He had no sooner entered the Inn than +the rival Old Company's coach came down the +road. Whether the other coachman gave the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +horses a touch with his whip as he passed, or if +they started of their own accord, is not known, +but they did start, and Burnett, rushing out to +stop them, was thrown down and trampled on, +so that he died.</p> + +<p>There departed this life at Bristol, in November, +1904, a somewhat notable individual in the person +of Richard Griffiths, who was born at Westminster, +in the year 1811, and entered the service of +the Post Office as a Mail Guard on the 17th +November, 1834. At the commencement of +his service he was employed as Guard to the +London and Norwich, <i>via</i> Newmarket Mail Coach, +upon which duty he remained until the coach +ceased running on the 5th January, 1846, when +he was transferred to the London and Dover +Railway, and acted as Mail Train Guard thereon. +When a Travelling Post Office was established in +1860 on the Dover line of railway, and the necessity +for a Guard to the Mail bags thus removed, +Griffiths was ordered to the South Wales Railway, +where he remained as Mail Train Guard until +superannuated on the 25th August, 1870. He +lived at Eastville, in Bristol, under the care at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +last of Mrs. Barrett, a kind old dame, who made +him very comfortable, and on his demise, after +being on pension for 34 years, he bequeathed his +old battered Mail Coach horn to her (<i>see illustration</i>). +It is probable that the horn was used +on the last Norwich Coach out of London. +The maker's name on it is "J.A. Turner, 19 +Poultry."</p> + +<p>On November 9, 1822, attention was drawn to +the "Musical Coachman" thus:—"The blowing +of the horn by the coachman and guards of our +mail-coaches has usually been considered a sort +of nuisance: now, by the persevering labours of +these ingenious gentlemen, converted into an +instrument of public gratification. Most of the +guards of the stage-coaches now make their +entrance and exit to the tune of some old national +ballad, which, though it may not, perhaps, be +played at present in such exact time and tune as +would satisfy the leader of the opera band, is +yet pleasant in comparison to the unmeaning and +discordant strains which formerly issued from the +same quarter."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 15%;"> +<img src="images/illus-019.jpg" width="100%" alt="AN OLD MAIL COACH GUARD'S POST HORN." title="" /> +</div> +<p class="center"><b>AN OLD MAIL COACH GUARD'S POST HORN.</b></p> + +<p>April, 1832:—"The Tipsy Member" finds +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>mention thus: "An M.P. applied to the Post +Office to know why some of his franks had been +charged; The answer was, 'We supposed, sir, +they were not your writing; the 'hand' is not +'the same.' 'Why, not precisely; but the +truth is I happened to be a <i>little tipsy</i> when I +wrote them.' 'Then, sir, you will be so good in +future as to write 'drunk' when you make +'free.'"</p> + +<p>In this book are depicted an old State Coach, +the Mail Coach, the primitive Railway Train, and +a Railway Engine of the latest pattern, all +indicative of progress in locomotion. To complete +the series, and for the purpose of historical +record, subjoined is a picture of the first Motor +vehicle used (1904-1905) in Bristol for the rapid +transport of His Majesty's Mails by road. No +doubt, in process of time, this handy little 5-horse +power car, built to a Bristol Post Office design, +to carry loads of 3½ cwt., and constructed by the +Avon Motor Company, Keynsham, near Bristol, +will have numerous fellow cars darting about in +the roads and crowded thoroughfares of Bristol +for the collection of letters and parcels in conjunc<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>tion +with larger cars of higher horse power to +do the heavy station traffic and country road +work.</p> + +<p>Still, little "Mercury" will have the credit of +being the pioneer car in the Bristol Post Office +Service. During its trials the car did really +useful service, and did not once break down.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-020.jpg" width="100%" alt="THE "AVON" TRIMOBILE, USED BY THE BRISTOL POST OFFICE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE "AVON" TRIMOBILE, USED BY THE BRISTOL POST OFFICE.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>THE BUSH TAVERN, BRISTOL'S FAMOUS COACHING INN, +AND JOHN WEEKS, ITS WORTHY BONIFACE, 1775-1819.—THE +WHITE LION COACHING HOUSE, BRISTOL. ISAAC +NIBLETT.—THE WHITE HART, BATH.</p></div> + + +<p>It appears that John Weeks was landlord of +the Bush Tavern, Bristol, from 1775 to 1801, +and continued to be a coach proprietor until +1806. In the Eastern cloister of Bristol Cathedral +there is a mural tablet erected to his memory, +with a well-executed medallion portrait of him +in profile, with inscription as shown in the +illustration.</p> + +<p>Verger Sproule, of old time, who was born in +the first year of the nineteenth century, once +told Mr. Morgan, present senior lay clerk, that +he well remembered John Weeks, and that the +portrait on the tablet was an excellent likeness +of him.</p> + +<p>In "Mornings at Matlock," by Robey Skelton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +Mackenzie, D.C.L., author of "Titian: an Art +Novel" (London, Henry Colburn, publisher, +1850), a book which contains a collection of +twenty-six short stories supposed to have been +told by people stopping at Matlock, there is an +interesting story relating to what was known as +the Bush Guinea. Briefly told, Dr. Mackenzie's +Bush Guinea story runs thus:—"It was the +delight of this Boniface (John Weeks) on every +Christmas Day, to cover the great table with a +glorious load of roast beef and plum pudding, +flanked most plenteously with double home-brewed +of such mighty strength and glorious +flavour that we might well have called it malt +wine rather than malt liquor. At this table on +that day every one who pleased was welcome to +sit down and feast. Many to whom a good +dinner was an object did so; and no nobler +sight was there in Bristol, amidst all its wealth +and hospitality, than that of honest John Weeks +at the head of his table, lustily carving and +pressing his guests to 'Eat, drink, and be merry.' +Nor did his generosity content itself with this.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 30%;"> +<img src="images/illus-021.jpg" width="100%" alt="MURAL TABLET IN BRISTOL CATHEDRAL." title="" /> +</div> +<p class="center"><b>MURAL TABLET IN BRISTOL CATHEDRAL.</b></p> + +<p>"It was the custom of the house and of the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>day, when the repast was ended, that each person +should go to honest John Weeks in the bar and +there receive his cordial wishes for many happy +returns of the genial season. They received +something more, for according to their several +necessities a small gift of money was pressed +upon each. To one man a crown; to another, +half-a-guinea; to a third, as more needing it a +guinea. On the whole some twenty or thirty +guineas were thus disbursed.</p> + +<p>"On one particular year it had been noticed +during the months of November and December, +that a middle-aged man, whom no frequenter of +the Bush Inn appeared to know, and who +appeared to know no one, used to visit about +noon every day, and calling for a sixpenny glass +of brandy and water, sit over it until he had +carefully gone through the perusal of the London +paper of the previous evening. On Christmas +Eve, honest John Weeks, anxious that the +decayed gentleman should have one meal at +least in the 'Bush,' delicately hinted that on the +following day he kept open table. Punctually +at one o'clock, being the appointed hour, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +appeared at the Bush in his usual seedy attire. +John Weeks called his head waiter, a sagacious, +well-powdered, steady man, to whom he confidently +entrusted the donation which he had set +aside for the decayed gentleman. The decayed +gentleman quietly put it in his pocket, from +which he drew a card. The inscription on the +card was simply 'Thomas Coutts, 59, Strand.' +Amongst the heirlooms which she most particularly +prized, the late Duchess of St. Albans, +widow of Thomas Coutts, used to show a +coin richly mounted in a gorgeous bracelet, +which coin bore the name of 'The Bush +Guinea.'"</p> + +<p>Numerous as the passengers were by the many +coaches starting from the Bush Inn, yet evidently +John Weeks was in the habit of finding enough +food for them to eat, and the wherewithal to +fortify themselves with, ere they set out on their +long coach journeys. The Bill of Fare for the +guests at that hostelry during the festive season +of 1790 shows that our ancestors had an excellent +conception of Christmas cheer. For variety and +quantity it could not easily be surpassed, and in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +these "degenerate" days could not even be +equalled. But let it speak for itself.</p> + +<p class="center">CHRISTMAS, 1790.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>One Turtle, weight 47 lb.; 68 Pots Turtle; British Turtle +Giblet Soup; Gravy Soup; Pea Soup; Soup and Bouille; +Mutton Broth; Barley Broth; 4 Turbots; 7 Cod; 2 Brills; +2 Pipers; 12 Dories; 2 Haddocks; 14 Rock Fish; 18 Carp; +16 Perch; 2 Salmon; 12 Plaice; 164 Herrings; Sprats; Soles; +22 Eels; Salt Fish. Doe <span class="smcap">Venison</span>: 10 Haunches, 10 Necks, +10 Breasts, 10 Shoulders; 37 Hares; 14 Pheasants; Grouse; +32 Partridges; 94 Wild Ducks; Wild Geese; 32 Teal; 27 +Wigeon; 6 Bald Cootes; 1 Sea Pheasant; 3 Mews; 4 Moor +Hens; 2 Water Dabs; 2 Curlews; Bittern; 61 Wood Cocks; +49 Snipes; 7 Wild Turkies; 8 Golden Plovers; 5 Quist; 2 +Land Rails; 13 Galenas; 4 Pea Hens; 26 Pigeons; 121 Larks; +26 Stares; 108 Small Birds; 44 Turkies; 8 Capons; 9 Ducks; +5 Geese; 63 Chicken; 4 Ducklings; 18 Rabbits; 3 Pork Griskins; +11 Veal Burrs; 1 Roasting Pig; Oysters, Stewed and Scolloped; +Eggs; Hogs Puddings; Ragood Feet and Ears; Scotch Collops; +Veal Cutlets; Harricoad Mutton; Maintenon Chops; Pork +Chops; Mutton Chops; Rump Steaks; Joint Steaks; Sausages; +Hambro' Sausages; Tripe; Cow Heel; Notlings; 3 House +Lambs. <span class="smcap">Veal</span>: 5 Legs, 2 Loins, 1 Breast, 4 Calves' Heads. +<span class="smcap">Beef</span>: 5 Rumps, 1 Sirloin, 5 Ribs, 1 Pinbone, Duch Beef, +Hambro' Beef. <span class="smcap">Mutton</span>: 16 Haunches, 8 Necks, 8 Legs, 11 +Loins, 6 Saddles, 6 Chines, 5 Shoulders. <span class="smcap">Pork</span>: 4 Loins, 2 +Legs, 2 Chines, 2 Spare-Ribs, 1 Porker. <span class="smcap">Cold</span>: Boar's-Head; +Baron Beef, 3 c. 1 qr.; 6 Hams; 4 Tongues; 6 Chicken; Hogs +Feet and Ears; 7 Collars Brawn; 2 Rounds Beef; Collard +Veal and Mutton; Collard Eels and Pig's Head; Rein Deers' +Tongues; Dutch Tongues; Harts Tongues; Bologna Tongues; +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>Parague Pie; French Pies; Pigeon Pies; Venison Pasty; Sulks; +470 Minced Pies; 13 Tarts; 218 Jellies; 800 Craw Fish; +Pickled Salmon; Sturgeon; Pickled Oysters; Potted Partridges; +Crabs; 24 Lobsters; 52 Barrels Pyfleet and Colchester +Oysters; Milford and Tenby Oysters; Pines.</p></div> + +<p>So far as can be ascertained, Matthew Stretch +kept the tavern from 1801 to 1805, and James +Anderson in 1805 and 1806. Mr. John Townsend +was "mine host" from 1807 until 1826. +Unfortunately, none of his descendants possess +a portrait of him. Mr. Charles Townsend, of +St. Mary's, Stoke Bishop, Bristol, has in his +possession the original lease, in which the Bush +Tavern in Corn Street was transferred, on the +18th December, 1806, from Mr. John Weeks, +wine merchant, on the one part, to Mr. John +Townsend on the other part, at a yearly rental +of £395 of lawful money of the United Kingdom—the +term to be for fourteen years. The stables +and coach houses "of him, the said John +Weeks," situated in Wine Street, were included +in the transfer. Out of the rental the yearly +sum of £20 had to be paid by the owner, John +Weeks, to the parish of St. Ewen, for that part of +the coffee house which stood in the said parish.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>As showing how John Weeks safeguarded his +monopoly of coach-running to and from the +Bush Tavern, there was this stipulation in the +lease:—"The said John Townsend shall and +will from time to time and at all times during +the continuance of this demise take in and +receive at the said Tavern, hereby demised, all +and every Stage Coach or Public Carriage which +shall belong to the said John Weeks at any time +during this term, under the penalty of Two +thousand Pounds, and that he, the said John +Townsend, shall not nor will at any time during +the said Term, if the said John Weeks shall so +long run carriages of the aforesaid description, +take in at the said Tavern or Coffee Room any +Public Stage Coach or by way of evasion any +Public Carriage whatsoever used as a public +stage belonging to any person or persons whomsoever +without the consent and approbation of +the said John Weeks &c. in writing for that +purpose first had and obtained under the +penalty of two thousand pounds to be paid for +any default in the observance and performance +of the covenants herein before contained in that +behalf."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> +<p>According to Paterson's "Roads," John +Weeks in 1794 occupied a homestead called +"The Rodney," at Filton Hay, 4 miles from +Bristol on the Bristol to Tewkesbury Road.</p> + +<p>The following advertisement from a very old +newspaper will be interesting as indicative that in +addition to the John Weeks, of Bush Inn fame, +Bristol, there was at the Portsmouth end of the +Mail Coach route another worthy of the same +name, likewise engaged in the carrying trade, but +by sea instead of land:—"John Weeks, Master +of the Duke of Gloster Sloop, takes this method to +thank his friends and the public for their past +favours in the Southampton and Portsmouth +passage trade, and hopes for a continuance of the +same, as they may depend on his care, and the +time of sailing more regular than for many years +past. He sails from Southampton every Monday, +Wednesday, and Friday, and returns every +Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, wind and +weather permitting."</p> + +<p>In the <i>Bristol Journal</i> of Saturday, July 28, +1804, "James Anderson (who kept the Lamb +Inn, Broadmead, eleven years), begged to inform<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +his old friends and the public in general that he +has taken the Bush Inn, Tavern, and Coffee-house, +facing the Exchange, Bristol," where he +hoped, by constant attention, reasonable charges, +&c., to render everything agreeable and convenient +to those who might kindly give a preference +to his house. There had evidently been +some friction at the Bush under the late management, +for Mr. Anderson also intimated that +"those gentlemen who withdrew from the Bush +Coffee-room (upon Huntley's leaving it) are +solicited to use it, gratis, until Christmas next."</p> + +<p>In an advertisement following the above, John +Weeks solicited support to his new tenant at the +Bush, and added—"In the case of large dinners, +or other public occasions, John Weeks will assist +Mr. Anderson to give satisfaction."</p> + +<p>On the site of the 'Bush,' the head offices of +the late West of England and South Wales District +Bank were erected. The directors of the Bristol +and West of England Bank purchased the premises +on December 31st, 1880. Lloyd's Bank +now stands on the site.</p> + +<p>The White Lion, Bristol, was one of the most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +famous coaching houses in England, east, west, +north, or south. It stood in Broad Street, a +thoroughfare which belied its name as regards +breadth, and could only be considered broad by +comparison with the even narrower Small Street, +which ran parallel with it. Yet at one time +there were as many coaches passing in and out +of Broad Street as any street in Bristol, or even +in London!</p> + +<p>That the White Lion had attained a venerable +age may be judged from the fact that it is mentioned +in a list of old Bristol inns and taverns, +published in 1606. On May 10, 1610, the Duke +of Brunswick visited Bristol, and took up his +quarters at this house. In 1621 the Earl of +Essex, and in more modern times, the Grand +Duke Constantine of Russia, lodged there. The +father of Sir Thomas Lawrence was host of the +White Lion before he removed to the Bear Inn, +Devizes. In 1684, it appears to have been +the occasional hostelry of a Duke of Beaufort, +for in that year, during Monmouth's rebellion, +His Grace of Badminton was in Bristol, where +he commanded several regiments of militia<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +against the insurgents; and on that occasion +"the backward stables of the White Lion, in +Brode Street, were set on fire, and therein were +burnt to death two of the Duke of Beaufort's +best saddle horses. It was supposed to have +been done by the malice and envy of the fanaticks, +of whom a great many were sent prisoners +from Bristol to Gloucester, and there secured till +the rebellion was over."</p> + +<p>In Matthew's "New History or Complete +Guide to Bristol" for the year 1793, there are +the following entries respecting this erstwhile +great coaching establishment:—</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">White Lion, Broad Street.</span>—Thomas Luce +proprietor. To London: A coach in two days +sets out on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays +at seven o'clock in the morning.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">White Hart Inn, Broad Street.</span>—(The White +Hart adjoined the White Lion, and was a distinct +hostelry so far back as 1606.) George Poston. +To London: A coach in one day every morning +at four o'clock. To Birmingham: A coach every +morning (Sundays excepted) at four o'clock, also +a mail coach every evening at seven o'clock. To<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +Gloucester: A coach every morning at eight +o'clock. To Exeter: A coach every Monday, +Wednesday, and Friday morning at six. To +Bath: A coach every morning at nine o'clock +and four in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>The <i>Bristol Mirror</i> made announcements touching +the White Lion thus:—"March 10, 1804. +Wonderful cheap travelling. Fare inside 10s. 6d., +outside 8s. The public are respectfully informed +that coaches set out every Tuesday and Thursday +and Saturday morning from the White Lion and +White Hart, John Turner, Landlord, and arrive +at Birmingham the same evening. Performed +by Weeks, Poston & Co.</p> + +<p>"November 8, 1823. J. Niblett, White Lion, +Broad Street, announces change of Royal Mail +coach route to London and back. The Emerald +Post coach would run <i>via</i> Bath, Devizes, Marlborough, +and Maidenhead. £1 18s. inside, 16s. +outside.</p> + +<p>"April 12, 1832: New Royal Mail coach to +Bath daily at 7 a.m. Leaves York House, Bath, +on return at 5 p.m. Arrives at White Lion, +Bristol, at 6.30 p.m.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"April 21, 1832. Royal Mail to Liverpool +every day at 5 p.m. from White Lion, Broad +Street; arrive twelve noon the following day by +way of Chepstow, Monmouth, Hereford, Shrewsbury, +and Gloucester. Return journey Liverpool +5 p.m. Arrive White Lion 12 noon next day.</p> + +<p>Mr. Isaac Niblett, who became proprietor of the +White Lion Inn in 1823, in which year Thomas Luce +gave up the place, was a well-known individual +in the coaching world when the mail coach system +was at its zenith. He worked 600 coach and +post horses—a number only exceeded by the great +London coach proprietor Chaplin, with his 1,300, +and Horne and Sherman with their 700. Of the +twenty-two daily coaches between Bristol and +London the greater proportion made the White +Lion their headquarters. Amongst other coaches +with which Isaac Niblett was especially associated +were the "Red Rover" and the "Exquisite." +The "Red Rover" ran from Bristol to Brighton +through Bath, over Salisbury Plain, on to Southampton +and Chichester, and covered the distance +of 140 miles in fourteen hours. The "Exquisite" +used to run from Birmingham to Cheltenham,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +thence on through Bristol to Exeter. In the +<i>Bristol Directory and Gazette</i> of 1859, Mr. Niblett's +innkeepership is alluded to thus:—"Isaac Niblett, +White Lion and British Coffee House, family +commercial and posting house; hearse and +mourning coach proprietor." The White Hart, +family and commercial hotel, Broad Street, was +at that time kept by one Charles Smith.</p> + +<p>Mr. Isaac Niblett, like John Weeks, of Bush +Inn fame, had a country place near Bristol. He +owned, and stayed from time to time at the +Conigre House, Fylton. Mr. Niblett was for some +time the owner of the old Bush Inn stables in +Dolphin Street, according to evidence given in a +recent trial before the Judge of Assize at Bristol. +That site, as well as the Conigre Farm, Fylton, +is, it is believed, still in the possession of his lineal +descendants.</p> + +<p>The Grand Hotel, one of the largest in the West +of England, and most central in the city of Bristol, +now stands on the sites of both the White Lion +and the White Hart Hotels. Erected in 1869, it +was known as the new White Lion until 1874, +when its name was changed to that of the Grand +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>Hotel. The accompanying illustration of the +White Lion and the White Hart Inns, taken from +a lithograph engraving of about 1880 by the +well-known Bristol firm of lithographers, Messrs. +Lavars, must have been copied from a picture +produced subsequent to the old coaching days, +and, judging from the costumes of the pedestrians +depicted, the period was probably about 1860, or +a few years before the demolition of the old inns. +The figure of a white hart appears in the +picture over the entrance door of that hostelry +but the statue of a white lion, which for very +many years stood over the entrance gateway to +the inn of that name, and which is recollected by +many persons still living, was for some reason or +other omitted from the engraving.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-022.jpg" width="100%" alt="THE OLD WHITE LION COACHING INN, BROAD STREET, BRISTOL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE OLD WHITE LION COACHING INN, BROAD STREET, BRISTOL.</span> +</div> + +<p>The White Lion appears to have been the leading +Inn in the town in 1824, for on May 12 in +that year the Mayor, Corporation, and leading +citizens dined there on the occasion of the laying +of the foundation stone of the Bristol Council +House. Samuel Taylor Coleridge delivered lectures +in the large room of the Inn in 1800. It +was the "blue" house, and in later times the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +coach which most frequently entered its narrow +archway was driven by his Grace the sixth Duke +of Beaufort, who put up at the inn on his visits +to Bristol, as he had, it is said, a great respect for +Isaac Niblett's sterling qualities and fine sporting +instincts.</p> + +<p>What an evolution in pleasure and commercial +traffic has come about in the last three-quarters of a +century! When the White Lion in Broad Street and +the Bush Tavern in Corn Street were in their prime +as Coaching Inns, a four-in-hand Coach in Bristol's +narrow streets and on the neighbouring country +roads was so often in evidence as scarcely to +induce the pedestrian even to turn his head round +to look at one in passing. Now such a patrician +vehicle in Bristol's midst is brought down to an +unit, and it is left to Mr. Stanley White, son of +Sir George White, Bart., with his well-appointed +Coach and his team of bright chestnuts, to link old +Bristol with the traditions of past Coaching days. +Strange that Mr. Stanley White should have +blended in his one person the love of a coachman +for a team with the will and nerve to render him +one of Bristol's boldest and most expert drivers of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +the road machine of the latest kind, to wit: the +Motor Car.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-023.jpg" width="100%" alt="MR. STANLEY WHITE'S COACH." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. STANLEY WHITE'S COACH.<br /><br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-024.jpg" width="100%" alt="MR. STANLEY WHITE'S MOTOR CAR." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. STANLEY WHITE'S MOTOR CAR.<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>At a function in Bath in 1902, described in these +pages, Colonel Palmer, a descendant of John Palmer, +presented a small curiosity to the Corporation. +Readers of Pickwick will remember that, when +Mr. Pickwick was proceeding to Bath, Sam Weller +discovered inside the coach the name of "Moses +Pickwick," and wanted to fight the guard for +what he considered an outrage on his master. +Among John Palmer's papers was an old contract +for the Bristol and Bath Mail Service, and one of +the parties bore the name of Pickwick, and was +the landlord of the White Hart Hotel at Bath. +It was that contract which Colonel Palmer presented +to the Corporation, as a memorial both of +his grandfather and of Dickens.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">TOLL GATES AND GATE-KEEPERS.</p> + + +<p>As this book is devoted in great measure to +the mail services of old time—which had to +be carried on entirely by horse and rider or +driver—allusion may fittingly be made to the +toll gate system, which played its part in +connection with mail vehicular transport.</p> + +<p>Toll bars originated, it seems, so far back as +the year 1267. They were at first placed on the +outskirts of cities and market towns, and afterwards +extended to the country generally. The +tolls for coaches and postchaises on a long +journey were rather heavy, as the toll bars were +put up at no great distances from each other. +In the year 1766, Turnpike Trusts, taking advantage +of Sabbatarian feeling, charged double +rates on Sundays, but experienced travellers +sometimes journeyed on that day, and submitted +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>to the double impost, to gain the advantage of +avoiding highwaymen, who did not carry on +their avocation on Sunday, but gave themselves +up to riot, conviviality, or repose.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-025.jpg" width="100%" alt="BAGSTONE TURNPIKE GATE HOUSE. + +GATE ABOLISHED ABOUT 1870." title="" /> +<span class="caption">BAGSTONE TURNPIKE GATE HOUSE. + +GATE ABOLISHED ABOUT 1870.