"Frome, 1767.
The Proprietors of the
FROME STAGE MACHINE
In Order to make it more agreeable to their Friends in the West,
have engaged to set out Post Chaises from the Christopher Inn, in
Wells, every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday Evenings, at Five
o'clock, to stop at the George Inn, at Shepton Mallet, and set out
from thence at a Quarter past Six, to carry Passengers and Parcels
to Frome, to be forwarded from thence to London in the One Day
Flying Machine, which began on Sunday the 12th of April, 1767; Also
a Chaise from Frome every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Evenings
to Shepton and Wells, as soon as the Coach arrives from London, if
any Passengers, &c. go down, at the following Prices:--from Wells to
Frome Four Shillings, from Shepton Three Shillings, small parcels
from Wells to Frome 6d. each, from Shepton 4d., large ditto a
Halfpenny per Pound from each place. All Passengers who intend
taking the Advantage of this method of travelling, are desired to
take their Places at the above Inns in Wells and Shepton as follows:
viz. those who intend going on Sunday enter the Tuesday before
going, those who go on Tuesday enter the Thursday before, and for
Thursday the Sunday before, that proper notice may be given at Frome
to secure the places: If at any time more than three Passengers an
extra Chaise to be provided.
Fare to and from London £1 8s. 0d. Trowbridge, £1 6s. 0d. Devizes £1
2s. 6d. One half to be paid at Booking, the other at entering the
machine. Inside passengers allowed 10lb. wt., all above Three
Half-pence per pound from Frome as usual. The Coach will set out
from the Crown Inn in Frome, at Ten o'clock in the evening of every
Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday; and from the Bull Inn in Holborne,
London, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Evening, at the same
Hour.--Books are kept, Places taken, and Parcels received, at the
Christopher in Wells, the George in Shepton, the Crown in Frome, the
Woolpack in Trowbridge, and the Bull in Holborne, London; calls
going in and coming out, at the White Bear Inn, Piccadilly, and the
new White Horse Cellar.
Perform'd by R. MESSETER, at the Crown, at Thatcham, and J.
HITCHCOCK, at the Catherine Wheel, Beckhampton.
"N.B. No Jewels, Plate, Money, Writings, or other things of Value,
will be paid for if lost, unless enter'd as such, and paid for
accordingly."
With regard to G.G.'s Query as to the time occupied in the journey of
Schultz from Colchester to London, do not the circumstances sufficiently
prove that by some means _six_ must have been written for _sixteen?_
Sixteen hours would give a rate of travelling nearer the average of
those days, and was about the time occupied on the return to Colchester.
For if we allow a due time after twelve for dinner, settling accounts,
and going to the inn whence the "Stäts-Kutsche" started, and for
partaking of the meal there provided, we shall very easily get to seven
or eight in the evening; _sixteen_ hours after that time would be
"towards noon" in the following day.