244 THE BATH ROAD 



years of last century. He was eleven years of age 

 when lie was placed with his grandmother, the post- 

 mistress of St. Columb, and his industry in keeping 

 the accounts secured him the good word of the district 

 surveyor, who procured the lad an appointment as 

 assistant to the post-master at Bath. Fortune 

 favoured him, and when the post-master died, Allen 

 was appointed in his stead. He had not long become 

 post-master before he matured a scheme for developing 

 the "bye" and cross-road posts, which should bring 

 profit to himself and convenience the community. He 

 proposed to " farm " these posts and pay the Govern- 

 ment an annual sum for the privilege, leaving the direct 

 posts between London and the provinces in the hands 

 of the Post-office. A " bye " post was one between 

 provincial towns ; a cross-road post was one that lay 

 off the half-dozen post routes then existing. 



It was in 1719 that Allen, then but twenty-six 

 years of age, made his proposal to the Government. 

 The postage on those descriptions of letters had 

 hitherto amounted to £400 per annum. He was 

 prepared to give £6000 yearly, and to work the posts 

 for a period of seven years, in consideration of receiving 

 the whole of the revenue during that term. His offer 

 was accepted, and the contract took effect from June 

 21, 1720. How Allen procured the funds for his 

 enterprise is not known, but he must have had 

 substantial financial support, since his first quarter's 

 expenditure in establishing his system amounted to 

 no less a sum than £1500, while the salaries of the 

 staff he got together totalled a further £3000 per 

 annum. 