</span> +</div> + +<p>Coaches which carried H. Majesty's mails were +exempted by Act of Parliament from paying +tolls. The exemption of mail coaches from +paying tolls, a relief provided by the Act of 25th +George III., was really a continuation of the +old policy, by which the postboys of an earlier +age, riding on horseback, and carrying the mails +on the pommel of the saddle, had always been +exempt from toll, and the light mail carts of a +later age were always exempted.</p> + +<p>It was no great matter, one way or the +other, with the Turnpike Trusts, Mr. C.G. +Harper tells us in "The Mail and Stage Coach," +for the posts were then few and far between, +and the revenue almost nil; but the advent +of numerous mail coaches, running constantly +and carrying passengers, and yet contributing +nothing to the maintenance of the roads, +soon became a very real grievance to those +Trusts situated on the route of the mails. In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +1816 the various Turnpike Trusts approached +Parliament for a redress of these disabilities.</p> + +<p>Mail coaches continued, however, to go free +until the end of the system, although from 1798 +they had to pay toll in Ireland. In Scotland +in 1813 an Act was passed repealing the exemption +in that part of the kingdom. Pack horses +were superseded by huge wagons on the busiest +roads early in the eighteenth century. Over +5,000 Turnpike Acts for the improvement of +local roads were passed during the years 1700 +and 1770. At the latter part of this period, +narrow wheels were penalised more heavily +than broad wheels.</p> + +<p>Lewis Levy was a prominent man in the days +of Turnpike Trusts, as he was a farmer of +Metropolitan turnpike tolls to the tune of half +a million pounds a year!</p> + +<p>The history of toll bars is not wanting in +romance: "Blow up for the gate," would say +the coachman to the guard, when drawing near to +a "pike" in the darkness of night. Lustily might +guard blow, but it did not always have the +desired effect. "Gate, gate!" would shout +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>coachman and guard. Down would get guard +and tootle-tootle impatiently. And out would +shuffle in his loose slippers the "pike" keeper +in a dazed condition from fatigue produced by +frequent disturbances. As he opens the gate +he is soundly rated by coachman and guard, +and enjoined to leave the gate open for the next +mail down, or he would have to pay a fine of 40s. +to the Postmaster General, that being the penalty +for not preserving an unobstructed way for +H. Majesty's mails.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-026.jpg" width="100%" alt="TURNPIKE GATE HOUSE ON CHARFIELD AND WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE ROAD. + +GATE ABOLISHED 1880." title="" /> +<span class="caption">TURNPIKE GATE HOUSE ON CHARFIELD AND WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE ROAD. + +GATE ABOLISHED 1880.</span> +</div> + +<p>In the Bristol district toll bars were plentiful, +and attempts were made to erect ornate little +houses which should be pleasing to the eyes of +travellers. That such attempts were not always +unsuccessful, the picturesque toll-gate houses +depicted in these pages will demonstrate.</p> + +<p>In 1804, Sarah Rennison, widow of Thomas +Rennison, advertised that she lately had the +ladies' and gentlemen's cold baths, near Stokes +Croft Turnpike, effectually cleaned. "These +baths are supplied with water from a clear and +ever-flowing spring, uncontaminated by anything +whatever, as it flows from a clear and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +limpid stream from its source to the pipes in +the baths."</p> + +<p>This turnpike, named the Stokes Croft Gate, +stood on the turnpike way designated Horfield +Road. The gate was erected across the lane +leading from the said road to Rennison's Baths.</p> + +<p>Very soon after "Sarah's" announcement, +this landmark of the old city was doomed to +disappear, and the gate was removed from the +top of the Croft to a site some four or five hundred +yards further up the road, near to the present +railway arch.</p> + +<p>An advertisement from the <i>Bristol Journal</i>, +Saturday, July 14th, 1804, ran as follows:—"To +be sold, the materials of the old Turnpike House +at the top of Stoke's Croft. The purchaser to +be at the expense of pulling down and carrying +the same away. Also of pitching the site of the +house by the 20th of August next. For further +particulars apply to Messrs. John and Jere +Osborne."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-027.jpg" width="100%" alt="OLD TURNPIKE HOUSE ON THE WICKWAR ROAD." title="" /> +<span class="caption">OLD TURNPIKE HOUSE ON THE WICKWAR ROAD.</span> +</div> + +<p>The tolls for the year ended the 29th September, +1823, realised the sum of £1,800. The +notice respecting the letting of the tolls for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +succeeding year, based on such takings, was +signed by Osborne and Ward on the 14th of +October, 1823:</p> + +<p>The following is a toll gate announcement, +issued on July 13, 1826:—</p> + +<p>"Notice is hereby given that the Tolls +arising at the Toll Gates hereinafter particularly +mentioned will be severally Let by Auction, +to the best Bidders at the White Hart Inn, +Brislington, on Wednesday, the 16th day of +August next, between the hours of Eleven +o'clock in the forenoon and One o'clock in the +afternoon, in the manner directed by the Acts +passed in the third and fourth years of the reign +of his Majesty King George the Fourth, 'for +regulating Turnpike Roads'; which Tolls produced +last year the several Sums, and will be +Let in the several Parcels or Lots following—viz.:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Lot I.—The Tolls arising from the Arno's +Vale Gate, on the Brislington Road. £2,405.</p> + +<p>"Lot II.—The Tolls arising at the Knowle +Gate, on the Whitchurch Road. £660.</p> + +<p>"Lot III.—The Tolls arising at the Saltford +Gate, on the Brislington Road. £2,355.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> +<p>"Lot IV.—The Tolls arising at the Whitchurch +Gate, on the Whitchurch Road. £670.</p> + +<p>"And will be put up at those Sums respectively.</p> + +<p>"Whoever happens to be the best Bidder +must, at the same time, pay one Month in +advance (if required) of the Rent at which such +Tolls may be respectively Let, and give security, +with sufficient sureties to the satisfaction of +the Trustees of the said Turnpike Roads, for +payment of the rest of the money monthly.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">"OSBORNE and WARD,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 26em;">"Clerks to the Trustees of the said</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 30em;">Turnpike Roads.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Bristol, 13th July, 1826."<br /> +</p> + +<p>A turnpike ticket of 1840 was worded thus:—</p></div> + +<div class="center"> +Bristol Roads.<br /> +LAWFORD's GATE.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">July 8, 1840</span><br /> +<br /> +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="table1"> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td> </td><td>|</td><td>s.</td><td>|</td><td>d.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Waggon</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cart</td><td>1</td><td>|</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Coach, Chaise, &c.</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Gig</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Horses</td><td>2</td><td>|</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td>9</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Cattle</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sheep, Pigs</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Asses</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td><td>|</td><td> </td></tr> +</table></div> +</div> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 16em;">Clears Gates on the other side</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-028.jpg" width="100%" alt="OLD TOLL-BAR HOUSE, NEAR THE RIDGE, WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">OLD TOLL-BAR HOUSE, NEAR THE RIDGE, WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE.<br /></span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-029.jpg" width="100%" alt="[From an old Talbot-type Photograph in the possession of +Miss P.A. Fry, of Tower House, Cotham. + +ST. MICHAEL'S HILL TURNPIKE, BRISTOL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">[<i>From an old Talbot-type Photograph in the possession of +Miss P.A. Fry, of Tower House, Cotham.</i><br /><br /> + +ST. MICHAEL'S HILL TURNPIKE, BRISTOL.<br /></span> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> +<p>The other Bristol "Gates" were known as +Clifton, Redland, White Ladies, Horfield, St. +Michael's Hill, Cutler's Mills, Gallows Acre, +Barrow's Lane, Stapleton Bridge, Pack Horse +Lane, Fire-Engine Lane, George's Lane, West +Street, Cherry Garden, Fire-Engine, Blackbirds, +one full toll in each case.</p> + +<p>Thomas Brooks was the last toll-keeper at +St. Michael's Hill, Bristol. He held the office +until it was abolished in 1867. In the following +year he was appointed sub-postmaster of Cotham, +and removed from the old Toll House to a house +nearer the city. The Toll House stood at the +corner of Hampton Road and Cotham Hill, +where the fountain is now.</p> + +<p>Benjamin Gray, the last keeper of the "Stop +Gate" which stood near the Royal Oak Inn at +Horfield, held the office for 30 years. The gate +was to stop travellers entering the city by way of +Ashley Down Road, and thus escape paying the +tolls at the Zetland Road end of Gloucester +Road. There is a family connection between +the Gray and the Brooks families, and the +daughter of Benjamin now resides with Samuel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +Brooks, the old sexton of Horfield Church. A +model of the Horfield Stop Gate may be seen at +Robin Hood's Retreat near Berkeley Road, +Bristol.</p> + +<p>The last barrier on the great London to +Bristol Road was removed when the bridge +crossing the Thames at Maidenhead was freed +from toll at midnight, on November 30th, 1903. +There was a remarkable demonstration on the +occasion. Five hundred people waded through +the flooded streets to see the toll-gate removed +from the bridge which was erected so far back +as in 1772.</p> + +<p>Precisely at twelve by the toll-house clock +Corporation employés proceeded to remove the +gate, amid loud cheering. Many of the crowd +closed in, and finally seizing the huge gate, +carried it to the top of Maidenhead Bridge and +threw it into the river.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-030.jpg" width="100%" alt="STANTON DREW TURNPIKE GATE HOUSE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">STANTON DREW TURNPIKE GATE HOUSE.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>DARING ROBBERIES OF THE BRISTOL MAIL BY HIGHWAYMEN, +1726-1781.—BILL NASH, MAIL COACH ROBBER, +CONVICT AND RICH COLONIST, 1832.—BURGLARIES AT POST +OFFICES IN LONDON AND BRISTOL, 1881-1901.</p></div> + + +<p>The mail services between Bristol and the +Southern Counties came into great prominence +in 1903. The Postmaster-General was +appealed to on the subject, and the phantom of +the old Bristol and Portsmouth mail coach was +conjured up to form a comparison detrimental to +present-day arrangements. The discussion recalls +somewhat vividly the mail coach traditions of the +pre-railway period, and certainly the community +of to-day has, at all events, fallen on better times +as regards security of the mails, if not better night +mail services. In the General Post Office letter +in Lombard Street, 26th April, 1720, this note +appears:—"The Bristol Mail was again robbed +yesterday, in the same place as on Friday, by one +highwayman."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Mist's Journal</i> of Apl. 30, 1720, states:—"Last +week the Oxford Stage Coach was robbed between +Uxbridge and London, by the same highwaymen +as is supposed who robbed the Bristol Mail, one +of them having a scar on his forehead."</p> + +<p>"A man lately taken up near Maidenhead +Thicket, and charged with robbing the Cirencester +Stage Coach, has been examined by a Justice of +the Peace, who has committed him to Reading +Gaol. He is said to be a butcher's son of Thame, +in Oxfordshire."</p> + +<p>The following particulars relate to a Bristol +mail coach robbery in 1721. They were taken +from a pamphlet written by Wilson, who was one +of the highwaymen therein alluded to, and saved +his neck by informing. Wilson was a person of +education, but some of his statements were +questionable. The pamphlet was full of moral +reflections upon the evils of bad company, +gambling, &c.; it ran through several editions, +so it was no doubt popular. It will be interesting +as indicating the difficulties attending the Bristol +mail services of the period, and that death was +the penalty for robbing his Majesty's mails. It +runs thus in the heading:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"A full and impartial account of all the +robberies committed by John Hawkins, George +Sympson (lately executed for robbing the Bristol +mails), and their companions. Written by +Ralph Wilson, late one of their confederates. +London: Printed for J. Poole at the Lockes +Head in Paternoster Row. Price 6d."</p> + +<p>The following is an abbreviation of the contents +so far as they relate to the Bristol mails:—</p> + +<p>John Hawkins was the son of poor but honest +parents. His father was a farmer, and lived at +Staines, Middlesex. Had a slender education. +At 14 he waited on a gentleman, then was a +tapster's boy at the Red Lion, at Brentford; +got into service again, was butler to Sir Dennis +Daltry; took to gambling; was suspected of +being a confederate in robbing his master's house +of plate; was dismissed. At the age of 24 took +to highway robbery; stopped a coach on Hounslow +Heath, and eased the passengers of about £11; +with others committed several robberies on +Bagshot and Hounslow Heaths; was arrested +for attempting to rescue Captain Lennard, one of +his accomplices, but was discharged.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wilson, the writer of the pamphlet, was a +Yorkshireman; became clerk to a Chancery +barrister; met Hawkins at a gambling-house; +they became "great cronies." Wilson joins +Hawkins's gang; they commit several highway +robberies. Feb. 1, 1721, Wilson goes to Yorkshire; +Hawkins impeached several of his companions, +and one of them (Wright) was hanged. +Hawkins, Wilson, and others robbed one morning +the Cirencester, the Worcester, the Gloster, the +Oxford, and the Bristol stage coaches; the next +morning the Ipswich and Colchester coaches; a +third morning, perhaps the Portsmouth. The +Bury coach was "our constant customer."</p> + +<p>Sympson, who was born at Putney, and had no +education, had by this time joined the gang. +The robberies were continued. In April (1722) +they went back to their old design of robbing +the mail coaches. They first proposed to rob the +Harwich mail, but gave up that design because +that mail was "as uncertain as the wind." They +then decided to rob the Bristol mail. Wilson +said he objected to this plan, but he joined in +it. They set out Sunday, April 15th. "The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +next morning being Monday, we took the mail, +and again on Wednesday morning. The meaning +of taking it twice was to get the halves of +some bank bills, the first halves whereof we took +out of the mail on Monday morning." On +Monday, April 23rd, Wilson learnt at the Moorgate +Coffee House that there was a great request +for the robbers of the Bristol mail. He therefore +contemplated taking a passage to Newcastle, +but before he could do so he was arrested, and +carried to the General Post Office, where he was +examined by the Postmaster-General. He was +again examined by the Postmaster-General +(Carteret) the next morning, but he denied all +knowledge of the robbery. While under examination, +a messenger came from Hawkins, who was +in prison at the Gate House, "to let the Post-house +know that he had impeached me." One +of the officers of the Post Office then showed +Wilson an unsigned letter, which he recognised +as being in Sympson's handwriting, confessing +his share in the robbery, and offering to secure +his two companions. Wilson then decided to +confess. Hawkins and Sympson were tried, +found guilty, and executed 21st May, 1722.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + +<p>In connection with this Bristol mail robbery, +the following are interesting particulars from the +calendar of Treasury papers:—"Memorial of +William Saunderson, clerk, to Sir Robert Walpole. +Says he was author of an expedient to prevent +the Bristol and other mails from being robbed. +The scheme seems to have been to write with red +ink on the foreside of all bank notes the name of +the post town where they were posted, the day of +the month, and also the addition of these words, +viz.:—'From Bristol to London,' &c. These +services (presumably Saunderson's) have been +attended with great expense and loss of time, +and no mail robberies have since been committed. +Asks for compensation. Referred 11th April, +1728, to postmasters to report. May 23, 1728.—Affidavit +of W. Saunderson, receiver, of Holford, +West Somerset (probably the same person), that +he sent a letter subscribed A.Z. to the Postmaster-General +offering an expedient to prevent the +robbing of the Bristol and other mails, and of the +subsequent negotiations with the Post Office; +has never received any reward. Mr. Carteret +claimed the contrivance of the scheme wholly to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +himself. May 29th.—Postmaster-General's report +of 17th April read: 'My Lords satisfied +with the report.' Saunderson had no pretence +to any reward. Scheme entirely formed at Post +Office without assistance of Saunderson or anybody +else. Saunderson called in, informed that +my Lords adhere to Postmaster-General's report, +and nothing more will be ordered therein."</p> + +<p>Stealing a letter or robbing the mail was a +capital offence long after Hawkins and Sympson +expiated their offences on the scaffold. Thus a +notice from the General Post Office on the 24th +July, 1767, issued in the <i>London Evening Post</i>, +dated "From Tuesday, July 28th, to Thursday, +July 30th, 1767," recited that—"Notice is +hereby given that by an Act passed the last +Session of Parliament, 'For amending certain +Laws relating to the revenue of the Post +Office, and for granting rates of postage for +the conveyance of letters and packets between +Great Britain and the Isle of Man, and within +that Island,' it is enacted—That from and after +the first day of November, 1767, if any person +employed or afterwards to be employed in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +Post Office shall 'secrete, embezzle, or destroy +any letters, &c.,' 'every such offender, being +thereof convicted, shall be deemed guilty of +felony and shall suffer death as a felon, without +benefit of clergy.' Also if any person or persons +whatsoever shall rob any mail or mails, in which +letters are sent or conveyed by post, although +it shall not prove to be highway robbery or robbery +committed in a dwelling-house, yet such +offender or offenders shall be 'deemed guilty of +felony, and shall suffer death as a felon, without +benefit of clergy.'" In 1781 there was another +robbery of the Bristol mail. The occurrence +was set forth in detail in the following notice, +which was issued on January 29th in that +year:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +"General Post Office, Jan. 29, 1781. +</p> + +<p>"The Postboy bringing the Bristol Mail this +morning from Maidenhead was stop't between +two and three o'clock by a single Highwayman +with a crape over his face, between the 11th and +12th milestones, near the Cranford Bridge, who +presented a pistol to him, and after making him +alight, drove away the Horse and Cart, which +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>were found about 7 o'clock this morning in a +meadow field near Farmer Lott's at Twyford, +when it appears that the greatest part of the +letters were taken out of the Bath and Bristol +Bags, and that the following bags were entirely +taken away:—Pewsey, Ramsbury, Bradford, +Henley, Cirencester, Gloucester, Ross, Presteign, +Fairford, Aberystwith, Carmarthen, Pembroke, +Calne, Trowbridge, Wallingford, Reading, Stroud, +Ledbury, Hereford, Northleach, Lechlade, Lampeter, +Tenby, Abergavenny, Newbury, Melksham, +Maidenhead, Wantage, Wotton-under-Edge, +Tewkesbury, Leominster, Cheltenham, Hay, Cardigan, +Haverfordwest.</p> + +<p>"The person who committed this robbery is +supposed to have had an accomplice, as two +persons passed the Postboy on Cranford Bridge +on Horseback, prior to the Robbery, one of whom +he thinks was the robber; but it being so +extremely dark, he is not able to give any description +of their persons.</p> + +<p>"Whoever shall apprehend and convict, or +cause to be apprehended and convicted, the +person who committed this Robbery, will be +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>entitled to a reward of Two Hundred Pounds, +over and above the Reward given by Act of +Parliament for apprehending Highwaymen; or +if any person, whether an Accomplice in the +Robbery or knoweth thereof, shall make Discovery +whereby the Person who committed the +same may be apprehended and brought to Justice, +such Discoverer will upon conviction of +the party be entitled to the Same Reward of +Two Hundred Pounds, and will also receive his +Majesty's most gracious Pardon.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 18em;">"By Command of the Postmaster-General,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 28em;">"ANTH. TODD, Sec."</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<p>The robbery, which was graphically described +by Mr. G. Hendy, of St. Martin's-le-Grand, in +the 1901 Christmas Number of "The Road," +does not appear to have been a very daring one +as regards the act itself, but it was so as to its +consequences. There was no mail coach—no +driver in scarlet—no mail guard—no passengers, +but only a ramshackle iron mail cart—a "postboy" +as driver and carrying no arms. What a +contrast is this old mail cart with a single horse, +carrying the mails for all the places enumerated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +in the Notice, to the splendidly appointed four-horse +mail coaches of a period thirty years later +on, or to the present time, when on the Great +Western Railway one whole train is used to carry +only a moiety of the King's mail to Bristol and +the West! No wonder that the postboy fell an +easy victim to the highwaymen, who bound him +and threw him into an out-of-the-way field. +The desperadoes proved to be two brothers, +young men of the name of Weston.</p> + +<p>The Westons, after the robbery, went up and +down the country on the North road very rapidly, +in order to get rid of the £10,000 to £15,000 +worth of bank notes and bills which they plundered +from the mails. The Bow Street runners +were on their track from the first, and the chase +continued from London to Carlisle and back. +The vagabonds were not, however, captured, and +the notice was exhibited all over the country, +with the addition of the description of the men +wanted by the thief-catchers.</p> + +<p>In 1782, the brothers were tried for another +offence and acquitted, but they were arrested at +once for the robbery of the Bristol mail and com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>mitted +to Newgate. On trial they were found +guilty, and paid the penalty of death by hanging +at Tyburn, on the 3rd September, 1782. In +later years the death penalty for robbing mails +was abolished, and at least one old sinner who +robbed the Bristol mail eventually did remarkably +well through having committed that dire +offence against the laws, and by having been +transported to the Antipodes at his country's +expense.</p> + +<p>Particulars of his career have been furnished +by Mr. R.C. Newick, of Cloudshill, St. George, +Bristol, by means of the following extract from +a work published in 1853, "Adventures in Australia, +'52-'53," by the Rev. Berkeley Jones, M.A., +late curate of Belgrave Chapel (Bentley, London, +1853):—"If you turn into any of the auction +rooms in Sydney the day after the gold escort +comes in you may see and, if you can, buy, pretty +yellow-looking lumps from about the size of a +pin's head to a horse bean, or, if you prefer it, a +flat piece about the size of a small dessert plate. +One of the greatest buyers is an old pardoned +convict of the name of 'William,' or, as he is there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +more commonly called, 'Bill' Nash, who robbed +the Bristol mail, of which he was the guard. +His wife followed him—as some say, with the +booty—and set up a fine shop in Pitt Street in +the haberdashery line. Under the old system he +was assigned to her as a servant. Her own +husband her domestic! What a burlesque on +transportation as a punishment! He is very +unpopular with the old hands, as he returned to +England and offered an intentional affront to +Queen Victoria when driving in the Park, by +drawing his horses across the road as her equipage +was driving by. He cut a great dash in the +Regent's Park, and was known as the 'flash +returned convict.' We stood by him at Messrs. +Cohen's auction room when the gold fraud +(planting on the gold buyers nuggets made in +Birmingham) was discussed. He addressed us, +and we cannot add that he prepossessed us much +in his favour. He looks what he is and has been. +In a little cupboard-looking shop in King Street +he may be seen in shirt sleeves spreading a tray +full of sovereigns in the shop front and heaping up +bank-notes as a border to them, inviting anyone<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +to sell their gold to him. We believe he is now +among the wealthiest men of New South Wales."</p> + +<p>By the year 1830 the terror inspired by highwaymen +had no doubt diminished, but the coach +proprietors thought it prudent to guard themselves +against loss, and so they put increased +charges on the articles of value they had to carry. +On the 1st September, 1830, a coaching notice +of about 1,000 words, based on an Act of Parliament, +was put forth by Moses Pickwick and Company +from the White Hart, Bath. A copy of +this notice on a large screen was exhibited +recently at the Dickens celebration at Bath. +The notice, in legal or other jargon, announced +the increased rate of charge for commission by +mail or stage coach of articles of value. Put +into plain form, the increased rates of charge +were as follows, <i>viz.</i>:—Additional charge for +parcel or package over £10 in value.—For every +pound, or for the value of every pound, contained +in such parcel or package over and above the +ordinary rate of carriage, not exceeding 100 miles, +1d.; 100 to 150 miles, 1½d.; 150 to 200 miles, +2d.; 200 to 250 miles, 2½d.; exceeding 250 +miles, 3d.