The year 1678 saw a coach on the road between the important seaport of Hull and the city of York, probably in connection with the York stage between that and London; but our only knowledge of its existence at so early a date is--to put it in rather an Irish way--a reference to its having been taken off. Ralph Thoresby, the Yorkshire antiquary, is our authority. In his diary he notes that he landed at Hull in November of that year, and that the stage-coach was already over for the winter. This Hull and York coach we may suppose to have been in connection with a York and London stage already existing--that original vehicle, started in 1658 and alluded to in 1673, which was to perform the journey in four days, the fare 40s. The first detailed account of the “York Old Coach,” as it came to be known, is found in an old advertisement broadside discovered some years since at the back of an old drawer at the “Black Swan,” in York. It is dated 1706, and is evidently an announcement of the coach resuming its season after one of its annual hibernations:-- [Illustration: YORK Four Days Stage-Coach. _Begins on_ Friday _the 12th of_ April 1706. ALL that are desirous to pass from _London_ to _York_, or from _York_ to _London_, or any other Place on that Road, Let them Repair to the _Black Swan_ in _Holbourn_ in _London_, and to the _Black Swan_ in _Coney street_ in _York_. At both which Places, they may be received in a Stage Coach every _Monday_, _Wednesday_ and _Friday_, which performs the whole journey in Four Days, (_if God permits_.) And sets forth at Five in the Morning. And returns from _York_ to _Stamford_ in two days, and from _Stamford_, by _Huntington_ to _London_ in two days more. And the like Stages on their return. Allowing each Passenger 14l. weight, and all above 3d. a Pound. {_Benjamin Kingman_, Performed By {_Henry Harrison_, {_Walter Baynes_, Also this gives Notice that Newcastle Stage Coach, sets out from York, every Monday, and Friday, and from Newcastle every Monday, and Friday. OLD COACHING BILL, PRESERVED AT THE “BLACK SWAN,” YORK.] It still took four days, as it had done when first established close upon half a century before. Clearly times and coaches alike moved slowly. That York even then displayed its sub-metropolitan character will be seen from the footnote to the handbill, relating to the Newcastle coach. Local services apparently radiated from the city to Hull, Leeds, Wakefield, and other places.