1 40 |Arrived at Bath, at 7.50.
{| | | | 10 | Ten Minutes allowed for Office Duty.
{| 1 | 2 |13-1/2| 1 40 |Arrived at the Post-Office, Bristol, the 23 of
| | +------+-------+March, 1823, at 9.40 by Time-Piece
| | | 99 |14 20 | at 9.40 by Clock.
| | +------+-------+ Devonshire.
| | | | | {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 Engl