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-031.jpg" width="100%" alt="[By permission of "Bath Chronicle." + +THE WHITE HART COACHING INN, BATH." title="" /> +<span class="caption" style="margin-left: 9em;">[<i>By permission of "Bath Chronicle."</i><br /><br /> + +THE WHITE HART COACHING INN, BATH.</span> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> +<p>Few people now bear in mind the great robbery +of registered letters from the Hatton Garden +Branch Post Office, London, in November, 1881, +which was effected with skill and daring, and yet +with simplicity as to method. At 5.0 p.m. on +the eventful day the members of the staff were +busily engaged, when, lo! the gas suddenly +went out, and the office, which was full of people +at the time, was left in darkness. The lady +supervisor obtained matches, went to the basement +and there found that the gas had been turned +off at the meter. When the gas had been turned +on again and lighted, it was discovered that the +registered letter bag, which had already been +made up and was awaiting the call of the collecting +postman, was missing. The bag contained +40 registered letters, and their value was +estimated at from £80,000 to £100,000. In the +many years which have elapsed since the great +robbery no clue to the perpetrators of the daring +deed has been discovered. No further attempts +at such robberies took place for some time, but +in the year 1888 several daring burglaries took +place at post offices in London. The Smithfield<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +Branch Post Office was the first broken into, the +thieves staying in the office from Saturday night +to Sunday night. During that interval they +removed the safe from under the counter, placed +it in the Chief Officer's enclosure, broke it open +and rifled the contents. Cash and stamps to the +value of about £180 were stolen. In the autumn +of the same year the Aldgate B.O. was burgled—a +Saturday night being chosen for the exploit. +The manner in which the burglary was effected +leaves little doubt that the depredation was +committed by the same gang of thieves. The +safe was broken open, but in this case it was +left under the counter, where it stood, and was +there rifled of its contents. The interior of the +office, including a part of the counter under +which the safe stood, was fully visible from the +outside, the woodwork in front of the office having +been kept low for the purpose, and it was marvellous +that the thieves were not detected, as a +poor woman had just been murdered by +"Jack the Ripper" within 200 yards, and the +road in front of the post office was thronged +with excited people. The thieves in this case<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +got off with cash and stamps to the value of +£328.</p> + +<p>Later in the same year, the South Kensington +Branch Post Office was entered by burglars under +precisely similar circumstances. The thieves +only obtained the small sum of £6, as, being +disturbed, they decamped in haste, leaving +behind them their tools and certain articles of +clothing. They had removed the safe, weighing +1½ cwt., from the public office without being +observed, although it was taken from a spot +immediately in front of a large window, through +which police and passers-by could command +full view of the office. The Westbourne Grove +and Peckham Branch Post Offices were also +burglariously entered in the same year. Although +the burglars were not discovered in connection +with these post office robberies, and none more +daring of their kind have occurred since, they +probably were imprisoned for some other misdemeanour. +Was it—it may well be asked—this +same gang of burglars released from durance vile +who committed the post office robbery which in +1901 took place at Westbury-on-Trym, a suburb<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +of Bristol, three miles distant from the city? +For daring it might well have been they, as +the following account will demonstrate.</p> + +<p>The post office, be it said, was in the middle of +the village and within 200 yards of the Gloucestershire +Constabulary Depôt, and actually within +sight of it. It was during the early hours of the +morning of the 18th October that the burglary +took place. Not far from the post office building +operations were being carried on, and from the +houses in course of erection the thieves obtained +a ladder and a wheelbarrow. Making their way +to the side of the premises, one member of the +gang, by means of the borrowed ladder effected +an entrance through the fanlight over the postmen's +room door, and marks of damp stockinged +feet revealed the fact that they crept through a +sliding window into the post office counter room, +where the safe was located. The street door +was then opened to their confederates, and the +safe, weighing nearly 2 cwt., was carried to the +barrow outside. The thieves retired to a partially +completed dwelling for the purpose of examining +the contents of the safe. They broke open the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +carpenter's locker, and many tools were subsequently +found on the floor. These evidently +had not assisted the gang to any great extent, +as they found it necessary to use a heavy pickaxe. +The noise they made seems to have +aroused the inmates of the neighbouring houses, +and it is said that one resident struck a light +and actually saw them at work, but he concluded +that they were merely doing something +in connection with the extensive drainage +alterations which had been in progress for many +months. This light apparently disturbed the +thieves, for they departed with their burden +and the pickaxe and retraced their steps. Close +to the Parish Institute they managed, in spite +of the darkness, to discover a gap in the hedge, +and having forced the wheelbarrow through +this, they left unmistakable traces of the route +taken across the adjoining field.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-032.jpg" width="100%" alt="THE OLD POST OFFICE, WESTBURY-ON-TRYM." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE OLD POST OFFICE, WESTBURY-ON-TRYM.</span> +</div> + +<p>Having wheeled the safe some 300 or 400 yards, +and some 50 yards beyond the cottages in Canford +Lane, they again brought the pickaxe into +requisition, and some hours later a workman +discovered the safe, with one end broken into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +dozens of pieces, lying near the hedge. He at +once gave information to the police. It was +afterwards found that, although the thieves had +removed the paper money from the safe, they +had thrown the postal orders, money order +forms, stamps, licenses, etc., into a neighbouring +field, where they were found strewn about in +great disorder. The safe contained postal orders +stamps, postcards, and cash of the total value of +£315. Cash to the value of £25 was the extent +of the thieves' booty, and they left behind them +three £5 notes, half a sovereign, and two sixpences, +which were found on the grass. As all +the articles were dry, it was apparent that the +robbery took place after 2 a.m., up to which +time there had been rain. The officials at the +office had begun their morning's work quite unconscious +of what had happened, when Police +Sergeant Greenslade appeared with the handle +of the safe. The fact of the officials not having +been disturbed may be accounted for by the +circumstance that blasting operations had been +carried on at night in the immediate neighbourhood +for some twelve months before. The sub-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>postmistress +and her family, it appeared, did not +retire to rest until very near midnight, and it is +supposed that they were in their first heavy +sleep, but it is a mystery why the dog, a sharp +fox terrier, remained quiet.</p> + +<p>The safe was kept in a prominent position in +the shop—two people slept just over it—and the +exterior of the shop was well lighted at night by a +large public lamp. Sleeping in the house were +several females and males, one of the latter being +an ex-Sergeant-Major of Dragoons, 6 feet 2 inches +in height and of great bodily strength. Next +door lived a baker whose workman is about +early in the morning, so it may be inferred that +the burglars had no small amount of nerve. +Within a week another robbery took place at a +mansion within a mile of the post office. This +occurred in the evening. Whether or not this +second burglary was the work of the same gang +which carried off the post office safe, there is +similar evidence of most carefully laid plans and +of intimate acquaintance with the house and the +habits of its occupants.</p> + +<p>Ere the excitement of these two burglaries<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +had passed off as a nine days' wonder, another +robbery equally bold in character took place, +and this time in the very centre of the city of +Bristol, and in its most frequented thoroughfare. +A jeweller's shop window was rifled at 6.0 a.m., +at a time when the police were being relieved. +The thieves got off with about £2,000 worth of +rings, etc. These three burglaries in conjunction +seem to indicate the work of one gang of professional +burglars hailing probably from the +Metropolis.</p> + +<p>A little time later, a post office safe in the West +End of London was rifled, the burglars discarding +old methods of violence in breaking it open, and +using a jet of oxyhydrogen flame to burn away +a portion of the safe door!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL MAILS.—FROM COACH TO +RAIL—THE WESTERN RAILROAD.—POST OFFICE ARBITRATION +CASE.</p></div> + + +<p>When the construction of the Great Western +Railway was in contemplation, the +prospect of the Londoner being able to pay a +morning visit to Bristol, in even four or five +hours, was hailed with satisfaction, as will be +gathered from the following article from <i>The Sun</i> +newspaper of March 26th, 1832:—</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Railway from London to Bristol.</span>—We +understand that two civil engineers of eminence, +Henry H. Price and Wm. Brunton, Esqrs., are +busily occupied (under the auspices of some +leading interests) in making the necessary surveys +for the above important work. We hail with +satisfaction the prospect of seeing the metropolis, +ere long, thus closely approximated to the Bristol +Channel and Western Seas, when four or five<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +hours will enable us to pay a morning visit to +Bristol. Nothing can tend more to increase and +consolidate the power of the empire than to give +the greatest possible facility of intercourse between +its distant points. When the London and +Bristol railway shall be completed, it will be very +possible, in connexion with the Irish steam-boats +from the latter port, for cattle and other Irish +produce to be conveyed to the London market +within 32 hours from the time of shipment at +Cork, Waterford, &c., and thus, at a cheap rate, +will the London market be thrown immediately +open to the Irish agriculturist; at the same time +the London consumers will be benefited in proportion +to the greater extent of country thrown +open whence they may derive their supplies. +Liverpool, we understand, imports above 7,000 +head of live stock per week; much of which is +conveyed to Manchester by the railway, and we +may surely hope for a similar result to the +metropolis, when the direct communication is +opened with Ireland by similar means. In a +political point of view, the importance of the +great work in question is too obvious to require a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +moment's comment. We need only state, that in +case of emergency, four to five hours will be +sufficient to convey any quantity of men or stores +from our depôts or arsenals near London to +Bristol, whence they will be ready to embark for +any point where they may be required, and we at +once prove that railways, judiciously constructed +across the country, may be made, not only the +means of economy to the Government (smaller +establishments being necessary), but that they +tend more than anything else to concentrate and +consolidate the strength of an empire, and are an +additional guarantee against war and foreign +aggression."</p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-033.jpg" width="100%" alt="PRIMITIVE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY TRAIN BETWEEN +BRISTOL AND BATH, PASSING KELSTON." title="" /> +<span class="caption">PRIMITIVE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY TRAIN BETWEEN +BRISTOL AND BATH, PASSING KELSTON.</span> +</div> + +<p>In these days of special trains, composed +exclusively of Post Office carriages, such for +instance as the night mail on the Great Western +Railway, leaving Paddington at 9.5 p.m., consisting +of eight coaches with engine (usually the +"Alexandra" or "Duke of York"), and measuring +400 feet in length, which runs the whole +journey from London to Penzance in the space +of 9 hours 40 minutes, stopping at Bristol and a +few other first-class stations en route, it may be +interesting to recall the earliest period of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +conveyance of mails by railway. Light is +thrown thereon in the following correspondence +relating to the then conveyance of the mails to +Manchester and Liverpool, partly by the recently-constructed +railway, and partly by road:—"Liverpool, +4th July, 1837. Dear Sir, We +reached this place precisely at half-past twelve—exactly +an hour behind our time—the loss arose +out of various little <i>contretemps</i>, which a little +practice will set right. This is the first time in +Europe so long a journey was performed in so +short a time, and if, some very few years ago, it +had been said a letter could be answered by return +of post from London, the idea would have been +treated as chimerical, and yet at eight last evening +was I in London, and this letter will reach there +to-morrow morning, the proceeding of these +operations occupying a period of 34½ hours only, +out of which a rest of three hours is to be taken, +thus performing a distance of 412 miles in 31½ +hours.</p> + +<p>"Our mail coach was before its time full 15 +minutes, notwithstanding at one place we could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +not find horses, except posters; and at another +when posters were found there was no coachman; +luckily there was one on the mail, looking out for +a place, with which we suited him. To-night, +doubtless, all will go right (some dispute among +the amiable contractors, I believe to be the +cause). I need hardly observe that I have +adopted proper measures. I have the honour +to be, Dear Sir, Yours very faithfully, (Signed) +Geo. Louis. To Lt.-Col. Maberley, &c., &c., +&c."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-034.jpg" width="100%" alt="BRISTOL AND EXETER RAILWAY TRAIN BRINGING MAILS +TO BRISTOL ON THE DECLINE OF THE MAIL COACH SYSTEM ABOUT 1844 +(CLIFTON BRIDGE ANTICIPATED BY THE ARTIST.)" title="" /> +<span class="caption">BRISTOL AND EXETER RAILWAY TRAIN BRINGING MAILS +TO BRISTOL ON THE DECLINE OF THE MAIL COACH SYSTEM ABOUT 1844. +(CLIFTON BRIDGE ANTICIPATED BY THE ARTIST.)</span> +</div> + +<p>"Manchester, 4th July, 1837. Sir, I have +much pleasure in stating that the London Bag +arrived here this day by railway at half-past +twelve p.m. The Bag to London was despatched +as usual this morning by the mail coach, but +concluding that a <i>return by the railway</i> is intended +both this day and to-morrow (although the +arrangements generally do not commence until +the 6th) I make a despatch with such letters as +are in the office at half-past two p.m., and propose +doing the same to-morrow. I am, Sir, Your +most obedient, humble Servant, (Sig.) G.F. +Karstadt. To Lt.-Col. Maberley."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"4th July, 1837. Manchester. G. Karstadt, +Esq. For the Postmaster-General. I enclose a +letter from Mr. Louis with this report from Mr. +Karstadt as to the first working of the railroad. +I am sorry to say that it appears from the time +bills an hour was lost upon the railroad coming +up. (Signed) J.V.L.M. (Lt.-Col. Maberly). 5th +July, 1837. Read, Lichfield (Lord Lichfield)." +The coaches running all the way through at this +period were timed to leave London at 8 p.m., +and arrive at Liverpool and Manchester at 2.30 +p.m. On the up journey the coaches left Manchester +and Liverpool at 11.30 a.m., and reached +London at 6.30 a.m.</p> + +<p>The conveyance of the mail partly by road +and partly by rail came into operation on the +Western road from 1838 to 1841 as section by +section of the Great Western Railway became +completed. Thus, in 1840, mails which had come +by road between Maidenhead and Bath were +brought into Bristol by trains composed of very +primitive engines, tenders and coaches, as depicted +in the illustrations taken from engravings +of the period.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. J.W. Arrowsmith, the world-wide known +Bristol Publisher, recently reprinted Arrowsmith's +Railway Guide of 1854, the year of its first issue. +It is interesting to note from the re-publication +that the shortest time in which Mails and +passengers were conveyed between London and +Plymouth was 7 hours, 25 minutes, and between +Plymouth and London 7 hours, 35 minutes. +What a change a half-century has brought about! +The pace of the trains has been vastly increased, +and even goods trains accomplish the journey +from London to Bristol in three hours. There is +no such thing as finality in speed, as the Great +Western Railway Company has been trying a +French engine, with a view to beat all previous +records. One of these engines was tried in France +with the equivalent of fifteen loaded coaches +behind it. It was brought to a dead stop on a +steep incline, and when started again it gathered +speed, so that before the summit was reached it +was travelling at its normal speed—74.6 miles an +hour.</p> + +<p>This new engine, "La France," recently accomplished +a brilliant feat. She was started from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +Exeter with a load of twelve of the largest corridor-bogies, +one being a "diner," the whole weight +behind her tender, including passengers, staff, +luggage, and stores, being nearly 330 tons. "La +France" ran the 75½ miles to Temple Meads +Station, Bristol, in 72½ minutes, start to stop, +thus averaging 62.5 miles an hour, although she +had to face a 20-mile climb at the start, the last +27 miles of this stretch being at 1 in 115. She +went on from Bristol to London, 118½ miles, with +the same heavy load, in exactly 118 minutes. +Her time from Bath to Paddington, 107 miles, +was 104 minutes; from Swindon, 77¼ miles, 72 +minutes; from Reading, 36 miles, 33 minutes.</p> + +<p>A good performance in long distance railway +running was established by the Great Western +Railway Company in connection with the visit in +1903 of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Cornwall. +Their Royal Highnesses left Paddington in +a special division of the Cornishman at 10.40 a.m., +the train being timed to do the non-stop run to +North Road, Plymouth, a distance of 245 miles, +in four hours and a half. This time was, however, +reduced to the extent of 36¼ min., the train +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>steaming into North Road at 33¾ minutes past +2 o'clock. The train covered during the first +hour's run 67¾ miles, the average speed for the +whole journey to Plymouth being 1.049 miles +per minute. The journey was performed in +about half the time occupied in 1854.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-035.jpg" width="100%" alt="[By permission of "Great Western Railway Magazine." + +"LA FRANCE"—POWERFUL NEW GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY ENGINE." title="" /> +<span class="caption" style="margin-left: 2em;">[<i>By permission of "Great Western Railway Magazine."</i><br /><br /> + +"LA FRANCE"—POWERFUL NEW GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY ENGINE.</span> +</div> + +<p>The up train, which runs from Bristol to London +in exactly two hours, via Badminton, is matched +by a down train in the same time by the easier +but slightly longer main line (<i>via</i> Bath), giving a +start-to-stop speed of 59-1/8 miles an hour, with +a dead slow through Bath Station. But to Bath, +where a coach is slipped, the inclusive speed is +60 miles an hour, as the distance is 107 miles (all +but 10 chains), and the time from Paddington, +1 hr. 47 min. This is by the 10.50 a.m. +"Cornishman," and is said to be the first Great +Western train ever booked at a mile a minute, +and the first train on any London Railway even +"scheduled" at that speed.</p> + +<p>In connection with the Mail Services between +the Metropolis and Bristol, the "Gate of the West," +it may be appropriate here to mention the recent +arbitration case between the Great Western Rail<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>way +Company and H.M. Postmaster-General in +regard to remuneration for conveyance of Mails.</p> + +<p>The Company, dissatisfied with the payment of +£115,000 a year under their contract of 1885, +subsequently raised by small additions, from time +to time, to £126,000 a year, brought their case +before the Railway Commissioners, who awarded +£135,855 a year from the 1st July, 1902. This +amount covered the provision of a new postal +train in each direction between London and +Penzance. It was Sir Frederick Peel who delivered +the judgment of the Court.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>PRIMITIVE POST OFFICE.—FIFTH CLAUSE POSTS.—MAIL +CART IN A RHINE.—EFFECT OF GALES ON POST AND +TELEGRAPH SERVICE.</p></div> + + +<p>The Bristol Postal District, stretching from +the Severn banks beyond Oldbury-on-Severn +to a point near Bath, and thence straight +across to the Bristol Channel again, consists of +ground within the City and County of Bristol, +and the Counties of Gloucestershire and Somersetshire. +The border of Wiltshire is touched +near Dyrham and Badminton, and the district +is separated from Monmouthshire by the estuary +of the River Severn.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-036.jpg" width="100%" alt="HORTON THATCHED POST OFFICE AT THE FOOT OF COTSWALD HILLS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HORTON THATCHED POST OFFICE AT THE FOOT OF COTSWALD HILLS.</span> +</div> + +<p>Post Offices showing signs of great antiquity +are scarcely in existence now, for at the present +day the wide district thus described in the preceding +paragraph contains within its boundaries +only one post office established under the +primitive but comfortable and picturesque<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +thatched roof. This is the Horton Post Office. +The picture of this post office is from an excellent +photograph taken by Miss Begbie, a daughter of +the Rector of Horton. The village lies at the +foot of the Cotswolds, and near this spot, in +quiet retreat, William Tyndale translated the +New Testament. The Duke of Beaufort's +hounds meet from time to time in the Horton +Post Office yard. This rustic place was originally +the village ale house, yclept "The Horse Shoe." +It is now devoted to the more useful purpose of +the sale of stamps and the posting and distribution +of letters, under the able and energetic +superintendence of Mrs. Slade.</p> + +<p>Such Postal Sub-Districts as Horton, far remote +from their principal centre, were classified under +Parliamentary legislation. Thus the fifth Clause +posts of early in the 19th Century took their name +from the Act 41, Geo. 3, Ch. 7, Clause 5, under +which they were established. Special post marks +were in use for such posts. In the case of the +Bristol district there was only one 5th Clause +post, namely, at Thornbury, which was established +in 1825, and under its regulations one penny<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +was charged for the delivery of each letter at +Thornbury. The post was a horse post from +and to Bristol, and the Contractor delivered +and collected bags at Almondsbury and Fylton, +which were both "penny posts." The main +object of the fifth Clause post was to join up +small towns with the larger post towns and so it +was that Thornbury became thus linked on to +Bristol. On the other hand, Bristol had 63 penny +posts, including Almondsbury and Fylton, which +were denoted by numbers 1 to 63, Clifton being +No. 1.</p> + +<p>Of the 52 "Fifth Clause Posts" existing in 1839 +Bristol had only the one which joined Bristol +and Thornbury.</p> + +<p>Owing to there being no settled port of departure +or arrival for vessels employed for conveyance +of Foreign Mails, the letters were frequently +despatched by privately-owned ships. They were +then impressed with a post-mark "Ship Letter," +with the name of the town included.</p> + +<p>The Penny Post letters were such as had been +posted in any one of the 63 Bristol Penny Post +Sub-District Offices for delivery in the district of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +posting, or in any of the 62 other Offices. Thus +a letter posted in Fylton for delivery in Fylton +would be charged one penny upon being handed +in at that Post Office, and another penny would +be obtained on delivery to the addressee.</p> + +<p>A letter posted at the Penny Post Office of +Almondsbury for delivery in the Penny Post +District of Fylton would be charged a penny +upon being handed in at the Almondsbury Office +and another penny would be charged to the +addressee on delivery. Thornbury being a 5th +Clause Post would have letters posted in its +special "Open" box, delivered in the Thornbury +Postal area for the one penny, that charged on +delivery.</p> + +<p>A letter posted in the "Open" box at Thornbury +(5th Clause Post) for Bristol would likewise +travel from Poster to addressee for the 1d. delivery +charge in Bristol, as bags would be exchanged +between the two places.</p> + +<p>A single letter, <i>i.e.</i>, a letter without an enclosure, +coming from Reading for Thornbury, would +be charged a general post rate of 8d. to Bristol, +plus 1d. for delivery, which would be the same in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +the cases of letters from Reading for Fylton or +Almondsbury; but if a letter were posted at +Thornbury for Reading, there would be no charge +from Thornbury to Bristol, so that the addressee +would only be called upon to pay the general +post rate of 8d., whereas, the postage on a letter +from Fylton or Almondsbury would be 8d., plus +a penny charged for collection.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 20%;"> +<img src="images/illus-037.jpg" width="100%" alt="EARLY BRISTOL POST MARKS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">EARLY BRISTOL POST MARKS.