But it was Falmouth which became the headquarters for the post-office packet service as far back as 1688. The reason for this is obvious when you consider its location in regard to the Bay of Biscay, and the facility with which even those unhandy sailing craft could come in and out in all weathers and practically all winds. A very safe harbour, with plenty of room and water, right at the western end of the English Channel and easy of access, it was ideal for the departure of travellers and mails for Spain and the West Indies. The result was that, as the service became more numerous, shipyards were created in Falmouth, inns were built for the travellers, and a seafaring population grew up. The North Sea packets were of about sixty tons, but the Falmouth packets were of 200 tons and heavily armed. They were not owned by the post-office, but hired by private contract, as the East India Company used to charter their ships. In fact, never did the post-office own the ships, although the officers and men were its servants, and not the contractor’s. The Falmouth packet service began in a quiet way in 1688 with the hiring of two craft, and for years it was run at a loss. But there were political reasons for keeping up connection with Spain, and during the eighteenth century both the Spanish and West Indian trades became important; and even by 1702 packet ships from Falmouth were running to Barbados, Jamaica, the southern States of North America, to Corunna in Spain, and in 1704 also to Lisbon. It was a separate method of causing to grow up a body of fine seamen; it was one of the best schools for encouraging navigation, which was still in a most crude position; and generally it was one of the great influences towards building up the Mercantile Marine. It was not until Cromwell’s time that any real naval fighting service as distinct from the Merchant Navy had come into being, and right up to the Napoleonic Wars the two services were closely allied and practically interchangeable. We have to remember also that merchantmen and packet ships had to fight enemy warships whenever required. Of a peaceful voyage there was hardly such a thing. Such incidents as that of May 16, 1744, when the _Townshend_ packet fought against the Spaniards; or of July 25, 1759, when the packet _Fawkener_ was attacked by a large French sloop between Barbados and Antigua, are by no means isolated. Indeed, although they were forbidden to seek engagements and were reminded that their first duty was the safety of the mails, yet if they saw a chance of obtaining wealth at sea by attacking a likely ship, they did so in spite of any authority. These men were, like the age in which they lived, a hardy, rough, corrupt lot of dare-devils.