ALTHOUGH the last of the old coaches was long ago broken up, and the Norwich Road is no longer lively with mail and stage travellers, it has, in common with several other roads out of London, witnessed a wholly unexpected revival, in the shape of the Parcel Mail service between London and Ipswich. When the Parcel Post came into being on the 1st August 1883, it was speedily discovered by the General Post-office authorities that in paying, according to contract, 55 per cent. of the gross receipts to the railway companies for the mere carriage of parcels, they were paying too much. Accordingly, a system of Parcel Mail coaches was established on several of the old roads, commencing with the London to Brighton Parcel Mail, in June 1887. A London and Chelmsford four-horse mail was soon added, and this was shortly afterwards extended to Colchester, and thence to Ipswich by cart. This curious enterprise of the Post-office was immediately successful, and it has ever since been found to effect a large saving over the railway charges. Nor is time lost in delivery. The down mail leaves London at a quarter to ten o'clock every night and the parcels arrive at Colchester and Ipswich in time for the first delivery the next morning; while the country parcels come up to London by an equally early hour. The way in which the service is worked will be gathered from the accompanying official way-sheet of the down mails. GENERAL POST OFFICE THE MOST NOBLE THE MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY Postmaster-General LONDON, CHELMSFORD, COLCHESTER, & IPSWICH ROAD PARCEL SERVICE. This Guard's Remarks as Proper Actual Column to Delays, &c. Times Times to be left Date 190 . H. M. H. M. blank Coach Service Mount Pleasant P.M. between Distance Parcel Office dep. 9 45 London and M.F. Colchester. 3 0 Eastern District {arr. 10 8 Contractor-- P.O. {dep. 10 10 C. Webster, 279 Whitechapel Road, E. 11 3 Romford {arr. 11 40 {dep. 11 42 Cart between A.M. Colchester & 6 2 Brentwood {arr. 12 29 Ipswich. {dep. 12 31 Contractor-- 5 0 Ingatestone {arr. 1 9 F. W. Canham, {dep. 1 11 Ipswich. 6 0 Chelmsford {arr. 2 0 {dep. 2 5 8 6 Witham {arr. 3 13 {dep. 3 15 3 2 Kelvedon {arr. 3 41 {dep. 3 43 9 6 Colchester {arr. 5 0 {dep. 5 5