| | | | | {Delivered the Time-Piece | | | | | safe. | | | | |Coach No. 240 arrived {No. 69 to Office. | | | | | Thomas Cole. The Time of working each Stage is to be reckoned from the Coach's Arrival, and as any Time lost, is to be recovered in the course of the Stage, it is the Coachman's Duty to be as expeditious as possible, and to report the Horse-keepers if they are not always ready when the Coach arrives, and active in getting it off. The Guard is to give his best assistance in changing, whenever his Official Duties do not prevent it. November, 1832.----250. By Command of the Postmasters-General, CHARLES JOHNSON, Surveyor and Superintendent. In 1826, a coachman on this road was accused of imperilling his passengers through having imbibed too freely, and the Mail Guard was called on in the following letter to report on the matter:-- "General Post Office, 29th July, 1826. Sir,--The passengers who travelled with the Portsmouth and Bristol mail on the 26th instant, having complained that the coachman who drove on that day from Bristol to Warminster was drunk and unfit to drive I have to desire you will explain the reason why you neglected to report to me so great and so disgraceful an irregularity, and also how it happened that you did not know the coachman's name when the passengers asked you for it. I am, sir, yours, etc., C. JOHNSON.--Mr. Folwell, Mail Guard, Bristol." The explanation is not forthcoming. In 1830, many of the public coaches started from Portsmouth and passed through Portsea and Landport, but-- "In olden time two days were spent 'Twixt Portsmouth and the Monument; When flying Diligences plied, When men in Roundabouts would ride And, at the surly driver's will, Get out and climb each tedious hill. But since the rapid Freeling's age, How much improved the English stage, Now in eight hours with ease, the post Reaches from Newgate Street our coast." In the years 1837 and 1838 the Portsmouth mail coach was despatched at 7.5 p.m., from Bristol Post Office--then located at the corner of Exchange Avenue. The posting of letters without fee was allowed up to 6.35 p.m., and, with fee, paid and unpaid letters alike up to 6.50 p.m. The coach started from the White Lion coach office, Broad Street, at 6.45 p.m., so as to be in readiness at the Post Office to take up the mails at the appointed time. The arrival of the mail at Portsmouth from Bristol was at 6.45 a.m. These times are an improvement upon the service in operation in 1836. At that time the coach left Bristol at 5.30 p.m., with a posting up to 5.0 p.m. without fee, and with fees paid, up to 5.15 p.m. On the inward journey the Coach did not arrive until 8.9 a.m.