as in his possession the original lease, in which the
Bush Tavern in Corn Street was transferred, on the 18th December, 1806,
from Mr. John Weeks, wine merchant, on the one part, to Mr. John
Townsend on the other part, at a yearly rental of L395 of lawful money
of the United Kingdom--the term to be for fourteen years. The stables
and coach houses "of him, the said John Weeks," situated in Wine Street,
were included in the transfer. Out of the rental the yearly sum of L20
had to be paid by the owner, John Weeks, to the parish of St. Ewen, for
that part of the coffee house which stood in the said parish.

As showing how John Weeks safeguarded his monopoly of coach-running to
and from the Bush Tavern, there was this stipulation in the lease:--"The
said John Townsend shall and will from time to time and at all times
during the continuance of this demise take in and receive at the said
Tavern, hereby demised, all and every Stage Coach or Public Carriage
which shall belong to the said John Weeks at any time during this term,
under the penalty of Two thousand Pounds, and that he, the said John
Townsend, shall not nor will at any time during the said Term, if the
said John Weeks shall so long run carriages of the aforesaid
description, take in at the said Tavern or Coffee Room any Public Stage
Coach or by way of evasion any Public Carriage whatsoever used as a
public stage belonging to any person or persons whomsoever without the
consent and approbation of the said John Weeks &c. in writing for that
purpose first had and obtained under the penalty of two thousand pounds
to be paid for any default in the observance and performance of the
covenants herein before contained in that behalf."

According to Paterson's "Roads," John Weeks in 1794 occupied a homestead
called "The Rodney," at Filton Hay, 4 miles from Bristol on the Bristol
to Tewkesbury Road.

The following advertisement from a very old newspaper will be
interesting as indicative that in addition to the John Weeks, of Bush
Inn fame, Bristol, there was at the Portsmouth end of the Mail Coach
route another worthy of the same name, likewise engaged in the carrying
trade, but by sea instead of land:--"John Weeks, Master of the Duke of
Gloster Sloop, takes this method to thank his friends and the public for
their past favours in the Southampton and Portsmouth passage trade, and
hopes for a continuance of the same, as they may depend on his care, and
the time of sailing more