th Century enabled the mail
coach service to be brought to great perfection. It lasted less than 60
years, but in those years correspondence and the revenue of the Post
Office multiplied many times, and when Rowland Hill turned his attention
to postal questions he found a rapid and efficient service, which was at
the same time so cheap that the cost of conveyance was only a small item
in the expenses of the Post Office.

The Mayor of Bath proposed the toast of "the Visitors," and said that
they had amongst them two representatives of the great men they were
honouring. Ralph Allen was represented by Colonel Allen, a direct
descendant, and the owner of Bathampton Manor, a part of Ralph
Allen's estate. Colonel Allen had lately returned from South Africa.
John Palmer was represented by his grandson, Colonel Palmer, R.E.

[Illustration: [_From a block kindly lent by the Proprietors of the
"Bath Chronicle."_]

MEDAL STRUCK IN HONOUR OF RALPH ALLEN.]

Colonel Allen thanked the company for their kind reception, and Colonel
Palmer said that it had given him the greatest pleasure to witness the
testimonial to his grandfather's services, and this pleasure would be
shared by the members of his family, including his sister, who had given
the cup on the table to the Corporation. It had been a present from the
Citizens of Glasgow to John Palmer.

Full accounts of the Post Office services of Allen and Palmer are
written in "The Bristol Royal Mail."

The photograph of a curious memorial of Ralph Allen's work in the Post
Office here reproduced is that of a medal bearing the Royal Arms, and
the inscriptions "To the Famous Mr. Allen, 4th December, 1752," and "the
Gift of His Royal Highness, W.D. of Cumberland."

The reverse of the medal is engraved with some Masonic emblems, and with
the words,

"Amor Honor Justitia,"
INO CAMPBELL,
Armagh.
No. 409.

The history of this relic is rather obscure. It was purchased in a
curiosity shop in Belfast some fifteen years ago by Mr. D. Buick, LL.D.,
of Sandy Bay, Larne. In the year 1752, the Princess Amelia visited Bath,
and was entertained by Ralph Allen at Prior Park. During her stay at
Bath, the Duke of Cumberland also visited the town, and is known to have
contributed L100 to the Bath Hospital, of which Allen was one of the
most active supporters. It has been surmised that the medal was intended
as an acknowledgment of the courtesy and attention received by the Duke