</span> +</div> + +<p>The mail services in the rural districts are not +free from danger. The pitcher may have been +carried to the fountain year after year without +mishap, but it not infrequently becomes broken +at last. In like manner the contractor for the +Portishead, Clevedon, and Yatton mail cart +service, after having driven over this route with +immunity from accident for forty years, yet +came to grief in the last week of his connection +with His Majesty's mails, January, 1902. The +contractor's time table was arranged thus:—Portishead, +leave 9.15 p.m.; Clevedon, arrive +10.5 p.m., leave 10.50 p.m.; Yatton, arrive 11.28 +p.m.; attend to apparatus and up mail 12.17 +a.m., down mail 12.42 a.m.; Yatton, leave +1.5 a.m.; Clevedon, arrive 1.48 a.m., depart +4.15 a.m.; Portishead, arrive 5.5 a.m.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p>The contractor, Mr. Dawes, now in the 66th year +of his age, having performed a part of his outward +journey on the 19th September, 1902, left Clevedon +for Yatton quite sober as ever, and in his usual +health. Then comes the mystery. He did not +reach Yatton in due course, and the railway +signalman intimated the failure to Bristol, from +which office the postmaster of Clevedon was +advised, who at early dawn started out a scout +on a bicycle to search for the missing mailman and +mail bags. The scout discovered no signs of +man or mails between Clevedon and the Yatton +apparatus station, and going back over the same +ground, he eventually met an individual who had +seen an aged man with a whip in his hand wandering +on the road. This he knew to be his man, +and he discovered Dawes walking aimlessly along +the road at about 7 a.m. His explanations were +not coherent. The horse had ran away with him, +and flung him off the cart into a ditch; he had +tumbled off the cart, and walked into a ditch; +he had tried to knock people up to assist him in +trying to find what had become of the missing +mails! In the meantime, a farm labourer going<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +out on to the Kingston Seymour moors to milk +the cows discovered the mail cart turned over on +to its side, and thus embedded in a rhine on the +roadside. The horse also was in the rhine, up +to his back, partly in mud and partly in water. +The milkman immediately started off to Clevedon +to give the alarm, and his employer, who was +accompanying him on his journey to the milking +ground, took prompt steps, in conjunction with +moor men, to drag horse and vehicle out of the +mud and mire. Fortunately, the mailbags were +uninjured, and the postmaster of Clevedon, who +had set out on a search, had them conveyed back +to his office. Dazed contractor Dawes, the muddy +mail cart, and horse coated with mud from head +to hoofs, were got back into the town at about +11 a.m. It would seem that the contractor fell +asleep and tumbled from his box into the road, +and that his horse wandered on, grazing from side +to side of the road, till eventually in the dark of +night horse and cart fell into the rhine. On coming +to himself, the contractor, after trying in vain to +arouse the inhabitants of roadside houses, wandered +about all night, or it may be laid down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +somewhere to await morning light. The animal +was injured to such an extent that it had to be +destroyed.</p> + +<p>During the fierce gale which, with unparalleled +severity, raged in the Bristol Channel on the night +of Thursday, the 10th September, 1903, a vessel +was driven ashore on the Gore Sands. Soon +after daybreak a call was made for the Burnham +Lifeboat, but, in consequence of the heavy seas, +the crew was unable to launch her. The coxswain, +therefore, telegraphed for the Watchet +Lifeboat to proceed to the rescue. Every endeavour +was made by the Postal Telegraph +authorities to expeditiously transmit the message, +but the elements which had operated against the +vessel, had likewise played havoc with the telegraph +wires, with the result that the telegram +sustained such delay in transmission as to retard +the launching of the Lifeboat. Fortunately, no +serious consequences followed.</p> + +<p>As regards mail communication, the night +journey by road from Bristol to Bath and +Chippenham could not be made, owing to the +roads being blocked by fallen trees.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + +<p>The gale was far reaching in its effects, and +carried away parts of Weston-super-Mare Pier, +landed boats on promenade, blew down walls, +chimneys, and laid low hundreds of trees, was +especially "a howler," and disastrous as regards +interference with telegraphic communication. +Wires were blown down in all directions, and +Bristol suffered greatly. On the 11th, at 11.0 +a.m., there was no wire whatever available to +South Wales, and telegrams had to be sent by +train. There was no wire available to Scotland +or to the north beyond Birmingham, or to Cork +and Jersey. Several local lines were down, such +as Wedmore, Hambrook, Yatton, Portishead, +Wickwar, etc. Delay of 50 minutes occurred to +Birmingham, which office transmitted all work +for the north. The delay to London was 40 +minutes. Trunk telephone communication was +impossible. Every wire was interrupted, and +remained so all day. In the evening there was +still no wire which could be used to Scotland, +Cork, or Channel Islands. Cardiff was reached +at 3.0 p.m., on one wire.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>BRISTOL REJUVENATED.—VISIT OF PRINCE OF WALES IN +CONNECTION WITH THE NEW BRISTOL DOCK.—BRISTOL +AND JAMAICAN MAIL SERVICE.—AMERICAN MAILS.—BRISTOL +SHIP LETTER MAILS.—THE REDLAND POST OFFICE.—THE +MEDICAL OFFICER.—BRISTOL TELEGRAPHISTS IN THE SOUTH +AFRICAN WAR.—LORD STANLEY.—MR. J. PAUL BUSH.</p></div> + + +<p>Bristol "lethargic" was for years the +general idea of the place. Bristol +"awakening" followed, and it is now realised +that Bristol has fully awakened to her vast potentialities. +The eyes of the populace of Great +Britain, and, it may be, of many of the dwellers +in the King's dominions beyond the seas, were +in March, 1902, cast in the direction of the +ancient city of Bristol, erstwhile the second +port in importance in the British Isles. This +national looking to what Bristolians proudly +call the "metropolis of Western England" +was occasioned by the visit of the Prince of +Wales, with H.R.H. the Princess, to turn the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +first sod in connection with the great works +then about to be undertaken for the extension +of the docks at Avonmouth, so as to render +them capable of accommodating and berthing +steamers of a magnitude greater than any yet +built—a work then expected to be completed in +four or five years. The function was a notable +one, and the occasion may be briefly summed up +as "a grand day for Bristol." Two millions are +being spent on the dock, which will have a water +space of thirty acres, with room for further extension. +The lock will be 875 feet long and 100 +feet wide. There will be 5,000 feet of quay +space, with abundant railway sidings and other +appointments of a first-class port.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-038.jpg" width="100%" alt="" title="" /> +<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-039.jpg" width="100%" alt="R.M.S. "PORT KINGSTON" (7,584 TONS), + +of the Imperial Direct West Indian Mail Fleet." title="" /> +<span class="caption">R.M.S. "PORT KINGSTON" (7,584 TONS),<br /> + +<i>of the Imperial Direct West Indian Mail Fleet</i>.</span> +</div> + +<p>In Feb., 1902, Sir Alfred Jones, K.C.M.G., the +chief of the Elder Dempster steamship line, set +out from Avonmouth in the "Port Antonio" for +Jamaica, with the object of promoting further +developments between Bristol and the West +Indies by means of the Imperial Direct West +India mail service. The occasion of his departure +was unusually interesting, as it took +place on the first anniversary of the sailing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +of the first boat of the direct service carrying +H. Majesty's mails to the Island of Jamaica +from Avonmouth. The picture portrays the +mails being embarked on the "Antonio's" +sister ship, the "Port Royal," which arrived +at Avonmouth on the day before the royal visit, +and was inspected by Their Royal Highnesses, +who were much interested in her banana cargo. +The "Port Kingston," a steamer of larger size and +splendid construction, has now been added to the +Jamaican fleet, and she makes the passage from +Kingston to Bristol in ten-and-a-half days. By a +coincidence, when Bristol was "feasting" on the +5th March, 1902—the Red Letter Day—and +its senior Burgess, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, +and the other Members of Parliament +for the city were felicitating with a goodly array +of Bristol Fathers over the great event likely +to be fraught with untold benefit to the historic +port from which Sebastian Cabot set forth years +and years ago to seek and find the continent +of America, the feast of "St. Martin's" was +being held at the Criterion, in London, and the +Post Office K.C.B.'s, Sir George Murray, Sir<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +Spencer Walpole, and Sir William Preece, under +the courtly presidency of Sir Robert Hunter, +were eloquently descanting to a large assemblage +of Post Office <i>literati</i> on the usefulness of +the Post Office Service magazine—St. Martin's +le Grand.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-040.jpg" width="100%" alt="EMBARKING MAILS AT AVONMOUTH ON THE JAMAICAN STEAMER, +"PORT ROYAL."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">EMBARKING MAILS AT AVONMOUTH ON THE JAMAICAN STEAMER, +"PORT ROYAL."</span> +</div> + +<p>The Chamber of Commerce at this time urged +on the Canadian Government the desirability +of making Bristol the terminal port for the new +Canadian fast mail service, on the grounds that +mails and passengers from Canada can be carried +into London and the Midlands in the shortest +period of time <i>via</i> the old port of Bristol. From +the Holms, 20 miles below Bristol, a straight +line in deep water, without any intervening land, +may be drawn to Halifax. Bristol can be reached +from London in 2 hours. The time which could be +saved in the passage from Queenstown to London +<i>via</i> Bristol is 5½ hours as compared with the route +<i>via</i> Liverpool, and 5 hours as compared with +the route <i>via</i> Southampton. By the Severn +Tunnel line there is also direct communication +with the Lancashire and Yorkshire manufacturing +districts, as well as the Midland and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +Northern parts of the United Kingdom generally. +Thus in the two important elements of speed and +safety Bristol has paramount advantages as a +terminal port for the transatlantic mail service. +There is evidence generally that Bristol trade +and commerce have revived, and are now indicating +a vigorous growth. The Bristol post +office statistics show a phenomenal progress +during the last decade. In the year 1837, before +the introduction of the penny postage system, +and when people had to pay for their missives +on delivery, Bristol could only boast of 1,040,000 +letters delivered in a year; in 1841, the year +after the uniform penny postage was introduced, +the number rose to 2,392,000. In another ten +years, 1851, 5,668,000 was reached; in 1861, +11,062,252 was the number; 1871, 12,158,000; +in 1881, 19,484,000; 1891, 29,000,000; and in +1901, 55,473,000, or an increase approaching +that of the preceding forty years. The numbers +stand in 1905 at 73,000,000.</p> + +<p>On Sunday, the 10th January, 1904, the liner +"Philadelphia" (which, by-the-bye, as the "City +of Paris" went ashore on the Manacles and was +salved and re-named) was the first of the fleet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +of the American Line to call at Plymouth and +land the American mails there, instead of at +Southampton, as formerly. In connection with +the inauguration of this service to the Western +port of Plymouth, Bristol—undoubtedly a natural +geographical centre for the distribution of mails +from the United States and Canada—played an +important part in distributing and thus greatly +accelerating the delivery of the American correspondence +generally. Bristol itself distinctly +benefits by the American mail steamers calling +at Plymouth, for it enables her traders to get +their business correspondence many hours earlier +than by any other route.</p> + +<p>Owing to a severe storm encountered off +Sandy Hook, the "Philadelphia," on the occasion +alluded to, due on Saturday, did not arrive +in Plymouth Sound until early on Sunday +morning. The mails were quickly placed aboard +the tender, which returned to Millbay Docks +at 6.20 a.m., and an hour later the special +G.W.R. train moved out, carrying over 21 +tons of mails. Eight tons were at 10 a.m. +put out at the Temple Meads Railway Station<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +to be dealt with at the Bristol Post Office, +and the remainder taken on to Paddington. +The mails dealt with at Bristol included not only +those for delivery in Bristol city and district, +but also those for the provinces. They were +speedily sorted and dispersed by the comprehensive +through train services to the West, +South Wales, Midlands, and North of England.</p> + +<p>The second American mail was brought over +by the "St. Louis," which arrived off Plymouth +at one o'clock on Saturday morning, the 16th +January, 1904. The G.W. train reached Temple +Meads at 6.23, and 350 bags which had to be dealt +with at Bristol were dropped. The premises +recently acquired from the Water Works Company +by the Post Office were utilized for the first time, +there not being sufficient room in the existing +post office buildings to cope with such a heavy +consignment. The letters were sent out with +the first morning delivery in Bristol. The +Birmingham letters were despatched at 10.30 a.m., +and those for Manchester and Liverpool were +also sent off in time for delivery in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>The third mail arrived per "New York," at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +7.35 p.m. on Saturday, the 23rd January, 1904. +One hundred and fifty bags were deposited at +Bristol. The New York direct mails for the North +went on by the 7.40 p.m. (G.W.) and 7.55 p.m. +(Mid.) trains ex Bristol Station. The direct +Plymouth and Bristol service is still being continued.</p> + +<p>In an Instruction Book relating to "Ship +Letter" Duty which was in use in the Bristol +Post Office so far back as 1833, there are many +interesting documents. The following is a list:—(1) +Ship Letters, Notice, G.P.O., July, 1833. +(2) Notice to all Masters and Commanders of +Ships arriving from abroad; Signed, Francis +Freeling, Secretary G.P.O., June, 1835. (3) +Letter from Francis Freeling to G. Huddlestone, +9th October, 1835, <i>re</i> letters forwarded by the +ship "Paragon" from the Port of Bristol. (4) +Letter from Ship Letter Office, London, to Postmaster +of Bristol <i>re</i> Inland prepaid rate and +Captain's gratuity (18th Sept., 1843). (5) Correspondence +from G. Huddlestone (26th July, +1838) <i>re</i> Process of Receipt of Ship Letters, and +making up of the mails; also Process of Receipt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +and Distribution of Ship Letters Inward. (6) +Notice to the Public and Instructions to all Postmasters; +signed W.L. Maberly, Secretary G.P.O., +2nd September, 1840. (7) Receipt from Postmaster +of Bristol for 1 packet directed "O.H.M.S. +Ship Mail; per 'Victory'" from Bristol to Cork +(Sept. 17th, 1841). (8) Letter containing +Solicitor's opinion that Master of steam vessel +cannot be compelled to sign receipt Ship Letter; +signed Jas. Campbell (4th October, 1841). (9) +Notice to Postmasters; signed W.L. Maberly, +Secretary G.P.O., June, 1845. (10) Circular of +Instructions; signed Rowland Hill, G.P.O., +4th October, 1845. (11) Notice to the Commanders +of Ships arriving from Foreign Ports; +signed W.L. Maberly, Secretary G.P.O., June, +1845. (12) Circular of Instructions; signed +Rowland Hill, Secretary G.P.O., July, 1855. +(13) Circular of Instructions to Postmasters at +the Outports; signed Rowland Hill, Secretary +G.P.O., 13th August, 1855. (14) Circular of +Instructions; signed Rowland Hill, Secretary +G.P.O., 29th January, 1857. (15) Reduction of +the Ship Letter Rate of Postage; signed Row<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>land +Hill, Secretary G.P.O., 26th December, +1857. (16) Circular of Instructions; signed +Rowland Hill, Secretary G.P.O., January 14th, +1858. (17) Instructions; signed Rowland Hill, +Secretary G.P.O., 27th March, 1863. (18) <i>Re</i> +Letters to Portugal; signed Geo. Dumeldenger, +for Sub. Con., 7th March, 1871. (19) Note <i>re</i> +Loose Letters, 23rd March, 1876. Bristol, 9th +December, 1902.</p> + +<p>This old book relating to the Ship Letter Duty +at Bristol was considered suitable for the +Muniment Room at St. Martin's-le-Grand, as an +historical record, and is retained there for preservation. +It is considered fortunate that it has +survived so long.</p> + +<p>As the public eye was for a long time directed +towards the Redland Post Office, Bristol, which to +meet the wants of the community has been located +by the Department at No. 112, White Ladies Road, +Black Boy Hill, and is carried on apart altogether +from any trade or business, it may be well, in +view of connecting links with the past being +rapidly effaced in the march of modern progress, +to take an historical retrospect of this local post<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +office so far as evidence is forthcoming, and thus +endeavour to put on record the traditions of the +past. It would appear, then, according to the +earliest evidence obtainable, that Mr. W. Newman +had the appointment of postman and town letter +receiver conferred upon him in 1827, offices +which he held until 1872. The post office was +carried on by him in a small house approached +by garden and steps immediately adjoining the +old King's Arms Inn, which stood on the site +of the present Inn of that name. It was Newman's +mission in those pre-penny stamp days +to serve the wide and then open district bordered +by Pembroke Road, White Ladies Gate, Cold +Harbour Farm, Redland Green, Red House +Farm, Stoke Bishop, Cote House, and Sea Mills. +He delivered about 40 letters daily. The area +owing to the growth of population and the spread +of education, with the consequent development +of letter writing, has now seven post offices; is +served by no fewer than 30 postmen, and has +a delivery of 14,000 letters.</p> + +<p>In Mr. Newman's early Post Office days mail +coaches ran up and down Black Boy Hill on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +their way to and from the New Passage, and +called at the Redland Post Office. Newman is +said to have had a jackdaw. The bird, as the +mail coach ran down the narrow road on Black +Boy Hill, called "Mail, mail, quick, quick!" +to attract his master's attention, and, waggish +bird as he was, he not infrequently gave a false +alarm, and called his master at the wrong time. +After some years Mr. Newman moved with the +Post Office to the east side of Black Boy Hill, +to a house near the present Porter Stores. He +was succeeded by Mr. Enoch Park. The next +sub-postmaster was the late Mr. Buswell, who +for some years occupied premises on mid-hill, +before moving the Post Office to a site lower +down the hill.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-041.jpg" width="100%" alt="MR. F.P. LANSDOWN." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. F.P. LANSDOWN.</span> +</div> + +<p>Mr. F.P. Lansdown retired from the post of +Medical Officer to the Bristol Post Office at the +end of the year 1903. He had occupied the +position for the period of 42 years, and it was +felt that such long service could not be allowed +to terminate without due recognition at the hands +of the officers of the Postal and Telegraph Services, +to whom he had rendered professional aid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +from time to time. He was, therefore, given a +solid silver table lamp, subscribed for by over +650 members of the staff. The presentation +took place on Post Office premises, and was very +largely attended.</p> + +<p>Twenty-seven of the Bristol telegraph staff +served in the campaign in South Africa. In +times of peace many Royal Engineers are +employed in the instrument room of the Bristol +Post Office, and the duties of linesmen are +mainly undertaken by men from that corps. +On the outbreak of hostilities, these were at +once withdrawn for active service, and then +came the call for Volunteers for the Telegraph +Battalion, when seven civilians attached to the +local staff volunteered, and were selected. Great +interest was taken by their confreres in the progress +of the war, especially during the siege and +the relief of Ladysmith, where two of the Bristol +R.E.'s were among the besieged. One of the +staff went through the siege of Kimberley, and +another for his pluck was awarded the D.S. +Medal. A hearty welcome awaited their return, +and this was manifested by means of a supper and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +musical evening at St. Stephen's Restaurant, +Dec. 1, 1902.</p> + +<p>Not all of them came back—two had fallen +and helped to swell the large number who had +sacrificed their lives for their King and country.</p> + +<p>Whilst civilian telegraphists and officers of the +sorting department thus volunteered for military +service in South Africa, the present Postmaster-General +himself, Lord Stanley, to whom this +book is dedicated, also was not slow in placing +himself at the disposal of his country, and he +went through two years of the campaign, acting +first as Press Censor and afterwards as Private +Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief Lord +Roberts. He was twice mentioned in despatches +and was awarded the Companionship of the Bath.</p> + +<p>Bristolians generally, with great enthusiasm, +rallied to the cry for Volunteers, and special +mention may here be made of Mr. J. Paul Bush, +who ungrudgingly gave up his large and fashionable +practice as a surgeon in Clifton, and, at very brief +notice, hurried off to South Africa to occupy the +position of senior surgeon to the Princess Christian +Hospital.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>He was mentioned by Lord Roberts in despatches, +and the Companionship of the Order of +St. Michael and St. George was conferred on him.</p> + +<p>Small wonder then, that on Mr. Lansdown's +retirement from the Bristol Medical Officership at +the end of 1903, Lord Stanley should have selected +Mr. Paul Bush to fill the appointment.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bush had the further claim to the appointment +as being a medical man born in the city of +Bristol, and having for an ancestor Paul Bush, +the first Bishop of Bristol, who was born in 1491. +He is the son of the late Major Robert Bush, +96th Regiment, who was particularly patriotic in +having largely assisted in the formation of the 1st +Bristol Rifle Volunteer Corps, of which he became +Colonel in command. In addition to certain +honorary medical and surgical appointments in +the city, Mr. Bush holds the position of chief +surgeon to the Bristol Constabulary.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-042.jpg" width="100%" alt="MR. J. PAUL BUSH, C.M.G." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. J. PAUL BUSH, C.M.G.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>SMALL (THE POST OFFICE) STREET, BRISTOL. ITS ANCIENT +HISTORY, INFLUENTIAL RESIDENTS, HISTORIC HOUSES; THE +CANNS; THE EARLY HOME OF THE ELTON FAMILY.</p></div> + + +<p>From time immemorial Small Street, in the +city and county of Bristol, two-thirds of +the west side of which the Post Office occupies, +has been an important street. One of the nine +old town gates was at the bottom of it, and was +known as St. Giles's Gate, having obtained this +name from a church dedicated to St. Giles, the +patron saint of cripples and beggars, which in +the fifteenth century stood at the end of "Seynt-Lauren's-Laane." +Here, history says, was the +"hygest walle of Bristow," which has "grete +vowtes under it, and the old chyrch of Seynt +Gylys was byldyd ovyr the vowtes." The cutting +of the trench, from the old Stone Bridge to near +Prince Street Bridge, for the new channel of the +Froom, was completed in 1247. Before this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +date ships could only lie in the Avon, where the +bottom was "very stony and rough"; but the +bed of the new course of the Froom having +turned out to be soft and muddy, it became the +harbour for the great ships, and Small Street +from this time became a principal thoroughfare. +Then to this quarter of the town came Bristol's +greatest merchants. From the centre of the +town to the old Custom House, at the lower end +of Pylle Street (now St. Stephen Street) there +was no nearer way than down Small Street and +through St. Giles's Gate. The existence of gardens +in the 15th and 16th centuries at the backs +of the Houses in Small Street is evidenced by +the wills of old Bristolians. In that of William +Hoton, merchant, of St. Werburgh's parish, who +died in 1475, is mentioned "the garden of Sir +Henry Hungerford, Knight," near the cemetery +of St. Leonard's Church, and John Easterfield, +merchant, of St. Werburgh's parish, who died +in 1504, bequeathed to his wife his dwelling-house +in Small-Strete, and also "the garden in +St. Leonard's Lane, as long as she dwelleth in the +said house."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-043.jpg" width="100%" alt="ELTON MANSION, SMALL STREET, BRISTOL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">ELTON MANSION, SMALL STREET, BRISTOL.