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.
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 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.
[Illustration: (signed) Yours faithfully Alfred Jones]
[Illustration: R.M.S. "PORT KINGSTON" (7,584 TONS),
_of the Imperial Direct West Indian Mail Fleet_.]
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 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 Spencer Walpole, and Sir
William Preece, under the courtly presidency of Sir Robert Hunter, were
eloquently descanting to a large assemblage of Post Office _literati_ on
the usefulness of the Post Office Service magazine--St. Martin's le
Grand.
[Illustration: EMBARKING MAILS AT AVONMOUTH ON THE JAMAICAN STEAMER,
"PORT ROYAL."]
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 _via_ 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 _via_ Bristol is 5-1/2 hours as compared with the route _via_
Liverpool, and 5 hours as compared with the route _via_ Southampton. By
the Severn Tunnel line there is also direct communication with the
Lancashire and Yorkshire manufacturing districts, as well as the Midland
and 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
The third mail arrived per "New York," at 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.
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, _re_ letters forwarded by the ship "Paragon" from the
Port of Bristol. (4) Letter from Ship Letter Office, London, to
Postmaster of Bristol _re_ Inland prepaid rate and Captain's gratuity
(18th Sept., 1843). (5) Correspondence from G. Huddlestone (26th July,
1838) _re_ Process of Receipt of Ship Letters, and making up of the
mails; also Process of Receipt 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 Rowland 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) _Re_ Letters to Portugal;
signed Geo. Dumeldenger, for Sub. Con., 7th March, 1871. (19) Note _re_
Loose Letters, 23rd March, 1876. Bristol, 9th December, 1902.
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.
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 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.
In Mr. Newman's early Post Office days mail coaches ran up and down
Black Boy Hill on 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.
[Illustration: MR. F.P. LANSDOWN.]
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 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.
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 musical evening at St. Stephen's
Restaurant, Dec. 1, 1902.
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.
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.
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.
He was mentioned by Lord Roberts in despatches, and the Companionship of
the Order of St. Michael and St. George was conferred on him.
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.
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.
[Illustration: MR. J. PAUL BUSH, C.M.G.]