Edith Freeling, now resident in Clifton, grand-daughter of Sir
Francis Freeling, and daughter of Sir Henry Freeling, and who was
actually born in the General Post Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand, London,
where her father had a residence as Assistant Secretary, has in her
possession several "antiques" belonging to her ancestors.

A worn-out despatch box used by Sir Francis in sending his papers to the
Postmaster-General is one of the prized articles. A very handsome gold
seal cut with the Royal Arms, and bearing the legend--General Post
Office Secretary--is another of the relics. Likewise a smaller gold
seal with a Crown, and "God Save the King," as its legend.

At the time of his death, Sir Francis Freeling's snuff boxes numbered
72, the majority of which had been presented to him. Apparently
"appreciations" took a tangible form in those days! His son, Sir Henry,
likewise had snuff boxes presented to him.

A handsome specimen snuff box is now in Miss Freeling's hands. It is
made of tortoise-shell, it has the portrait of King George the IVth as a
gold medallion on the top, and was known as a Regency Box. The
inscription inside is, "This box was presented to G.H. Freeling by His
Majesty George IVth on board the Lightning steam packet on his birthday
twelfth August 1821 as a remembrance that we had been carried to Ireland
in a Steam Boat." As Sir Francis Freeling migrated from the Bristol
service to Bath in 1784, it must have been at the Old Bristol Post
Office, near the Exchange, indicated by the illustration, that he
commenced that public career which was destined to be one of brilliant
achievements for the department during the many years he presided
over it as permanent chief, and of great good to his country in the
way of providing means for people to communicate with each other more
readily than was the case before his day.

[Illustration: THE OLD BRISTOL POST OFFICE IN EXCHANGE AVENUE.]

CHAPTER VI.

BRISTOL MAIL COACH ANNOUNCEMENTS, 1802-1830.--THE NEW GENERAL POST
OFFICE, LONDON.

How our forefathers got about the country, and how the Mails were
carried as time went on after Allen and Palmer had disappeared from Mail
scenes, and Freeling had taken up the reins, the following
announcements, taken from _Bonner and Middleton's Bristol Journal_, and
from the _Bristol Mirror_ respecting Mail Stage Coaches will aptly
indicate. They are quoted just as they appeared, so that editing may not
spoil their origi