</span> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> +<p>In this historic Small Street, and just within +the old city walls, have for two or three hundred +years stood certain premises, in olden times +divided into three separate holdings, the freehold +of which was purchased in 1903 from the +Bristol Water Works Company by the Post +Office, for much-needed extensions to its already +large building. The facts respecting these three +edifices have been culled from ancient parchments +which would fill a large wheelbarrow. +The premises are not of very ornate exterior +now. They are interesting, however, as denoting +an old style of architecture; but the +exteriors have, no doubt, been so altered and +pulled about to meet the requirements of successive +occupiers as to be not quite like what +they were originally. The structures appear to +have been erected in the middle of the 17th +century, probably at the end of the reign of +King Charles I. (1649). The plan of Brightstowe, +published in 1581 by Hofnagle, shows +that the Church of St. Werburgh and its churchyard +occupied one-third of the frontage of the +street, on the west, or Post Office, side, and that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +there were only five other separate buildings, +which were each detached, and covered the +remainder of the length of the street. Millerd's +"Exact Delineations of the famous Cittie of +Bristoll," published in 1673, does not so clearly +illustrate the houses standing in Small Street +on its west or Post Office side as could be desired. +The deeds hereafter alluded to indicate, however, +that of the three premises under consideration, +the Elton Mansion, at least, was standing +before 1680, as Richard Streamer, who died in +that year, is named as having formerly dwelt +therein. There is no earlier record, and as +Streamer only came to fame as councillor in +1661, it may, perhaps, be assumed that the +mansion was erected about the year 1650; and +as a member of the Cann family is the first known +owner of the property, no doubt the house was +erected for him. The style of architecture +appears to bear out that assumption as to date, +and the frontages indicate that the three houses +under special review were erected about the +same time.</p> + +<p>While there may be a little regret when these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +mediæval buildings disappear, there will be the +advantage of the street being considerably +widened by their removal. It is now only 20 +feet wide from house to house, and gives a very +good idea of its appropriate appellation—Small +Street. Taking first the property which formed +the middle holding, now (1905) known as +7, Small Street, and which was not, therefore, +actually contiguous to the existing Post Office, +the earliest date alluded to in the parchments +is the year 1700. In a deed of the 14th August, +1723, it is stated that Sir Abraham Elton, merchant, +under indenture of lease dated 28th +February, 1700, had bought from Sir Thomas +Cann, of Stoke Bishopp, in the county of Gloucester, +Esq., "All that great messuage or dwelling-house +situate standing and being in Small Street +within the Parishes of St. Walburgh (<i>sic</i>) and +St. Leonard." The indenture was between Sir +Abraham Elton, Bart., on the one part, and +Christopher Shuter, of the same city, on the +other part, and was worded thus: "Now this +Indenture witnesseth that for and in consideration +of the sum of five shillings of lawful money<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +of Great Britain to the said Sir Abraham Elton +in hand paid by the said Christopher Shuter +the receipt whereof the said Sir Abraham Elton +doth hereby confess and acknowledge and for +divers good causes and considerations him the +said Sir Abraham Elton hereunto moving hath +granted bargained sold assigned and set over ... unto +the said Christopher Shuter +all the said messuage and tenements to have and +to hold unto the said Christopher Shuter his +executors administrators and assigns from henceforth +for and during all the rest and residue of +the above recited terms of 70 years which is yet +to run and unexpired in trust for said Sir +Abraham Elton."</p> + +<p>The next record is that bearing date of the +next day, thus:—"Mr. Cann's lease for a year +of a Messuage in Small Street to Sir Abraham +Elton. Date 15th August, 1723." Robert Cann +"doth demise grant bargain and sell unto the +said Sir Abraham Elton all that great messuage +or dwelling house situate standing and being in +Small Street within the parishes of St. Walburgh +and St. Leonards or one of them within<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +the said city of Bristol wherein Richard Streamer +Esq. (who died in 1680) formerly dwelt and +wherein Sir William Poole, Knt. (no trace of +him can be found in local records) afterwards +dwelt and now (1723) the dwelling of and in the +possession of the said Sir Abraham Elton (First +Baronet) (where also Sir Abraham Elton, the +grandson, successively dwelt, and, after that, +William Thornhill, surgeon) and fronting forwards +to the street called Small Street and extending +backwards to a lane called St. Leonard's +Lane and bounded on the outside thereof with a +messuage in the holding of William Donne, +Ironmonger, and afterwards (1746) John Perks, +Tobacconist (now 1905, known as No. 6 in +Small Street and actually adjoining the Post Office) +and on the other side thereof with a messuage in +the tenure of William Knight, Cooper (and afterwards +of Richard Lucas, Cooper) (now 1905, +known as No. 8 Small Street and last occupied by +Messrs. Bartlett and Hobbs, Wine Merchants), +together with all and singular Cellars, Sellars +Vaults, Rooms, Halls, Parlors, Chambers, +Kitchens, Lofts, Lights, Basements, Backsides,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +pavements, court yards and appurtenances +whatsoever"—for one whole year, yielding and +paying therefor the rent of a peppercorn on the +feast of St. Michael the Archangel (if the same +shall be demanded). Signed and sealed, Robert +Cann. In the Abstract of Title it is noted that +William Knight, who occupied the house on the +"other side," was succeeded in the tenure by +Richard Lucas, cooper. On the 14th August, +1746, Sir Abraham Elton (3rd Bart.) and +assignees leased the premises as before described +to Dr. Logan, of the city of Bristol, doctor in +physick, for 5s., as in the case of Christopher +Shuter. The house of William Donne, ironmonger, +adjoining, was in this deed mentioned +as occupied by John Perks, tobacconist. The +property appears to have been sold by William +Logan, of Pennsylvania, Esq., and nephew and +heir of the above-mentioned Dr. Logan, doctor +of physick, of the city of Bristol, to the "Small +Street Company (Richard Reynolds, Edward +Garlick, Richard Summers, James Harford, +William Cowles, James Getly)" on the 27th May, +1772. In the year 1847 the property was leased<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +to the Bristol Water Works Company, and purchased +by the company in 1865.</p> + +<p>The several owners and occupiers of this "great +house" were persons of no mean degree, as the +following statement of their local positions indicates. +According to Playfair's "British Family +Antiquity," Vol. VII., Mr. Robert Cann was the +eldest son of Sir Thomas Cann, who was the +eldest son of Sir Robert Cann, the first baronet. +Sir Robert Cann was the eldest son of William +Cann, Esqr., Alderman of Bristol. He married +the sister of Sir Robert Yeomans, who was beheaded +at Bristol for supporting the cause of +Charles I. Sir Robert was Councillor, 1649-1663; +Sheriff, 1651-1652; Treasurer, Merchant Venturers, +1653-1654; Master, Merchant Venturers, +1658-1659; Mayor, 1662-1663; Knighted, 1662; +created Baronet, 1662; Alderman 1663-1685; +Mayor, 1675-1676. Under the south window of +St. Werburgh's Church was a handsome monument, +with a half-arch, for the family of Sir +Robert Cann, of Compton-Greenfield, Bart. +Richard Streamer was Councillor, 1661-1672; +Sheriff, 1663-1664; Alderman, 1672-1680; Mayor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +1673-1674; Master, Merchant Venturers, 1672-1673; +died 1680. Sir William Pool cannot be +traced in the local histories which have been +consulted. Sir Abraham Elton (first baronet), +baptized 3 July, 1654, at St. Philip and St. Jacob +Church, was the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Elton, +of that parish. From entries in the registers, it +may be seen that the family was settled there as +early as 1608, about which time the members of it +migrated from near Ledbury to the neighbourhood, +attracted doubtless by the splendid field for +enterprise offered by the second City of the Kingdom, +as Bristol undoubtedly was at that period, +and for some time afterwards. They were +Puritans, and held some land in Barton Regis on +the Gloucestershire side of the city. Richard +Elton, bap. at St. Philip and St. Jacob, 29 April, +1610, was a Colonel in Fairfax's Army, and he +published one of the earliest text books in the +English language on military tactics; hence the +family motto, "Artibus et Armis." A copy of +this book is now in Clevedon Court Library, with +its quaint frontispiece, portrait and inscription: +"Richard Elton, of Bristol, 1649, aetas suae 39." +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>Sir Abraham was apprenticed in 1670 to his +eldest brother, Jacob Elton, but in 1672 went +to sea. He married in 1676 Mary, daughter +of Robert Jefferies, a member of a well-known +mercantile family of that day. He served in +many public offices, thus:—President, Gloucestershire +Society, 1689; Councillor, 1699-1712; +Sheriff, 1702-1703; Master, Merchant Venturers, +1708-1709; Mayor, 1710-1711; Alderman, 1712-1728; +Governor, Incorporation of Poor, 1713-1715; +High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, 1716; +created baronet, 1717; Mayor, September, 1720; +M.P., 1722-1727.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-044.jpg" width="100%" alt="[From an original painting at Clevedon Court. + +A.E. + +THE FIRST SIR ABRAHAM ELTON, BART." title="" /> +<span class="caption" style="margin-left: 0em;">[<i>From an original painting at Clevedon Court.</i><br /><br /> + +A.E.<br /><br /> + +THE FIRST SIR ABRAHAM ELTON, BART.<br /><br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-045.jpg" width="100%" alt="[From an original painting at Clevedon Court. + +M.E. + +MARY, WIFE OF THE FIRST ABRAHAM ELTON, BART." title="" /> +<span class="caption" style="margin-left: 0em;">[<i>From an original painting at Clevedon Court.</i><br /><br /> + +M.E.<br /><br /> + +MARY, WIFE OF THE FIRST ABRAHAM ELTON, BART.<br /><br /></span> +</div> + +<p>The portraits of Abraham and Mary Elton +which are here given, are reproduced, with Sir +Edmund Elton's kind consent, from photographs +by Mr. Edwin Hazell, of Linden Road Studio, +Clevedon. The original oil paintings hang in the +picture gallery at Clevedon Court.</p> + +<p>According to Barrett, in the St. Werburgh's +vestry room, over the door on the inside, as +part of a long Latin inscription, was the name +of "Abrahamo Eltono, Guardianis, 1694." The +baronetcy was conferred on him in recognition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +of his staunch support of the Hanoverian succession +during the Jacobite riots of 1715-16, to the +great disgust of Stewart, the local Jacobite +chronicler.</p> + +<p>In the Board Room, at St. Peter's Hospital, +under the date 1700, Abraham Elton's name +appears as a benefactor for £100.</p> + +<p>In 1727, Sir Abraham Elton, Bart., gave £2 10s. +per annum to five poor housekeepers in St. +Werburgh's parish not receiving alms, paid +September 11, £50. He died at his house in +Small Street in the same year—1727. Having +bequeathed considerable sums in local charities, +he settled his estates in Somerset, Gloucestershire, +and Wilts, on various members of his family. +He was for many years head of the commerce of +Bristol, a pioneer of its brass and iron foundries, +owner of its principal weaving industry, and of +some of its glass and pottery works, besides largely +controlling the shipping of the port. His wife +survived him by only two months. They are +both buried in the family vault in SS. Philip +and Jacob Parish Church, within the altar rails +near Sir Abraham's parents. The house in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +Small Street was their town house from about +1690 down to the date of their deaths.</p> + +<p>Sir Abraham Elton (second baronet), baptized +30 June, 1679, at St. John the Baptist, Broad Street, +was Councillor, 1710-1723; Sheriff, 1710-1711; +Mayor, 1719-1720; Master, Merchant Venturers, +1719-1720; Alderman, 1723-1742; baronet, 1727; +M.P., 1727-1742; died October 19th, 1742. He +married on the 14th of May, 1702, Abigail, +daughter of Zachary Bayly, of Charlcot House, +Wilts, and of Northwood Park, Somerset.</p> + +<p>Sir Abraham Elton (third baronet), born 1703, +was Councillor, 1728-1757; Sheriff, 1728-1729; +Baronet, 1742; Mayor, 1742-1743; died November +29th, 1761. He died unwed.</p> + +<p>Christopher Shuter was Councillor, 1699-1715; +Sheriff, 1702-1703; Mayor, 1711-1712; Alderman, +1715-1730; Governor, Incorporation of Poor, +1715-1716; Warden, Merchant Venturers, 1718-1719; +died 1730.</p> + +<p>William Thornhill was surgeon to the Infirmary, +1737-1754.</p> + +<p>William Logan was physician to the Infirmary, +1737-1757; died December, 1757, aged 69.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p>The neighbours on the right and left of the +Elton mansion, mentioned hereafter, were not +of great social consequence. There is, however, +mention of one of them, a John Knight, having +been warden of the Merchant Venturers' Society +in 1671-2.</p> + +<p>The other premises (6 and 8—1903) stand on the +upper and lower sides respectively of the old +Elton Mansion. They belonged in 1709 to +Eleanor Seager, who mortgaged them to Edward +Cook for £140. The property was described in +the mortgage deed thus:—</p> + +<p>"All those two messuages or tenements situate +and being in Small Street in the Parish of St. +Walburg (<i>sic</i>) in the City of Bristol in one (No. +6—1905) of which said messuages John Knight +Gent now liveth and in the other of them (No. +8—1905) one M.E. Balley now doth or lastly did +inhabit and dwell, in the said City of Bristol +and all houses, outhouses, edifices, buildings, +courtyards, and backsides to the said messuage +or tenement."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 30%;"> +<img src="images/illus-046.jpg" width="100%" alt="GARGOYLE IN ELTON MANSION WALL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">GARGOYLE IN ELTON MANSION WALL.</span> +</div> + +<p>The two messuages were leased to Mary +Knight by Eleanor Seager for 1s. in money by +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>indenture of 26 June, 1716, thus:—"Between +John Saunders of Hazell in the parish of Olveston +in the County of Gloucester, Esq., and Eleanora +his wife the only daughter and heirs of William +Seager late of Hazell aforesaid on the one part +and Mary Knight of the city of Bristol widow, on +the other part.</p> + +<p>"hath granted bargained sold all these two +several messuages or tenements situate being in +Small Street in one of which said messuages or +tenements John Knight, deceased, formerly dwelt +and wherein the said Mary Knight his widow +doth now dwell and in the other of them Thomas +Balley Painter and Glazier doth also dwell (afterwards +in tenure or occupation of John Mason +Broker and Thomas Taman Gunsmith) and all +the outhouses," &c., &c., &c. (as in 1709 mortgage +deed).</p> + +<p>In 1758 (24 June) there was a conveyance of +the two messuages from Miss Knight to Mr. +Samuel Page (one of the partners with Edward +Garlick, Richard Reynolds, &c.) for £700. It +was this same firm which purchased the Elton +"Great House" in 1772.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<p>The firm was known as Messrs. Reynolds, +Getley and Company, by virtue of an indenture +of co-partnership, dated 1st June, 1764. The +document was signed and sealed by Richard +Reynolds, Edward Garlick, Richard Summers, +James Harford, William Cowles, James Getley, +Samuel Page, William Weaver, John Partridge, +and John Partridge, jun. The firm was engaged +in the iron and tin-plate trades, and, according +to the <i>London Gazette</i> of Saturday, March 17th, +1820, it was being carried on under the style of +Harfords, Crocker, and Co. The partnership +dissolved on the 30th day of June, 1821, by Alicia +Calder, Elizabeth Weaver, and Sarah Davies +retiring from the firm, and by reason of the +death of the Philip Crocker. The business +was continued by Richard Summers Harford, +Samuel Harford, John Harford, William Green, +and William Weaver Davies, under the firm of +Harford Brothers and Co., under the date of +25th day of February, 1822.</p> + +<p>These two tenements became the property of +the Bristol Water Works Company at the same +time as the Great House, in 1865, and a portion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +of ground at the back, facing St. Leonard's Lane, +belonging to the St. Werburgh's charities, in +1902.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-047.jpg" width="100%" alt="CHIMNEY-PIECE IN ELTON MANSION, SMALL STREET, BRISTOL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">CHIMNEY-PIECE IN ELTON MANSION, SMALL STREET, BRISTOL.</span> +</div> + +<p>The old chimney-piece—a fine specimen of +mediæval stone carving—which stood in the +principal upstairs room of No. 7, used as a boardroom +by the Water Works Company, the richly +decorated ceiling, and the panelled walls, marked +the period at which the Eltons occupied the +house; and the initials A. and M.E., representing +Abraham and Mary Elton (Mary, daughter of +Robert Jefferies, whom he married in 1676), and +the date, 1700, quaintly cut, are on the chimney-piece. +The chimney-piece has been removed, +and re-erected in the new Water Works building +in Telephone Avenue. The inquirer of the far-distant +future may be misled when he finds it in +this spot, unless, indeed, there be some tablet +provided to indicate and perpetuate the history +of this antique stone carving. The ceiling and +panelling have been purchased by Sir Edmund +Elton, and taken to Clevedon Court.</p> + +<p>In letters to the <i>Bristol Times and Mirror</i> newspaper, +certain writers have, in treating of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +Water Works premises, sought to establish that +the great philanthropist, Edward Colston, +possessed a mansion on the east side of Small +Street, and lived therein. No tangible facts +have, however, been adduced to substantiate +the statements. On the other hand, there is +very conclusive evidence to the contrary contained +in the notes on "Colston's House," read +at the annual meeting of this society, in 1890, +by the late historian of Bristol, John Latimer. +Mr. Latimer demonstrated, beyond doubt, that +Thomas Colston purchased the mansion of the +Creswicks, on the west side of Small Street, upon +the site of which the present Post Office stands. +It was in that house that Edward Colston resided, +if, indeed, at any time he ever did live +for more than a short period at one time in +Small Street.</p> + +<p>When King Charles II, as Prince of Wales +accompanied his father to Bristol, and the Court +was located in Small Street on that very site, +probably he rode into, and about, the city in a +coach such as is given in the illustration at page +23, but there is no doubt, that in later days, after +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>the Battle of Worcester, he rode in on horseback +as a fugitive on his way to Abbotsleigh. His start +on the long journey from Boscobel mounted on the +Miller's pony, sans wig and sans royal garb, was +not altogether dignified, although the incident +here depicted is not wanting in pathetic interest, +as indicating the attachment to His Majesty of the +five faithful Penderel brothers.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-048.jpg" width="100%" alt="[From a painting in the Merchant Venturers' +Hall, Bristol. + +EDWARD COLSTON, 1636-1721. + +(Copyright.)" title="" /> +<span class="caption">[<i>From a painting in the Merchant Venturers' +Hall, Bristol.</i><br /><br /> + +EDWARD COLSTON, 1636-1721.<br /><br /> + +<i>(Copyright.)</i></span><br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-049.jpg" width="100%" alt="[By permission of Mr. John Lane, The Bodley +Head, Vigo St., London. + +CHARLES II. + +(From "After Worcester Fight," by Allen Fea.)" title="" /> +<span class="caption">[<i>By permission of Mr. John Lane, The Bodley +Head, Vigo St., London.</i><br /><br /> + +CHARLES II.<br /><br /> + +<i>(From "After Worcester Fight," by Allen Fea.)</i></span><br /><br /> +</div> + +<p>In a report to the General Board of Health +on a preliminary enquiry into the sewerage, +drainage, and supply of water, and the sanitary +conditions of the inhabitants of the City and +County of Bristol in 1850, it was stated in a +petition from Messrs. H.J.J. Hinton & Son, +Small Street, "There is a filthy lane, called +Leonard's Lane, near the bottom of Small +Street, and which leads round into Corn +Street. The state of it, in a general way, is +so bad as to be quite sufficient to produce +pestilence."</p> + +<p>According to the report the Parish of St. +Werburgh contained 30 houses. Its population +in 1841 was 99, and its area was 300 square +yards. It had one burial ground, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +average number of interments was 5 per annum. +Leaden coffins were always required.</p> + +<p>The "Inspector of Lamps, etc.", reported +that there were 21 houses in Small Street.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-050.jpg" width="100%" alt="[By permission of Mr. John Lane, The Bodley +Head, Vigo Street, London. + +CHARLES II. AFTER BATTLE OF WORCESTER ON ROAD TO BRISTOL. + +(From "After Worcester Fight," by Allen Fea.)" title="" /> +<span class="caption">[<i>By permission of Mr. John Lane, The Bodley +Head, Vigo Street, London.</i><br /><br /> + +CHARLES II. AFTER BATTLE OF WORCESTER ON ROAD TO BRISTOL.<br /><br /> + +<i>(From "After Worcester Fight," by Allen Fea.)</i></span><br /><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>THE POST OFFICE TRUNK TELEPHONE SYSTEM AT BRISTOL.—THE +COLUMBIA STAMPING MACHINE.</p></div> + + +<p>The Post Office in Bristol commenced to +undertake telephone business in 1896. It +began with trunk telephone lines working to +Bath, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, London, +Taunton, and Weston-super-Mare. At the outset +the conversations averaged about 170 daily. +In that same year the department took over +from the National Telephone Co., Cardiff, Gloucester, +Newport and Sharpness lines, and the conversations +soon increased to nearly 400 per day. +At the present time the department has from 1 +to 5 (according to size of town) trunk lines to +Bath, Bradford-on-Avon, Birmingham, Cardiff, +Exeter, Gloucester, London, Lydney, Plymouth, +Newport, Sharpness, Southampton, Swansea, +Taunton, Tiverton, and Weston-super-Mare. An +increased number of wires has had marked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +effect in diminishing the delays which at first +occurred through paucity of trunk lines, but +as the business is constantly increasing, the +department is still looked to for additional +lines. That the better accommodation is appreciated, +however, is indicated by the fact that +now the Bristol conversations average nearly +1,500 a day, or considerably over a quarter of +a million a year. On Sundays the trunk +telephones are available, but use is made of +them only to a small extent, there being only +about 150 conversations per Sunday. The total +number of trunk wire transactions throughout +the kingdom during the last year, according to +the Postmaster General's annual report, was +13,467,975, or, reckoning each transaction as +involving at least two spoken messages, a total +number of 26,935,950 (an increase of 16.3 per +cent. over that of the preceding year). The +revenue was £325,525 (an increase of 18.4 per +cent.), and the average value of each transaction +was 5s. 8d. There is a silence box in the Public +Hall of the Bristol Post Office, from which conversations +can be held with all parts of the King<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>dom, +with Belgium and France. Of course, +the greater number of trunk line telephone conversations +are held through the medium of the +National Telephone Company's local exchange, +but many important Bristol firms have contracted +with the Post Office for private telephone +wires in actual connection with the trunk line +system, independent altogether of the National +Co.'s exchange.</p> + +<p>The intermingling of the National Telephone +business with that of the Post Office telegraphs +has had a further development in a system under +which subscribers to the National Company +telephone communications to the Post Office to +be sent on thence as telegrams over Post Office +telegraph wires. This privilege is taken advantage +of at Bristol to the extent of seven or eight +hundred messages weekly. The accession of +the trunk telephone business to the already +over-crowded office has had the effect of necessitating +the detachment of some part of the staff +from the Post Office headquarter premises in +Small Street, and the friendly relations between +the Telephone Company and the Post Office<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +have been further strengthened by the Bristol +Post Office having taken certain rooms in the +headquarters of the National Telephone Co., and +located its Returned Letter Office therein.</p> + +<p>Another new feature in Post Office development +is the use of Stamping Machines for the rapid +obliteration of the postage stamps and for the +impression of the day's date on letters. Quite +recently a machine of the kind has been introduced +into the Bristol Post Office. The machine, which +is of modern invention, goes by the name of +the "Columbia" Cancelling Machine, and is +manufactured by the Columbia Postal Supply +Company, of Silver Creek, New York, U.S.A. It +is said to be in use in many Post Offices in the +large towns of America and other countries. The +public will no doubt have noticed the new +cancelling marks on the postage stamps, as the +die and long horizontal lines are very striking. +The cancelling and date marking operation is +performed at the rate of 400 or 500 letters per +minute. The motor power of the machine is +electricity.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-051.jpg" width="100%" alt="COLUMBIA STAMPING MACHINE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">COLUMBIA STAMPING MACHINE.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>THE POST OFFICE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY: ITS ANNUAL +MEETING AT BRISTOL.—POST OFFICE SPORTS: TERRIBLE +MOTOR CYCLE ACCIDENT.—BRISTOL POST OFFICE IN DARKNESS.</p></div> + + +<p>The United Kingdom Postal and Telegraph +Service Benevolent Society held its Biennial +meeting at Bristol, in June, 1903, and a Banquet +was given by the Bristol Branch to the members +of the Conference.</p> + +<p>Such a visit to Bristol occurs only once in +about 20 years, so it was regarded as an +event of no small importance in the local Post +Office community; and it is, perhaps, worthy +on that account of record in this publication, +which aims to be somewhat historical in +character. In the following account of the +Banquet there has been withdrawn the seasoning +of the "hear, hear," "laughter," "applause," +"loud cheers," etc. The reader can add it to +his or her liking.