THE ''FLYING MACHINE'' 5 



drove around them over the hedge] ess fields, thus 

 making new tracks for themselves. In this way the 

 origin of the winding character which many of our 

 roads still retain is sufficiently accounted for. 



The " slow-coach " era was, absurdly enough, that 

 of the " flying machines," and in that era, with the 

 year 1667, the coaching history of the Bath Eoad 

 may be said to begin, when some greatly daring- 

 person issued a bill announcing that a " flying 

 machine " would make the journey. It is not to lie 

 supposed that this v/as some emulator of Icarus or 

 predecessor of the ambitious folks who for the last 

 hundred years, more or less, have been trying to 

 navigate the air with balloons or mechanical flying- 

 machines. Not at all. This was simply the figurative 

 language employed to convey to those whom it might 

 concern the wonderful feat that was to be attempted 

 (" God permitting," as the advertiser was careful to 

 add), of travelling by road from the " Bell Savage," 

 on Ludgate Hill, to Batli in three days. But here is 

 the announcement : — 



"FLYING MACHINE. 



" All those desirous to pass from TiOndou to Bath, or 

 any other Place on their Road, let them repair to the 

 ' Bell Savage ' on Ludgate Hill in London, and the 

 ' White Lion ' at Bath, at both which places they may 

 be received in a Stage Coach every Monday, Wednesday, 

 and Friday, which performs the Whole Journey in Three 

 Days (if God permit), and sets forth at five o'clock in 

 the morning. 



" Passengers to pay One Pound five Shillings each, who 

 are allowed to carry fourteen Pounds Weight — for all 

 above to pay three-halfpence per Pound." 



