t58 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YOKE 



that the peoj^le were starving for lack of l)rea(l, 

 wondered why they did not eat cakes instead. 



These official ohjections having l)een brushed 

 aside at a Treasury conference held on June 21st, 

 arrangements were made for a coach to run on 

 the road from Bristol, through Bath, to London, 

 pursuant to an order issued on July 21th, which 

 stated that " His Majesty's Postmasters-General, 

 being inclined to make an experiment for the 

 more expeditious conveyance of mails of letters by 

 stage-coaches, machines, etc., have been pleased 

 to order that a trial shall be made upon the road 

 between London and Bristol, to commence at each 

 place on Monday the 2nd August next." 



On July 31st, 1784, five innholders — one in 

 London, one at Thatcham, one at Marlborough, 

 and two in Bath — entered into an agreement to 

 horse the coach down that ancient turnpike. 

 They received threepence a mile for their services. 



A conflict of testimony as to whether the first 

 mail-coach started on August 2nd, 1781, or on 

 August 8tli, seems to be disposed of by the 

 advertisement in Bonner Sf lliddletons Bristol 

 Journal of July '31st in that year, although there 

 is nothing in succeeding issues of that journal to 

 show whether the service actually did or did not 

 begin on the date announced : — 



Mail Diligence. 

 To commence Monday, Auguft 2nd. 

 The Proprietors of the above Carriage having agreed 

 to convey the Mail to and from London and 