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + +<p>The attendance at the Banquet was large, and +the guests closely filled the large central hall of the +Royal Hotel, College Green. The High Sheriff, +Mr. Weston Stevens, presided, and amongst those +present were the Lord Bishop of Bristol, Colonel +C.E.H. Hobhouse, M.P., Rev. A.N. Blatchford, +Messrs. J. McMurtrie, S. Humphries, R.C. +Tombs, I.S.O. (Postmaster and Surveyor of +Bristol), E. Bennett, J.T. Francombe, J. Asher, +J.C. Gilmore, L.J. Botting (the Bristol Central +Secretary), E.C. Taylor (the Chairman of Conference), +and many others.</p> + +<p>The speeches were interesting as throwing a +light on the Post Office working, and on Post +Office benevolence.</p> + +<p>When he received the invitation to attend +that dinner, Mr. Francombe said, he was at a loss +to know why he should be so honoured. He +thought that possibly some gentleman engaged +in the dead-letter office knew he was a member +of the Education Committee of Bristol, and +that he might give a hint to the rising generation +to write better, and so save him a great deal +of trouble. If that was the reason, he certainly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +would attend to it. Afterwards he said he knew +why it was; it was because Sir Francis Freeling +was born in Redcliff, where he (Mr. Francombe) +happened to be schoolmaster of the parish. Sir +Francis worked his way up to high rank in the +Postal Service, which was something to be proud +of. He hoped members of the Conference +would not go away from Bristol without visiting +Redcliff Church and seeing the slab to his +memory. But his duty was to propose the +toast of the Bishop and ministers of religion of +that ancient city. They did not know as much +about the Bishop as he should like them to know. +They in Bristol believed him to be physically, +mentally, and spiritually fit to be a leader in +the great city. He believed the work of a Bishop +was something like that of a policeman—not +altogether a happy one. His Lordship attended +many functions, gave a fillip to every one of +them, and all he said was reported and saved +up ready to be cast in his teeth sometimes. If +he were of a tender disposition he would say, +"I could weep my spirit from mine eyes." But +he was not one of that sort. His toast was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +"Ministers of Religion." He thought it would +have been "Ministers of all denominations." +There was one denomination in Bristol that had +no ministers, and it went on wonderfully well. +He referred to the Society of Friends. He was +sure His Lordship would agree. They only +spoke when <i>the</i> spirit moved them, but a good +many spoke when <i>a</i> spirit moved them. Some +denominations were better without a minister, +and some ministers would be better without +denominations. In the city of Bristol there +was room enough for all, and they need not +spend time in attacking each other, but might +do the work God sent them to do. They had +one present that night—a broad-minded gentleman +who did his work like the Bishop, and +minded his business, and did not interfere with +other people—Mr. Blatchford.</p> + +<p>They always listened in Bristol with special +pleasure to a speech from their friend Mr. Francombe, +the Lord Bishop said. He desired to +thank Mr. Francombe for the pleasant manner +in which he had spoken of him. The clergy and +ministers had looked about in the world for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +faces that were on the side of right, besides the +purely spiritual faces and spiritual work, and he +was always thankful to think a great deal of good +was done in the country by that great service +represented that evening. Their army of postmen +and employés of the Post Office were a very +great factor indeed in keeping steady a State +like their own. He always said the same of +certain other bodies, but of the postmen it seemed +to him they were so particularly careful about +their business, they learned of necessity to be so +sober and so well conducted, or they would lose +their place, that he looked upon them and the +railway men as two of the greatest civilising +influences they had among them, apart from +such work as Mr. Blatchford and he were called +upon officially to do. He desired to express, +on his own part, his extreme gratitude to those +gentlemen for another reason—the wonderful +accuracy with which they delivered the letters. +That gentleman who laughed might once in his +life have missed a letter addressed to him, but +it did not happen to the Bishop. In the five +and a half years he had been in Bristol, with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +large correspondence, he was not conscious of +having lost one single letter. He should have +been exceedingly glad if a good many had been +lost. It so happened he gave the Post Office +a good deal of trouble. He lived at a place +called the Palace. Now Henry VIII. created +a bishop's residence in Bristol, a palace, and it +was supposed that a palace must mean something +royal. The real fact was, the name was +derived not from a king's palace but from that +of a shepherd—a most suitable thing for a bishop. +Henry VIII., besides creating his residence a +palace, created Bristol a city in the same document. +The name palace gave a certain amount +of trouble, because there were palaces in some +cities where other things than bishops were +sold. There was a palace where a certain +innocuous drink was sold, and letters sometimes +went there. There was also a most delightful +place of entertainment called the People's +Palace in Bristol, and letters sometimes went +there. When grave clergymen from a distance +came to stay at his house they were occasionally +driven up to the doors of the People's Palace,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +and the cabmen expected that they were going +to purchase tickets for the entertainment. A +letter came to Bristol addressed "March 25th, +Bristol." The Postmaster was puzzled at first. +Then it occurred to him that the assizes were +on, and Justice Day was the judge, and that +his wife was Lady Day. He should like to tell +them one thing more from history. Admirable +as the Post Office was now, a little more than +1,200 years ago, a letter was sent to his predecessor, +St. Aldhelm, from Ireland. The only +address given was from an anonymous Scot. +The letter said, "You have a book which +it is only the business of a fortnight to read; +I beg you to send it to me." That was all. +He did not name the book. The Post Office in +those days was so marvellous a thing that, as far +as they knew, Aldhelm just took the book, put it +in the post, addressed to an anonymous Scot, +and he supposed it found its way to him in +Ireland. He did not think they could beat that +to-day. Few people knew how much the country +was saved in taxation by people who had a large +correspondence. Their letters were the most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +agreeable and easy way of paying their taxes. +When they came to see the Budget analysed it +was surprising what a large amount of taxation +was paid in this innocent way. He could not +see how it was done. It seemed that the work +for which a penny was charged must cost at least +a penny. He could only understand it on the +principle of the old Irish lady who lost on every +single apple she sold, but, by the blessing of +God, sold so many that she got a good living +out of it.</p> + +<p>He was not surprised, the Rev. A.N. Blatchford +said, that the toast should be so heartily +received in a city known as the city of churches. +The Church had thrown herself from ancient +time into the cause of the people; progress +and religion had been indissolubly linked +together.</p> + +<p>In proposing the toast "The Postal and Telegraph +Service," Mr. Sidney Humphries, J.P., present +President of the Chamber of Commerce, said that +when he was asked to propose the next toast on +the list, his thoughts naturally turned to the reason +for his being put forward to do this duty, and +the only explanation that had occurred to him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +was that having had the hardihood to be one +of a deputation to the Postmaster-General quite +recently, on the question of their local postal +service, those who had had the arrangement of +this function, Mikado like, had lured him to +his punishment; but still, being in for it, many +interesting thoughts had arisen. The first, as +to the foresight of that Worcestershire schoolmaster, +Rowland Hill, who, feeling the pinch +of expense, made an agreement with his sweetheart +to only write once a fortnight, the rates +of postage in his early days varying from 2d. to +1s. in accordance with the distance at which +they were separated. Fortunately, his thoughts +were directed to the penny postage for all distances +within the United Kingdom, and although +many spoke of him as an over-sanguine dreamer, +still events had proved his wisdom, and to-day +they had a postal service that dealt with over +3,832 million letters, postcards, and papers per +annum, giving 91 per head of the population, +as against 940 millions 33 years ago, with the +comparatively small number of 30 per head +then. Whilst speaking of the enormous growth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +of the postal business, they must not lose sight +of the wonderful growth of both the telegraph +and Savings Bank business. The former, since +it was taken over by Government in 1870, had +more than justified that step, for in the following +year—1871—the number of telegrams sent was +10 millions, whilst last year the number was well +over 92 million messages. Then as regards the +Savings Bank, they could flatter themselves as +to the proof it furnished of the increased wealth +of the country, for whilst the total Savings Bank +capital in 1869 was 13½ millions, in 1901 it stood +at over 140 millions. But whilst all this progress +had been made, many helpful suggestions +had been made by men of moderate position. +Take, for instance, a time so long ago as 1784: +the credit of first suggesting the mail coach +was made by a Mr. Palmer, who was then the +manager of the theatre in their neighbouring +city of Bath. This was a great improvement +as to speed and safety of delivery when compared +with the old postboy; but think of the mail +coach when compared with the mail trains that +covered now over three millions of miles per<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +annum. But with all this progress there had +been many other changes. Think of the notice +that was issued to all postal employés in 1832, +that none were to vote or advise electors how +to vote. This was very different to running +a candidate on postal lines, as was to take place +at the next election at York. And in considering +what for a better term he might call the commercial +side of the question, there were instances +that ought not to be overlooked in great numbers +of devotion to duty—for example, take +that of the Scotch mail carrier, who, feeling +himself overcome by the gale and snow, hung +his mail-bag on a tree so that the letters should +not be lost, even if his life were sacrificed. Then +this postal system seemed to develop a special +shrewdness. One local case had been mentioned +by the Bishop as having recently occurred, +and there was another in which a pictorial +address of Daniel in the lion's den found its +rightful owner, who had become talked about +by his visit to a menagerie just before. But in +case they should all think that at last perfection +had been reached, there was another circum<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>stance +that he could relate from his own personal +experience. Wanting to send a parcel to Sir +Michael Hicks-Beach, he foolishly sent it to his +private address, at 40, Portman Square, instead +of his official residence, he being Chancellor of +Exchequer at the time, and judge of his own +astonishment when he received an official +announcement, "Cannot be delivered owing to +address being unknown." But this did not +tell against their Bristol friends, a body of men, +he ventured to say, who for smartness and +anxiety at all times to meet the various calls +made upon them could not be surpassed, and +therefore he called upon them all to drink +heartily the toast of the Postal and Telegraph +Service, coupling with it the name of their local +Postmaster and Surveyor, who was always to +the fore in anything that would help forward +Bristol or Bristol interests.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 40%;"> +<img src="images/illus-052.jpg" width="100%" alt="POSTMASTER OF BRISTOL. + +(The Author.)" title="" /> +<span class="caption">POSTMASTER OF BRISTOL.<br /><br /> + +<i>(The Author.)</i></span> +</div> + +<p>In replying, the Postmaster thanked them +all for the cordial reception of the toast of the +Postal and Telegraph Services, and especially Mr. +Humphries, the proposer, for the kind and considerate +and genial way in which he had alluded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +to his department. In the first place, he wished +to extend to the delegates assembled there—and +they came from all parts of the United Kingdom, +North, South, East, and West—the right hand +of good comradeship. Welcome, delegates to +Bristol, thrice welcome, he said. He supposed, +in response to this important toast, they would +expect that he should say something of the postal +system. The Lord Bishop had taken them back +some hundreds of years—1200 years back, when +Bishop Aldhelm wrote a letter. He must go a +little further back than that. His friend, Mr. +Humphries, found a parallel in Holy Scripture—Daniel +in the lion's den. He found in Holy +Writ, the only book of ancient date he had to refer +to, that posts and letters were of respectable +antiquity. They would find recorded in Kings +II. this passage in connection with the account +of that pathetic incident of the little Israelitish +maiden suggesting the means whereby Naaman +might be cured—"Go to," said the King of Syria, +"I will send a letter to the King of Israel." In +the wisdom of Solomon were the words, "My +days are like a shadow that passeth away, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +like the post that hasteth by." So they saw in +those ancient days it was all hurry for the postman. +He would skip a few thousand years and +come to 1496. It was recorded that the means +of communication in this country were almost +non-existent, and news was carried to and +fro by means of travelling merchants, pedlars, +and pilgrims. In 1637 letter posts were established +by Charles I. King Charles stopped +in the building that stood on the site of their +local St. Martin's-le-Grand, but little could he +have thought that the day would come when +it would be possible for a man to stand on +that spot and speak to a friend and recognise +his voice, as far away as Wexford. Sir +Francis Freeling had been named. He became +secretary to the Post Office. He served in the +Bristol office two or three years before being +translated to London to become the associate of +Palmer, of mail-coach renown. The old city of +Bristol had been under a cloud. In the year +1793 they had only one postman, and two or +three years later two. Now they had 500. In +the last 60 years the letters posted and delivered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +in Bristol increased from 66 millions to 134 millions +in the year. This was an enormous increase, +and showed that Bristol was going to forge ahead +again. It made them glad that the old city had +once again aroused herself. The Post Office had +become a giant in the kingdom, but it exercised +its power as a kindly giant. They heard the +demand for all sorts of reforms, but they felt +that Mr. Austen Chamberlain was equal to the +occasion.</p> + +<p>"The Postal and Telegraph Benevolent Society" +was submitted by Lieut.-Colonel Hobhouse, M.P., +who said he was not sure that before long they +would not have to add to their service, and include +the telephonic operators as well. He noticed they +depended in their work, and for the relief which +they gave to their members, entirely upon the +donations of their own members. That was +satisfactory, not only to them, but to him as a +Member of Parliament, because Members of +Parliament seldom came to gatherings of that +sort without being requested to make some contribution, +direct or indirect, to the funds of the +Society, so good as to give them a dinner. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +understood the provision of the Society was +in addition to the official pension of the Post +Office.</p> + +<p>In reply, Mr. Botting said they must all feel +very much flattered by the terms in which Colonel +Hobhouse had referred to their Society. He felt +that they might almost suggest to the Government +that the questions of old age pensions and the +financial position of friendly societies might be +handed over to them to deal with. He might +remind them of a remark made at the meeting, +although having an M.P. present, perhaps he +should not refer to it, that their Society got +through more work in a day than the House of +Commons did in a month. He considered they +had at their Conference got through a good day's +work. He would not give a long string of +statistics, but he must mention that the Society +had a membership of 19,600, had been in existence +nearly 28 years, and during that time had paid +to the nominees of deceased members just upon +£300,000, made up chiefly of penny contributions. +Such payments had been in many cases all that +had stood between the widows and orphans and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +absolute destitution. In considering this, they +must not forget his friend beside him, whose +fertile brain had created the Society. They +must all regret to learn of Mr. Asher's retirement +from the Service through ill-health, and they +would all hope that the release from official work +would prove beneficial to him. He (Mr. Botting) +hoped that so long as the Society existed the name +of Mr. Asher would never be forgotten.</p> + +<p>Mr. Asher was received very heartily. He +said the proposal that such a society should be +formed was regarded as the day dream of a +sanguine mind, but it was something to reflect +upon, the immense amount of good that had been +done in the course of years. More practical help +he could not imagine rendering to the fellows in +the Service. He trusted that the work of that +day's Conference might re-echo and redound to +the credit of the Bristol meeting, and he desired, +in thanking their Bristol friends, to couple with +them the names of Mr. E.C. Taylor and the +Reception Committee.</p> + +<p>In proposing "The City and County of Bristol," +Mr. Edward Bennett said that he had attended<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +a great number of these banquets, and had had +on several occasions to propose the toast of the +particular town which was for the moment entertaining +the Society. For this reason he was, +perhaps, looked upon as a special pleader, and when +he was praising a provincial city his tongue was +thought to be in his cheek, and London was written +on his heart. When Stella was told that Dean +Swift had composed a poem, not in honour of her, +but of Vanessa, she replied, with exquisite feminine +amenity, that it was well known that the Dean +could be eloquent over a broomstick. If he that +night extolled Bristol above her other rivals, it +would be said of him that he was a verbose individual, +who had called in past years Leeds a +beautiful and inspiring city, Liverpool a rising +seaport, and Glasgow a town where urbanity and +sweet reasonableness prevailed. It might be +remembered of him that he had praised the +Birmingham man for his childlike humility, and +the Edinburgh man for his excessive modesty. +It was his first visit to Bristol, and it was presumption +on his part to speak on the subject at all. +Silence was the better part when a man was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +situated as he was. There were some exquisite +lines he learnt as a child which conveyed a deep +moral lesson to all day trippers:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +There was a young lady of Sweden<br /> +She went by the slow train to Weedon,<br /> +When she arrived at Weedon Station she made no observation,<br /> +But returned by the slow train to Sweden.<br /> +</div> + +<p>That was what he ought to have done. His +heart went out to that young lady, and he often +had pondered whether it was disgust, astonishment, +or admiration which had inspired her +silence. There was a special reason why Civil +Servants should be drawn to Bristol. Doubtless +even the Bristol Chamber of Commerce was +acquainted with the process known as "passing +over"—many persons in that room had perhaps +undergone the operation—and those who read the +history of Bristol felt a pull at their heart strings +when they realised the fact that she also had been +"passed over" by younger and more pushful +rivals. But the capable Civil Servant never +admitted the justice of being passed over. In +many instances he established his case, and he +did not rest satisfied until he had retrieved his +position, and in time caught up his quondam<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +rivals. That, he took it, was the position of +Bristol at the present time. She had relied too +much on her ancient name, and had allowed +mushroom places like Liverpool and Manchester +to steal a march on her. She was coming to the +front again; she had a glorious past, but she was +going to have a brilliant future. He coupled with +the toast the name of the High Sheriff. If he +knew any evil of the High Sheriff he would not +mention it that evening. He had still 24 hours +to spend in Bristol, and a man could do a lot of +evil as well as good in that time.</p> + +<p>The High Sheriff made a short speech in reply +to the toast.</p> + +<p>Other good speeches followed.</p> + +<p>The Post Office Cycling and Athletic Clubs +have for some years past been in the habit of +holding Sports at the County Ground in Bristol. +These annual sports, having been held on Saturday +afternoons, have usually been successful, and +have attracted large crowds. In 1903, the sports, +held on the 23rd May, attracted no fewer than +nine thousand persons, owing to the unusual +feature of motor cycle races having been arranged +as a novelty—motor cycle racing not having<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +been carried on in Bristol before. There were +several competitors, and London as well as local +men, took part in the motor cycle races. +Unfortunately, the track, which had been made +some sixteen years previously for ordinary cycle +competitions, was not suitable for motor racing +at great speed. In one of the heats Bailey, of +Bristol, was leading Barnes, of London, a noted +motor cyclist, and through some mishap at or +soon after the moment of Barnes getting past +Bailey, his machine having run rather wide on +the track, got out of his command, and dashed +into the fringe of sightseers who were lying on +the bank to get the best point of view. The +result was a fearful carnage, and ten or eleven +people were carried away insensible and much +injured. In the end, three poor boys died in the +Hospital, and fortunately the seven or eight other +people who were injured, slowly recovered from +their concussions and contusions. At the inquest, +the verdict was "Accidental Death."</p> + +<p>On the 23rd December, 1903, shortly after +five o'clock p.m., the civic supply of electricity +in Bristol failed, and shops, business premises, +and houses depending upon it for light, were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +plunged into darkness in all parts of the city. +This was soon known to be due to a fire having +broken out at Temple Back Generating Station, +and the glare in the sky suggested that the outbreak +had reached serious proportions. The +Bristol Post Office has a full installation of electric +light; and the failure could not have occurred +at a more inconvenient time, as the pressure +incidental to Christmas was being experienced. +Fortunately, not only for the Post Office, but +also for the general public, the large staff engaged +in the interior of the building was able to cope +with the extensive work before them practically +without interruption, as throughout the whole of +the department, gas is still laid on, and, beyond +the shifting of one or two desks to within reasonable +distance of gas jets, no inconvenience was +caused after the burners and fittings—somewhat +out of order through non-usage—were put to +rights. The public hall, however, suffered most, +as, when thus robbed of the electric light at one +of the busiest periods of the evening, only scattered +gas jets were available, and they had to be supplemented +by lighted candles set at intervals around<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +the semi-circular counter. Some of the candles +were in primitive holders, stuck in blocks of wood, +and plugged firmly with nails; others were even +without these supports. The Counter Officers +had, therefore, to work under difficulties; but +they got through their manifold duties expeditiously. +The greatest inconvenience was occasioned +at St. James's Parish Hall, which was +being temporarily used as a Post Office. Here, +there was no gas service available, and when the +electric lights "gave out," the staff had to scurry +hither and thither to get illuminants, which took +the form of postmen's lamps, table lamps, candles +in improvised holders, and such few hurricane +lamps as were procurable at the shops, in the +general run on them. The electric light was +fully restored in the evening of the next day. +This fire recalls an occasion when at St. Martin's-le-Grand, +the gas supply failed, and the largest +Post Office business of the world was placed at a +standstill. The officials, however, were equal to +the emergency, and cartloads of candles were +quickly obtained. The staff of carpenters employed +on the building improvised receptacles,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +and the postal work was proceeded with, candles +as they burnt out being replaced by men told off +for the purpose. Some time afterwards, it was +suggested that the stock of candles left over +should be disposed of, but it was then found that +these had been devoured by the innumerable +rats which infest the old building.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>QUAINT ADDRESSES AND THE DEAN'S PECULIAR SIGNATURE.—AMUSING +INCIDENTS AND THE POSTMAN'S KNOCK.—HUMOROUS APPLICATIONS.</p></div> + + +<p>The members of the Bristol Post Office Staff +have to display no little perspicacity in +elucidating quaint addresses on letters going +through the post. To Postman Wade must go +the credit of having correctly surmised that the +letter addressed simply "25th March, Clifton," to +which allusion has already been made, was intended +for Lady Day, the wife of the Judge of Assize, +Mr. Justice Day, then staying in Clifton. A letter +addressed to "W.D. & H.O.", without street +or town being named, came from a distant county, +and was delivered to the firm of Messrs. W.D. & +H.O. Wills & Co., in Bristol, for whom it was +found to be intended.