which, in consideration of payment of 3d. a mile, five inn-holders--one
belonging to London, one to Thatcham, one to Marlborough, and two to
Bath--undertook to provide the horses, and on Monday, August 2, 1784,
the first "mail-coach" started.

The following was the Post Office announcement respecting the
service:--"General Post Office, July 24, 1784. His Majesty's
Postmaster-General being inclined to make an experiment for the more
expeditious conveyance of the mails of letters by stage-coaches,
machines, etc., have (_sic_) been pleased to order that a trial shall be
made upon the road between London and Bristol, to commence at each place
on Monday, August 2 next, and that the mails should be made up at this
office every evening (Sundays excepted) at 7 o'clock, and at Bristol, in
return, at 3 in the afternoon (Saturdays excepted), to contain the bags
for the following post towns and their districts--viz.:
Hounslow--between 9 and 10 at night from London; between 6 and 7 in the
morning from Bristol. Maidenhead--between 11 and 12 at night from
London; between 4 and 5 in the morning from Bristol. Reading--about 1 in
the morning from London; between 2 and 3 in the morning from Bristol.
Newbury--about 3 in the morning from London; between 12 and 1 at night
from Bristol. Hungerford--between 4 and 5 in the morning from London;
about 11 at night from Bristol. Marlborough--about 6 in the morning from
London; between 9 and 10 at night from Bristol. Chippenham--between 8
and 9 in the morning from London; about 7 in the evening from Bristol.
Bath--between 10 and 11 in the morning from London; between 5 and 6 in
the afternoon from Bristol. Bristol--about 12 at noon from London.

[Illustration: THE LETTER WOMAN.

_(From an old print.)_

THIS SIMPLE BOY HAS LOST HIS PENNY,
AND SHE WITHOUT IT WON'T TAKE ANY;
WHAT CAN HE DO IN SUCH A PLIGHT?
THIS LETTER CANNOT GO TO-NIGHT.

_Printed by Carrington Bowles, 69, St. Paul's Churchyard, London._]

"All persons are therefore to take notice that the letters put into any
receiving house in London before 6 in the evening, or before 7 at this
office, will be forwarded by this new conveyance; all others for the
said post-towns and their districts put in afterwards, or given to the
bell-men, must remain until the following post, at the same hour of 7
o'clock. [At this period there were Post Office bell-women as well as
bell-men. See illustration.]

"Letters also for Colnb