riter expresses very naturally the surprise
which he certainly must have felt at the swiftness of the horses, and
the goodness of the roads. He was a man who had seen something of {35}
the world, for he had lived five-and-thirty years, thirteen of which
had elapsed since he began his travels. As a foreigner he was under
no temptation to exaggerate the superiority of English travelling,
especially to an extent incomprehensible by his countrymen; and, in
short, I cannot imagine any ground for suspecting mistake or untruth
of any kind.[1]

I have never been at Colchester, but I believe it is, and always was,
full fifty miles from London. Ipswich, I believe, is only eighteen
miles farther; and yet _fifteen years_ later we find an advertisement
(_Daily Advertiser_, Thursday, Aug. 30, 1764), announcing that London
and Ipswich Post Coaches on _steel springs_ (think of that, and think
of the astonished Germans careering over the country from Colchester
without that mitigation), from London to Ipswich in _ten hours_ with
Postillions, set out every morning at seven o'clock, Sundays excepted,
from the Black Bull Inn, in Bishopsgate Street.

It is right, however, to add that the Herr Preniger Schultz and his
companion appear to have returned to Colchester, on their way back to
Germany, at a much more moderate pace. The particulars do not very
exactly appear; but it seems from his journal that on the 16th of
September they dined with the Herr Prediger Pittius, minister of the
German Church in the Savoy, at twelve o'clock (_nach teutscher art_,
as the writer observes). They then went to their lodging, settled
their accounts, took up their luggage, and proceeded to the inn from
which the "Staets-Kutsche" was to start; and on arriving there found
some of their friends assembled, who had ordered a meal, of which they
partook. How much time was occupied in all this, or when the coach set
out, does not appear; but they travelled the whole night, and until
towards noon the next day, before they got to Colchester. This is
rather more intelligible; but as to their up-journey I really am
puzzled, and shall be glad of any explanation.

Yours, &c.

G.G.

[1] It is perhaps right to give his words. Speaking of a person
who acted as their guide, he says:--"Des folgenden Tages gieng er
mit uns 22 engl. Meilen bis Colchester zu Fuss; wo wir uns auf
die Land-Kutsche verdungen, mit welcher wir 50 englische Meilen
d. i. 10 te