</p> + +<p>The pictorial illustrations herewith demonstrate +two instances of letters correctly delivered by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +post office officials after the address had been +deciphered by their <i>Sherlock Holmes</i>.</p> + +<p>In the <i>Bristol Royal Mail</i> particulars were given +of the peculiar way in which correspondents +addressed their envelopes to the Post Office, +Bristol. Since that publication was issued, other +peculiar instances have occurred. The following +are cases of the kind, viz.:—The Head Postmaster +(Master's Parlour). The Honourable The Postmaster. +Postmaster Number 58 (in answer to +query on Form "Postmasters No. 58"). Master, +General Post Office, Bristol.</p> + +<p>The Dean of Bristol in the preface of his very +interesting book "Odds and Ends," writes of the +many liberties people take with his surname in +their communications, and says that none of their +imaginary names are so pleasing to him as his own +proper name of Pigou. That his correspondents +are not altogether to be blamed may be gathered +from the fact that the Dean, in an official letter to +the Bristol Post Office, signed his name thus:</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 10%;"> +<img src="images/signature.jpg" width="100%" alt="Signature" title="" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> +<p>The signature was submitted to 22 officers who +decipher the badly addressed letters at the +"Blind" Division, at "Head Quarters," in the +General Post Office, London, and their interpretations +were as follows, viz.:—J. Rogers, J. Egan, +Ryan, J. Lyon, Roper, J. or T. Rogers, J. Rogers, +J. Logan, J. Lyon, J. Logan, J. Pogon, T. Lyon, +J. Rogers, J. Goson, J. Rogers, J. Eason, T. +Egan, J. Goyfer, J.G. Offin, J. Lyons, J. Pyon, +J. Pijou.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 30%;"> +<img src="images/illus-053.jpg" width="100%" alt="LETTER CORRECTLY DELIVERED TO DR. W.G. GRACE, +AT BRISTOL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">LETTER CORRECTLY DELIVERED TO DR. W.G. GRACE, +AT BRISTOL.</span><br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 30%;"> +<img src="images/illus-053b.jpg" width="100%" alt="QUAINT ADDRESS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">QUAINT ADDRESS.</span> +</div> + +<p>It is only fair to the "Blind Writers" to say, +that the address heading of the Dean's letter was +withdrawn before the signature was submitted to +them. With that clue they would readily have +been able to find out the writer's correct name +from their books of reference, so that the Dean is +not likely to suffer delay of his letters in the +Returned Letter Office through peculiarity of +signature.</p> + +<p>During a recent Christmas Season a parcel, +containing a lb. roll of butter was received, without +address, in the returned Letter Office, Bristol, +from a Devonshire town. As the parcel could +not be returned to the sender within such a time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +as the contents remained good, the butter was +sold for cooking purposes. When placed upon +the kitchen table, the edge of a yellow coin was +observed to be slightly protruding from the roll. +The coin turned out to be a sovereign, and +search was made to ascertain whether any more +money had been so strangely hidden, but only +the £1 was found. The money was at once +forwarded to the proper Post Office authorities, +and subsequently returned to the sender, but +would-be imitators are warned that such practices +are strongly deprecated by the Post Office +Department as tending to lead to dishonesty.</p> + +<p>The Corporation of Bristol erected electric light +ventilators in different parts of the city. At a +distance, possibly, these ventilators appear, to +the short-sighted, to be Post Office pillar boxes, +as they are iron boxes placed on the pavement +near the kerbstones. They differ in many +respects from the familiar Post Office boxes, for, +instead of being round, they are square; they are +painted of a different colour, and are only about +two feet high. They are without indicators, +notice plates, and doors. There is a slightly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +raised top for the passage of air. Through this +opening of one of the boxes letters have been +recently posted by three separate persons. Such +carelessness is astonishing.</p> + +<p>The Electric Lighting Authorities, to prevent +further mishaps of the kind, arranged to have +the apertures closed by means of perforated zinc.</p> + +<p>Even in these days of primary and secondary +education, people have still a very elementary +knowledge of matters relating to the Postal and +Telegraph Services, in which everyone is vitally +concerned. Recently, an intelligent servant who +had received a Board School education was sent +with a telegram to a Telegraph Office, and told to +pay for a reply. Having paid for the reply, she +expected to get one there and then, and it was +only with very great reluctance that she was +induced to leave the Telegraph Office without a +reply to convey back to the person who entrusted +her with the commission.</p> + +<p>A complainant to the Post Office expressed himself +thus:—"Jan. 1st, 1904. Dear Sir,—Your +Postman on 28th by the First post In the morning, +With a newspaper,) My Sister Was at the back at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +the time Getting Sum cole In. He could not +Stop a few Minets; but nock So hard That he +brock a New Nocker on the door and then run +off, we not Seen Him Since,) I. think he Ought +to bye Nother Nocker. Ther to much that boy +Game with Sum them The paper after came +With Nother postman, He was on a bike wot +Broke the Nocker and Off at once and left the +Peces on the door Step, The postman got a Cast +In his eye.) I. Should Not think he wood want +us to pay for a Nother Why dont him coum +as A Man and pay for one Sir. I. Must conclued +with Best regurds to you, Yours Truley, F.H.G."</p> + +<p>Travellers from North and East to the West +of England and <i>vice versa</i> are aware that the +Bristol Joint Great Western and Midland station +is a busy railway centre. At a recent Christmas +season, there was much remark on the part of +the railway passengers with respect to the platforms +being blocked up with barrows containing +mails and the large stack of parcel baskets to be +met with at every point. Said one traveller, +"It's all blooming Post Office on the platform +and no room for travellers to get about." Said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +another, "The late arrival of the train was all +due to that 'parcel post.'"</p> + +<p>A sub-postmaster in the Bristol district was +called to account for employing on the delivery +of letters a boy of fourteen years of age, instead +of a person of sixteen years of age or upwards. +He nominated another person, who, he stated, +was of proper age, being over 16 years old. A +year or two afterwards a question of discipline +arose about this individual, and it then transpired +that he was 68 years of age—rather too old +to commence life in His Majesty's Service!</p> + +<p>The phrase "guileless Ministers" in the speech +of a former Prime Minister on the fiscal question +(1903) became in course of telegraphing "guileless +monsters," and so reached the Bristol press. +Fortunately, the newspaper proof readers were +wide awake, and the error was corrected in time.</p> + +<p>Correspondents have a peculiar idea of the +functions devolving on a postmaster, as the +following letters will indicate, viz.:—</p> + + +<p>"Brighton, March 13th, 1904. To the Postmaster; +Sir,—Would you have pleased to try and +get me a small tin of very light coloured dry snuff<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +(I think it is called Lundifoot) from one of the +leading tobacconists in Bristol. If you will +let me know the amount thereof I will send you +the money for the same before you send it. I +am, Yours, etc., J.S.A.</p> + +<p>"Scarborough, 6th August, 1904; Sir,—Would +you please be good enough to let me know +by return, whether the nightingale is in song +in Clifton Woods at the present time. Thanking +you in anticipation, and apologising for troubling +you. Believe me, Yours truly, (Sd.) (Mrs.) F.F."</p> + +<p>"Cardiff, April 29th, 1902. Sir,—May I ask +you the favour to hand over the enclosed Bristol +Blister to the chemist who sells it in your town, +when some person of your office passes the shop. +I received considerable benefit from the blister. +I shall be very much obliged to you and the +chemist if he will be so good to let me know how +he sells them. I am, Yours truly, (Sd.) T.B."</p> + +<p>Not only are the articles themselves of a +diversified character that pass through the parcel +post, but the mode of packing often produces +a certain amount of dubiousness in the minds +of the Parcel Department officials as to which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +is really the "Right side up," and how to handle +the packages. The sender of a rabbit, however; +left no doubt on the matter, as he had arranged +poor defunct "Bunny" in such a way that its +head was securely tied between its hind legs, +and the latter formed a convenient handle, the +front legs being tucked under the neck, and +the rabbit presenting the appearance of a ball. +Another incident was of rather an amusing +character. The "tie-on" labels had become +detached from two packages which reached +Bristol. A label which properly belonged to +a bottle of cough medicine was attached in the +Returned Letter Office to an old slipper, and +the label proper to the medicine was delivered +without packet or other attachment to the shoemaker +for whom the slipper was intended. +Fortunately, upon inquiry being made by the +interested parties, the medicine and slipper were +delivered to the rightful addressees.</p> + +<p>The facsimile herewith of a receipt for £20 given +by the Trustees of the Bristol Prudent Man's Fund +of Savings recently submitted for payment, 78 +years after issue, will be interesting to Post Office +Savings Bank Investors of the present day.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-054.jpg" width="100%" alt="FACSIMILE OF A RECEIPT FOR £20 GIVEN BY THE +TRUSTEES OF THE BRISTOL PRUDENT MAN'S +FUND SUBMITTED FOR PAYMENT 78 YEARS AFTER ISSUE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">FACSIMILE OF A RECEIPT FOR £20 GIVEN BY THE +TRUSTEES OF THE BRISTOL PRUDENT MAN'S +FUND SUBMITTED FOR PAYMENT 78 YEARS AFTER ISSUE.</span> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>POSTMASTERS-GENERAL. (RT. HON. A. MORLEY AND THE +MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY) VISIT BRISTOL.—THE POSTMASTER +OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THE KING'S NEW +POSTAGE STAMPS.—CORONATION OF KING EDWARD VII.—LOYALTY +OF POST OFFICE STAFF.—MRS. VARNAM-COGGAN'S +CORONATION POEM.</p></div> + + +<p>Mr. Arnold Morley, during his term +of office as Postmaster-General, visited +Bristol, and was presented by the Chamber of +Commerce with an address, worded thus:—"The +Bristol Incorporated Chamber of Commerce +and Shipping. To the Right Honorable +Arnold Morley, M.P., Her Majesty's Postmaster +General. Sir,—The Council of the Bristol Incorporated +Chamber of Commerce and Shipping +are glad to embrace the opportunity afforded +by your visit to this city of expressing their +high appreciation of the services rendered to +the state in general and to the commercial com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>munity +in particular by the energy and enterprise +displayed in your administration of the +Postal and Telegraphic Departments of the +public service. We recognise that in matters +such as are ranged under your control there can +be no finality, and that however excellent our +present Postal and Telegraphic arrangements +may appear, your Departments must be quick +to discern the arrival of fresh needs such as our +rapidly developing civilization must constantly +bring. We rejoice in the abundant evidence +that you have thoroughly appreciated the absolute +necessity for continual advance and adaptation, +and that you are labouring with such zeal to +keep the complicated machinery of the General +Post Office up to date and equal to the immense +and ever increasing strain it has to bear, whilst +the Council think it only right to acknowledge +the marked and unvarying urbanity with which, +at all times, you and your officials receive and +discuss any suggestions for the improvement of +the services, emanating from Chambers of Commerce +and other sources. In conclusion, the +Council recognise in your person the son of a late<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +highly-esteemed Parliamentary Representative of +the city of Bristol, Mr. Samuel Morley, who for +many years took an active interest in the proceedings +of this Chamber and of the Association +of Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom; +and the Council take this occasion to +tender you their sincere congratulations on the +high position you have attained in the councils +and government of this great Empire. We +remain, Sir, Your obedient servants, (Sd.) George +H. Perrin, President; E. Burrow Hill, Mark +Whitwill, Vice-Presidents; H.J. Spear, Secretary. +Bristol, 1st Nov., 1894."</p> + +<p>The Marquis of Londonderry, when Postmaster-General, +was the chief guest at the annual +banquet of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, +held at the Royal Hotel, Bristol, under the +presidency of Mr. T.T. Lindrea, on the 24th +April, 1901. Among those present were Earl +Waldegrave, Sir Herbert Ashman, J.P., Sir +Frederick Wills, M.P., Judge Austin, J.P., Mr. +C.E. Hobhouse, M.P., Mr. Lewis Fry, the Lord +Mayor (Mr. Colthurst Godwin), the High Sheriff +(Mr. E.B. James), etc.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> + +<p>In responding to the toast of "His Majesty's +Ministers," Lord Londonderry alluded to the +great growth that had taken place in the population, +trade, and prosperity of Bristol during the +late Queen's reign. Last February, he said, +in eighteen days, the amount paid on goods +taken out of Bond reached £487,000. Of this +sum, no less than £430,000 was paid in the last +eight days, and of this £370,000 came from a +single firm for withdrawals of tobacco from +Bond. This included the enormous single +cheque paid by that firm one day for a quarter +of a million—the largest single cheque ever +known at His Majesty's Customs at Bristol. +He also congratulated Bristol on the great +development to her trade that must come through +the inauguration in February last of the new +service to the West Indies. This, he was sure, +would do much not only to strengthen the ties +that bound this country to the West Indian +Colonies, but also to restore to Bristol some +measure of that position she had once enjoyed +in the trade of the United Kingdom. He was +rather glad his good friend the Chancellor of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +Exchequer was not there that night, for if he +heard how much was spent in benefiting those +who relied on the Post Office, and how little +they handed over to the national exchequer, he +would not be inclined to meet him when he +suggested certain postal reforms, as he intended +to do next year. He hoped they would invite +him to meet Sir Michael in Bristol, for he might +then be inclined to grant him (the speaker) any +request he might make. He wanted them to +recognise that the Postmaster-General's good +intentions, and they were many, were controlled +by Parliamentary and statutory exigencies. He +had also been asked to improve their rates on +foreign letters and parcels, as well as to cheapen +the delivery of letters and parcels from abroad; +but it was entirely forgotten that he had +to reckon with foreign Powers. A Postal +Reformer had declared, in a letter, that it was +possible to create an ideal Post Office. He +wished he could accede to every one of his requests, +but he had to consider Parliament; +he was not master himself. He thought that +if they were to meet the requirements of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +public as they were anxious to do, they must +proceed in the course in which they were moving +at present—with steadiness and sureness, and +not promise things which it was impossible to +fulfil.</p> + +<p>The Ex-Postmaster of the House of Commons, +Mr. E.W. Pike, is a Somersetshire man; he +was born at Ilchester, and his grandfather was +the last Governor of the Gaol of that town. +When Mr. Pike was ten years of age, his father +received an appointment under the act constituting +the new County Court system, and +removed to Temple Cloud in the Bristol district. +The family afterwards moved to the adjacent +village of Clutton, and Mr. Pike went there with +the other members.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pike remembers that the Post Office at +Temple Cloud was held by Mrs. Carter, and +after her death John Spear had the office. Mr. +Pike's active service in the Post Office terminated +on Wednesday, the 14th September, 1903. +His experience in the Post Office was unique, +and no wonder that he felt proud on retiring, +that during a service of nearly 46 years he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +given full satisfaction to his superiors in the +Post Office, and to have had the approbation of +the Members of the House of Commons specially +expressed to him by the Prime Minister, Mr. +A.J. Balfour.</p> + +<p>There was no small stir at the public counter of +the Bristol Post Office on the first day of January, +1902, the day of issue of the new 1/2d., 1d., 2½d., +and 6d. postage stamps, bearing the medallion +portrait of King Edward the VIIth. People +were very anxious to become possessed of specimens, +and many of the stamps sold were evidently +intended to adorn collector's books. The sales +on the 1st January, 1902, were:—1/2d., £175; 1d., +£500; 2½d., £27 10s.; 6d., £66 9s., and were +slightly in excess of the average. The general +public demanded the new kind almost without +exception, but firms took old stamps to the +extent of 10 per cent. of the whole lot supplied.</p> + +<p>The Staff of the Bristol Post Office sent an +illuminated address to the King for His Majesty's +Coronation Day.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Pattie E. Varnam-Coggan, a lady who +at the time was Postmistress of Chipping Sod<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>bury +composed the following hymn in connection +with the event.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">God save our King!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0em;">Up to the sky let loyal voices ring,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0em;">Joy to the land this Festal Day shall bring.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Roar guns! and peal O bells!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">As loud the anthem swells—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">God save our King!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">God save our Queen!</span><br /> +A nobler consort ne'er hath England seen!<br /> +Bless her pure life with love and peace serene.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Crown her with heavenly grace.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Strength for her royal place—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">God save our Queen!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">God save our land!</span><br /> +As suppliants now before Thy Throne we stand,<br /> +Craving for gifts from Thine all-powerful Hand.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Let none make us afraid,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Foes find us undismayed—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">God save our land!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">Great King of kings!</span><br /> +Ruler supreme o'er men and earthly things,<br /> +Eternal source from which all goodness springs!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Bless Thou the Royal Pair,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Grant them Thy joy to share,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Great King of kings!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">God! thanks for peace!</span><br /> +Praised be Thou Who makest war to cease,<br /> +O'er all our Empire wide THY reign increase!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Let all men seek for good,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">In one blest brotherhood—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">God! thanks for peace!</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>The staff also made elaborate arrangements +to take an active part in the grand procession +which had been organized at Bristol to celebrate +the Coronation, but, alas, the procession had +to be postponed in consequence of the King's +sudden illness on the 24th June, and finally +was abandoned altogether. The Post Office +section, which was to have been honoured +with first place in the procession, was designed +to give the Bristol public some idea of the +working of this most useful branch of the +public service. The section was to have been +arranged as follows:—Telegraph Messengers' +Drum and Fife Band. Company of Telegraph +Messengers, with Carbines. Telegraph Messengers' +Cycle Corps. Company of Postmen. Mail +Carrier Tricycle. Country Mail Cart—present +day. Town Mail Van—present day. London to +Bristol Royal Mail Coach of 100 years since, with +Coachman and Guard in Royal livery of the +Period. Guard carrying an ancient Mail Guard's +blunderbuss, borrowed from the armoury of Mr. +Rawlins, of Syston Court. Post Office Tableau, +illustrative of the Collecting, Stamping, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +Sorting of Letters, and the Despatch of Mail +Bags; also the sending of Telegrams.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50%;"> +<img src="images/illus-055.jpg" width="100%" alt="ADDRESS TO THE KING." title="" /> +<span class="caption">ADDRESS TO THE KING.</span> +</div> + +<p>The following acknowledgment of the Address +was received on the King's recovery:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Home Office, Whitehall, 5 Sept., 1902. Sir,—I +am commanded by the King to convey to you +hereby His Majesty's thanks for the Loyal and +Dutiful Address of the Staff of the Postal and +Telegraph Services at Bristol. I am, Sir, your +obedient servant, A. Akers Douglas. The Surveyor +Postmaster, Post Office, Bristol."</p></div> + +<p>The address to His Majesty is here reproduced, +and as the sentiments contained in it represent +the writer's wishes for King and Queen, it may, +perhaps, fittingly close the chapters of "The +King's Post."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX.