THE ROADS.--THE COACH.--MR. JOHN PALMER'S MAIL COACH INNOVATIONS,
1660-1818.
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."
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 Post-House
at Bristol in 1661, no doubt the city was attached to the Western Road.
[Illustration: [_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.]
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.
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.
In 1667 a London and Oxford Coach was 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:
"FLYING MACHINE."--"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.
"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."
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 excluded from the scheme,
and they still had to pass through the Metropolis.
[Illustration: I've nothing to brag on But driving my Waggon. _Temp:
Georgius III._]
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.
At this period there were quaint public waggons on the Bristol Road, as
depicted in the illustration.
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.
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.
In 1760, in consequence of frequent complaints 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.
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.
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.
[Illustration: [_From "Stage Coach and Mail," by permission of Mr. C.G.
Harper._
JOHN PALMER AT THE AGE OF 17.]
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.
The following was the Post Office announcement respecting the
service:--"General Post Office, 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 (_sic_) 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 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.
[Illustration: 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._]
"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.]
"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.
"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.
"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.
"By command of the Postmaster-General,
"ANTHONY TODD, Sec."
The _Bath Chronicle_ 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, 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."
[Illustration: [_By permission of Kelly's Directories, Lim._
THE OLD GENERAL POST OFFICE IN LOMBARD STREET, LONDON.]
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."
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.
"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:--
"A safe and quick method is found to convey
Our bills of exchange, and I promise to pay.
Political news from all parts of the town,
The Senate, the play, and each place of renown.
New pamphlets and schemes, or the prices of stocks,
That trafficks in ports, and escaped from the rocks.
At Bristol Hotwells or the New Rooms at Bath
Arrived Mr. Fancy and Lady Hogarth,
Who looked so enchanting last week at the races,
And _nemine contra_ pronounced by the graces.
Effusions of friendship or letters of love--
All beautiful, candid, as true as a dove.
_J'espere, ma chere ami, qui ce bien avec vous,_
And friendly whip syllabub chat _entre nous_.
The merchant, the lover, the friend, and the sage
Will daily applaud Mr. Palmer's New Stage."
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."
"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 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.
"We are desired by the old proprietors of the Bath coaches to insert the
following:--
"'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.'
"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 coachmen to keep together
to make assurance doubly sure."
[Illustration: [_By permission of S.W. Partridge & Co., Paternoster Row,
London._
ANTHONY TODD.]
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."
December 16, 1784:--"A writer, under the signature of 'An Enemy to
Schemers,' having published in the _Gazette_ 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."
December 16, 1784:--"Dear Sir,--I have just received some newspapers
from a friend in Bath 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 commencement 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 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.--JOHN PALMER,
Arno's Vale, Bristol, December 2, 1784."
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."
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 and answered in London next morning's mails, which enables
business people to stay here longer."
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."
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."
February 24, 1785:--"Memorials appear to the Right Hon. Wm. Pitt for the
continuance and extension of Palmer's plan from the merchants,
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."
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.
"A. MOYSEY AND J.J. PRATT.
"To Philip Georges, Esq., Deputy Town Clerk."
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:
"N.B.--All letters must be put in the office before five o'clock p.m."
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."
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 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."
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."
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 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.
Early in 1787, Palmer had to represent to the Contractors that the Mails
must be carried by more reliable coaches.
"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.
"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."
Soon after this, Palmer's active connection with the Post Office ceased.
He died at Brighton in 1818.
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.
[Illustration: [_By permission of "Bath Chronicle."_
JOHN PALMER AT THE AGE OF 75.]