"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._