</h2> + + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Aberystwith, Mail Coach, <a href="#Page_77">77</a></li> +<li>Addresses, Quaint, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a></li> +<li>African War, P.O. Volunteers, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></li> +<li>Aldhelm, Bishop, <a href="#Page_205">205</a></li> +<li>Allen, Col., <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a></li> +<li>Allen, Ralph, Cross Posts, <a href="#Page_25">25</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Honoured, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a></li> + <li>Medal, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Allen, Richard, P.M.G., <a href="#Page_3">3</a></li> +<li>Almondsbury, Penny Post, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></li> +<li>American Mails <i>via</i> Plymouth, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>-<a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li>Anabaptist Opinions, <a href="#Page_6">6</a></li> +<li>Anderson, James, Bush Inn, <a href="#Page_98">98</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Lamb Inn, <a href="#Page_100">100</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Arlington, Lord, Letters Delayed, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></li> +<li>Arno's Vale Turnpike, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> +<li>Arrowsmith, Mr. J.W., Publisher, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> +<li>Asher, Mr., Speech, <a href="#Page_215">215</a></li> +<li>Avon Motor Co., <a href="#Page_91">91</a></li> +<li>Avonmouth Dock, New, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Baptist College, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></li> +<li>Bear Inn, Devizes, <a href="#Page_102">102</a></li> +<li>Beaufort, Dukes of, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a></li> +<li>Benevolent Society, P.O., Banquet at Bristol, <a href="#Page_199">199</a></li> +<li>Bennett, Mr. E., Speech, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a></li> +<li>Birmingham, Coach, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>George and Rose Inn, <a href="#Page_65">65</a></li> + <li>Rose Inn, <a href="#Page_66">66</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Bishop of Bristol, Speech, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a></li> +<li>Bisshopp, Henry, Farmer of Posts, <a href="#Page_22">22</a></li> +<li>Blatchford, Rev. A.N., Speech, <a href="#Page_206">206</a></li> +<li>Boar's Head Inn, <a href="#Page_64">64</a></li> +<li>Botting, Mr., Speech, <a href="#Page_214">214</a></li> +<li>Brewham, Foot post to, <a href="#Page_2">2</a></li> +<li>Brightstowe, Plan of, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +<li>Brighton Coach, <a href="#Page_66">66</a></li> +<li>Brill, Mail Coach Inspector, <a href="#Page_88">88</a></li> +<li>Bristol Cathedral, <a href="#Page_93">93</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Copper Co., <a href="#Page_12">12</a></li> + <li>Mail Coach robberies, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>-<a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a></li> + <li>Rejuvenated, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></li> + <li>Turnpike Gates, <a href="#Page_117">117</a></li> + <li>Water Works Co., <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Broadmead Chapel Records, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></li> +<li>Broad Street, <a href="#Page_102">102</a></li> +<li>Brooks, Thos., & Co., <a href="#Page_65">65</a></li> +<li>Browne, Letter of year 1671, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>-<a href="#Page_7">7</a></li> +<li>Brunswick, Duke of, at White Lion, <a href="#Page_102">102</a></li> +<li>Bull and Mouth Inn, London, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> +<li>Burglaries, Post Office, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>-<a href="#Page_136">136</a></li> +<li>Burnett, Mail Coachman, killed, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a></li> +<li>Bush, Mr. J. Paul, C.M.G., in Africa, <a href="#Page_173">173</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>P.O. Medical Officer, <a href="#Page_174">174</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Bush Inn, Bristol, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Canadian Mail Service, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Cann Family, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>-<a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a></li> +<li>Carriers warned, <a href="#Page_30">30</a></li> +<li>Cathedral, Bristol, <a href="#Page_93">93</a></li> +<li>"Cavilears" threatening Postmaster Teig, <a href="#Page_5">5</a></li> +<li>Chamber of Commerce, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Chamberlain, Mr. Austen, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a></li> +<li>Chaplin, Coach proprietor, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> +<li>Charles I., <a href="#Page_2">2</a></li> +<li>Charles II., <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a></li> +<li>Chatham, Lord, friend of Allen, <a href="#Page_48">48</a></li> +<li>Cheltenham Coach, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> +<li>Chichester Mail Coach, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a></li> +<li>Chimney-piece, Old Elton, <a href="#Page_191">191</a></li> +<li>Chronometer, London Coach, <a href="#Page_69">69</a></li> +<li>City Chamberlain's account, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_2">2</a></li> +<li>City Chambers Co., <a href="#Page_10">10</a></li> +<li>Clevedon Mail Cart accident, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> +<li>Clift, Pratt & Co., <a href="#Page_70">70</a></li> +<li>Coach accident, Kennet Hill, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></li> +<li>Coaches, Better equipment wanted, <a href="#Page_43">43</a></li> +<li>Coach and Horses Inn, Southampton, <a href="#Page_66">66</a></li> +<li>Coach, Long, Portsmouth, <a href="#Page_79">79</a></li> +<li>Coachman fined for giving up reins, <a href="#Page_88">88</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Musical, <a href="#Page_90">90</a></li> + <li>Warminster, drunk, <a href="#Page_84">84</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Coach Service to Bristol, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></li> +<li>Coggan, Mrs. Varnam, <a href="#Page_238">238</a></li> +<li>Coin secreted in Parcel, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> +<li>Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> +<li>Colston, Edward, <a href="#Page_192">192</a></li> +<li>Columbia Stamping Machine, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> +<li>Commons, P.M. of House of, <a href="#Page_237">237</a></li> +<li>Constantine, Duke, of Russia, Visits the White Lion, <a href="#Page_102">102</a></li> +<li>Copper Co., Bristol, <a href="#Page_12">12</a></li> +<li>Cornishman, G.W.R. Train, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></li> +<li>Corn Street, 1663, <a href="#Page_6">6</a></li> +<li>Coronation Poem, Mrs. Varnam-Coggan, <a href="#Page_239">239</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Procession projected, <a href="#Page_240">240</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Cornwallis Coach, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Admiral, <a href="#Page_66">66</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Coutts, Thos., <a href="#Page_96">96</a></li> +<li>Cranford Bridge, Postboy robbed, <a href="#Page_127">127</a></li> +<li>Creswick Family, Mansion of, <a href="#Page_14">14</a></li> +<li>Cross Posts, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a></li> +<li>Crown Inn, Portsmouth, <a href="#Page_79">79</a></li> +<li>Cumberland, Duke of, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> +<li>Curious Incidents, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Dean of Bristol's Signature, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a></li> +<li>Devizes, Bear Inn, <a href="#Page_102">102</a></li> +<li>Devon Coach, <a href="#Page_69">69</a></li> +<li>Devonport Mail snowed up, <a href="#Page_86">86</a></li> +<li>Diligence Mail, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></li> +<li>Disastrous Gale and the Telegraphs, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> +<li>Ditton, Antony, Marlboro' Mayor, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li> +<li>Doddington, Barth., <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li> +<li>Dolphin Inn, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>-<a href="#Page_7">7</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Street, Bristol, <a href="#Page_106">106</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Duchess of St. Albans, <a href="#Page_96">96</a></li> +<li>Duke of Beaufort, Horses burnt, <a href="#Page_103">103</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Brunswick visits White Lion, <a href="#Page_102">102</a></li> + <li>Gloster Sloop, <a href="#Page_100">100</a></li> + </ul></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Electric Light Fails, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>-<a href="#Page_222">222</a></li> +<li>Elizabeth, Queen, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>-<a href="#Page_222">222</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Her Progress, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_17">17</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Elton Family, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mansion, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>-<a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Emerald Post Coach, <a href="#Page_104">104</a></li> +<li>Exchange Avenue, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a></li> +<li>Express Posts, <a href="#Page_26">26</a></li> +<li>Exquisite Coach, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> +<li>Extension of Post Office, <a href="#Page_14">14</a></li> +<li>Fairfax, Lord, <a href="#Page_3">3</a></li> +<li>Feecham, Mail Guard, <a href="#Page_86">86</a></li> +<li>Fifth Clause Post, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> +<li>Fish, conveyance declined, <a href="#Page_70">70</a></li> +<li>Fittler, James, Engraver, <a href="#Page_51">51</a></li> +<li>Flying Machine, Bath, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li> +<li>Folwell, Mail Guard, <a href="#Page_84">84</a></li> +<li>Foot Post, The, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_2">2</a></li> +<li>Francombe, Mr., Speech, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a></li> +<li>Freeling, Miss Edith, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Sir Francis, Birthplace, <a href="#Page_51">51</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>In London, <a href="#Page_53">53</a></li> + <li>On his mettle, <a href="#Page_55">55</a></li> + <li>Death of his wife, <a href="#Page_55">55</a></li> + <li>His death, <a href="#Page_56">56</a></li> + <li>Obituary notice, <a href="#Page_57">57</a></li> + <li>Relics, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>-<a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>-<a href="#Page_80">80</a></li> + </ul></li> + <li>Sir G.H., <a href="#Page_60">60</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Freeman and Brass Co., <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Thorough Post, <a href="#Page_2">2</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Fylton Hay, The Rodney, <a href="#Page_100">100</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Niblett's Farm, <a href="#Page_106">106</a></li> + <li>Open Post, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></li> + </ul></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Gascoigne, lays a Post, <a href="#Page_18">18</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Court Postmaster, <a href="#Page_19">19</a></li> + <li>Extraordinary Post, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>George IV., King, <a href="#Page_60">60</a></li> +<li>George, Philip, Dep. Town Clerk, Bath, <a href="#Page_40">40</a></li> +<li>Gloucester Mail Coach, <a href="#Page_73">73</a></li> +<li>Gore, Thomas, of Barrow, <a href="#Page_8">8</a></li> +<li>Gosport Mail, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a></li> +<li>Grand Hotel, Bristol, <a href="#Page_106">106</a></li> +<li>Griffiths, Richard, Mail Guard, <a href="#Page_89">89</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>His Post Horn, <a href="#Page_90">90</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>G.W.R. and P.O. Arbitration, <a href="#Page_150">150</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>In construction, <a href="#Page_146">146</a></li> + <li>In contemplation, <a href="#Page_141">141</a></li> + <li>Night Mail Train, <a href="#Page_143">143</a></li> + <li>Service, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> + </ul></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Hare and Hounds, <a href="#Page_88">88</a></li> +<li>Harford & Co., Iron Merchants, <a href="#Page_12">12</a></li> +<li>Harper, Mr. C.G., <a href="#Page_111">111</a></li> +<li>Hatton Garden Robbery, <a href="#Page_133">133</a></li> +<li>Hellier, Mr., receives letter in 1663, <a href="#Page_6">6</a></li> +<li>Henty, G., "The Road", <a href="#Page_128">128</a></li> +<li>Hereford Coach, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> +<li>Hero, Birmingham Coach, <a href="#Page_68">68</a></li> +<li>Hicks, James, Roads Clerk, <a href="#Page_22">22</a></li> +<li>Hill, Rowland, <a href="#Page_40">40</a></li> +<li>Hobhouse, Lt.-Col., Speech, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a></li> +<li>Holyhead Coach, <a href="#Page_65">65</a></li> +<li>Hope, Weston Coach, <a href="#Page_72">72</a></li> +<li>Hopton, Lord, <a href="#Page_3">3</a></li> +<li>Horne & Sherman, Coach proprietors, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> +<li>Horton Post Office, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> +<li>Huton, William, 1475, <a href="#Page_175">175</a></li> +<li>Humphries, Mr. Sidney, Speech, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>-<a href="#Page_210">210</a></li> +<li>Hungerford, Sir Hy., <a href="#Page_175">175</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Inland Revenue Dept., <a href="#Page_13">13</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Jamaica, Bristol Mail Service to, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a></li> +<li>James I., King, <a href="#Page_2">2</a></li> +<li>Johnston, C., Supt. of Mail Coaches, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a></li> +<li>Joyce, Herbert, C.B., <a href="#Page_54">54</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Karstadt, G.F., <a href="#Page_141">141</a></li> +<li>Kennet Hill, Coach Accident, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></li> +<li>Kent, Luke, Mail Guard, <a href="#Page_81">81</a></li> +<li>Kerans, Mr., P.M., Bath, <a href="#Page_46">46</a></li> +<li>King, Address to the, <a href="#Page_241">241</a></li> +<li>King of Syria's letter, <a href="#Page_211">211</a></li> +<li>Knowle Turnpike, <a href="#Page_111">111</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>"La France" Engine, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> +<li>Lansdown, Mr. F.P., <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> +<li>Lavars, Messrs., Lithographers, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> +<li>Lawrence, Sir Thos., <a href="#Page_102">102</a></li> +<li>Lawford's Gate Turnpike, <a href="#Page_116">116</a></li> +<li>Letter Woman, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></li> +<li>Lewis Levy, Turnpike Contractor, <a href="#Page_112">112</a></li> +<li>Lifeboats and Telegraph, <a href="#Page_158">158</a></li> +<li>Lloyd's Bank, <a href="#Page_101">101</a></li> +<li>London and Plymouth, Mail Coach Race, <a href="#Page_63">63</a></li> +<li>Londonderry, Marquis of, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a></li> +<li>Longleat, Queen Elizabeth at, <a href="#Page_17">17</a></li> +<li>Louis, Mr., <a href="#Page_146">146</a></li> +<li>Luce, Thomas, Innkeeper, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Maberley, Lt.-Col., <a href="#Page_145">145</a></li> +<li>"Magnet," Weston Coach, <a href="#Page_72">72</a></li> +<li>Maidenhead Turnpike Abolished, <a href="#Page_118">118</a></li> +<li>Mail Coaches, <a href="#Page_62">62</a></li> +<li>Mail Coaches Exempt from Toll, <a href="#Page_111">111</a></li> +<li>Mail Coach, First, <a href="#Page_27">27</a></li> +<li>Mail Coach Robbers Hanged, <a href="#Page_123">123</a></li> +<li>Mail Coach System, <a href="#Page_26">26</a></li> +<li>Manchester and Liverpool Railway, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_144">144</a></li> +<li>Marlborough Post, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> +<li>May, Mr., <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li> +<li>McAdam, Mr., Roads, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a></li> +<li>Mercury, Light Motor Van, <a href="#Page_92">92</a></li> +<li>Morley, Arnold, Address to, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a></li> +<li>Motor Cars, <a href="#Page_77">77</a></li> +<li>Motor Cycle Accident, <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> +<li>Motor Van, Avon, <a href="#Page_93">93</a></li> +<li>Mount Pleasant P.O., London, <a href="#Page_74">74</a></li> +<li>Moysey, A., <a href="#Page_40">40</a></li> +<li>Muniment Room, P.O., <a href="#Page_169">169</a></li> +<li>Musical Coachman, <a href="#Page_90">90</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Nash, Bill, Mail Robber, <a href="#Page_131">131</a></li> +<li>Nevill, Mail Guard, Frozen to Death, <a href="#Page_86">86</a></li> +<li>New Buildings, <a href="#Page_13">13</a></li> +<li>Newick, R.C., <a href="#Page_130">130</a></li> +<li>New London Inn, Exeter, <a href="#Page_62">62</a></li> +<li>New Passage, Ice Shoals, <a href="#Page_85">85</a></li> +<li>New Royal Mail Coach, <a href="#Page_104">104</a></li> +<li>Niblett, Isaac, <a href="#Page_106">106</a></li> +<li>Niblett, Isaac, Innkeeper, Coach Proprietor, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> +<li>Nobbs, M.J., Mail Guard, <a href="#Page_73">73</a></li> +<li>Norwich—London Coach, <a href="#Page_89">89</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Old Passage, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a></li> +<li>Osborne, John, and Jere, Messrs., <a href="#Page_114">114</a></li> +<li>Oxford Mail, <a href="#Page_67">67</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Packer, the foot post, <a href="#Page_2">2</a></li> +<li>Pack Horse, Packmen, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li> +<li>Palace, Bishop's, <a href="#Page_204">204</a></li> +<li>Palmer, Col., <a href="#Page_49">49</a></li> +<li>Palmer, Death of, <a href="#Page_44">44</a></li> +<li>Palmer, John, Coach system, <a href="#Page_27">27</a></li> +<li>Palmer, John, honoured, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a></li> +<li>Palmer's Mail Coach system:— + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Attacked, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a></li> + <li>Enlarged, <a href="#Page_32">32</a></li> + <li>Extended, <a href="#Page_41">41</a></li> + <li>Pitt's approbation, <a href="#Page_40">40</a></li> + <li>Success, <a href="#Page_42">42</a></li> + <li>Thanks—Memorials, <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li> + <li>Troubles, <a href="#Page_33">33</a></li> + <li>Vindicated, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Passengers Coach, Protection of, <a href="#Page_34">34</a></li> +<li>Paul, J., Mail Coachman, killed, <a href="#Page_86">86</a></li> +<li>Penny Posts, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></li> +<li>Pickwick, Moses, Coaching Notice, <a href="#Page_132">132</a></li> +<li>Pike, E.W., Mr., <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a></li> +<li>"Pike" Keepers, <a href="#Page_112">112</a></li> +<li>Pine, Henry, Postmaster, <a href="#Page_9">9</a></li> +<li>Pitt, Rt. Hon. W., <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a></li> +<li>"Plume of Feathers," Wine Street, <a href="#Page_69">69</a></li> +<li>Plymouth Coach, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a></li> +<li>"Port Antonio," R.M.S., <a href="#Page_161">161</a></li> +<li>Porter, George, Innkeeper, <a href="#Page_103">103</a></li> +<li>"Port Kingston," R.M.S., <a href="#Page_162">162</a></li> +<li>"Port Royal," R.M.S., <a href="#Page_162">162</a></li> +<li>Portsmouth Coach overturned, <a href="#Page_82">82</a></li> +<li>Portsmouth Coaches, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a></li> +<li>Portsmouth, Crown Inn, <a href="#Page_79">79</a></li> +<li>Portsmouth Mail, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a></li> +<li>Portsmouth Railway, projected, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a></li> +<li>Postages, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li> +<li>Postage Stamps, King Edward Issue, <a href="#Page_238">238</a></li> +<li>Post Boys, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></li> +<li>Postboy robbed, <a href="#Page_80">80</a></li> +<li>Post Bridge Turnpike, <a href="#Page_81">81</a></li> +<li>Posts, Cross, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></li> +<li>Post, Express, <a href="#Page_26">26</a></li> +<li>Post, Extraordinary, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a></li> +<li>Post House, <a href="#Page_22">22</a></li> +<li>Post House, The Bristol, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_9">9</a></li> +<li>Post, King's Special, <a href="#Page_4">4</a></li> +<li>Postman's Knock, <a href="#Page_228">228</a></li> +<li>Postmaster-General, Deputation to, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a></li> +<li>Postmaster-General, Lord Stanley of Alderley, <a href="#Page_10">10</a></li> +<li>Postmaster Henry Pine, <a href="#Page_9">9</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>of Bristol, Speech, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>-<a href="#Page_213">213</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Post Office Buildings, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>All Saints' Lane, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a></li> + <li>Bristol, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Post, Queen Elizabeth's, <a href="#Page_17">17</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Running, <a href="#Page_3">3</a></li> + <li>The Foot, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>-<a href="#Page_2">2</a></li> + <li>Thorough, <a href="#Page_2">2</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Pratt, J.J., <a href="#Page_40">40</a></li> +<li>Prideaux, Master of Posts, <a href="#Page_3">3</a></li> +<li>Primitive Post Office, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> +<li>Prince and Princess of Wales, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a></li> +<li>Prudent Man's Fund Receipt Note, <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Quaint Addresses, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Randolph, Master of Posts, <a href="#Page_18">18</a></li> +<li>Ralph Allen, Cross Posts, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li> +<li>Redland Post Office, <a href="#Page_170">170</a></li> +<li>Red Rover Coach, <a href="#Page_105">105</a></li> +<li>Regent Coach, <a href="#Page_68">68</a></li> +<li>Registered Letters Stolen, <a href="#Page_133">133</a></li> +<li>Rennison, Sarah, Stokes Croft Baths, <a href="#Page_113">113</a></li> +<li>Roads, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></li> +<li>Robertson, George, Painter, <a href="#Page_51">51</a></li> +<li>Rocket, Holyhead Coach, <a href="#Page_68">68</a></li> +<li>Romans, The, <a href="#Page_67">67</a></li> +<li>Rose Inn, Birmingham, <a href="#Page_66">66</a></li> +<li>Royal Livery, Coachman and Guard wear, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></li> +<li>Rummer Tavern, Bristol, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> +<li>Running Post, <a href="#Page_3">3</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Salisbury Mail, Late, <a href="#Page_38">38</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Postboy Robbed, <a href="#Page_80">80</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Saltford Turnpike, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> +<li>Savage, the foot post, <a href="#Page_1">1</a></li> +<li>Severn, Ice Shoals, <a href="#Page_85">85</a></li> +<li>Shamrock, London Coach, <a href="#Page_69">69</a></li> +<li>"Ship Letters", <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Shuter, Chris., Councillor, <a href="#Page_187">187</a></li> +<li>Small Street, Bristol, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a></li> +<li>Southampton Coach, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Coach and Horses Inn, <a href="#Page_66">66</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Sovereign Coach, <a href="#Page_72">72</a></li> +<li>Sports, P.O., <a href="#Page_218">218</a></li> +<li>Sproule, Verger, <a href="#Page_93">93</a></li> +<li>St. Albans, Duchess of, <a href="#Page_96">96</a></li> +<li>St. Giles' Gate, <a href="#Page_175">175</a></li> +<li>St. Leonard's Lane, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a></li> +<li>St. Martin's-le-Grand, <a href="#Page_37">37</a></li> +<li>St. Michael's Hill Turnpike, <a href="#Page_117">117</a></li> +<li>St. Werburgh, Parish of, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a></li> +<li>Stage Coaches, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></li> +<li>Stanley, Lord, <a href="#Illustration_Frontispiece."><i>Frontispiece</i></a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Africa, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></li> + <li>of Alderley, <a href="#Page_10">10</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Statistics—Bristol P.O., <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Stealing Letters, Capital Offence, <a href="#Page_121">121</a></li> +<li>Stokes Croft Turnpike, <a href="#Page_114">114</a></li> +<li>Stop Gate, Horfield, <a href="#Page_117">117</a></li> +<li>Streamer, Richard, 1680, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> +<li>Stretch, Matthew, Bush Inn, <a href="#Page_98">98</a></li> +<li>Swan Inn, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a></li> +<li>Swan with Two Necks Inn, London, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> +<li>Symons, Thomas, <a href="#Page_42">42</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Teig or Teague, Anabaptist Postmaster, in peril, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></li> +<li>Telegraphs, Lifeboats, and Gales, <a href="#Page_159">159</a></li> +<li>Telephones, Trunk P.O., <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a></li> +<li>Thatched Post Office, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> +<li>Thornbury, Fifth Clause Post, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></li> +<li>Thorough Post, <a href="#Page_2">2</a></li> +<li>Three Tuns, Bath, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a></li> +<li>Terrill, Mr., letter of, 1671, <a href="#Page_7">7</a></li> +<li>Tewkesbury, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> +<li>Time Bill, Old Portsmouth, <a href="#Page_82">82</a></li> +<li>Tipsy M.P., <a href="#Page_91">91</a></li> +<li>Todd, Anthony, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a></li> +<li>Tokens, Mail Coach, <a href="#Page_51">51</a></li> +<li>Toll Gates, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a></li> +<li>Townsend, John—Charles, Bush Inn, <a href="#Page_98">98</a></li> +<li>Tracks Unenclosed, <a href="#Page_2">2</a></li> +<li>Traveller, Exeter Coach, <a href="#Page_70">70</a></li> +<li>Turner, Mail Coachman, killed, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> +<li>Turnpike Trusts, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a></li> +<li>Turpin and Langdon, Book Binders, <a href="#Page_11">11</a></li> +<li>Tyndale, William, <a href="#Page_152">152</a></li> +<li>Tyson, Mayor, 1660, <a href="#Page_6">6</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Uniform, Royal, introduced, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> +<li>Union Post Coach, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Value of Tolls, <a href="#Page_114">114</a></li> +<li>Vidler, Mr., Mail Contractor, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Waggons, Quaint, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></li> +<li>Water Works Company, Bristol, <a href="#Page_12">12</a></li> +<li>Water Works Premises, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a></li> +<li>Weaver, Hon. John, <a href="#Page_4">4</a></li> +<li>Weeks, John, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Boniface, <a href="#Page_94">94</a></li> + <li>Coach Monopoly, <a href="#Page_99">99</a></li> + <li>Mural Tablet, <a href="#Page_92">92</a></li> + <li>Sloop Master, <a href="#Page_100">100</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Weeks, Poston & Co., <a href="#Page_104">104</a></li> +<li>Wellington, Som., <a href="#Page_1">1</a></li> +<li>Werburgh, St., Parish, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a></li> +<li>Westbury-on-Trym P.O. burgled, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a></li> +<li>Westons, Mail Robbers, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a></li> +<li>Whitchurch Turnpike, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> +<li>White Hart Inn, Bristol, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> +<li>White Horse Cellars, London, <a href="#Page_72">72</a></li> +<li>White Lion, Bristol, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a></li> +<li>White's, Mr. Stanley, Coach, <a href="#Page_108">108</a> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Motor Car, <a href="#Page_108">108</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wimborne Minster, <a href="#Page_1">1</a></li> +<li>Wilton, Queen Elizabeth at, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li> +<li>Withering, Thomas, <a href="#Page_3">3</a></li> +<li>Wood's Office, Bristol, <a href="#Page_66">66</a></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Young, John, Knighted, <a href="#Page_16">16</a></li> +</ul> + +</div> + +<h5>W.C. HEMMONS, ST. STEPHEN STREET, BRISTOL.</h5> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The King's Post, by R. C. Tombs + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE KING'S POST *** + +***** This file should be named 28533-h.htm or 28533-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/5/3/28533/ + +Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Jane Hyland, The Philatelic +Digital Library Project at http://www.tpdlp.net and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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