THE EARL V MAIL- CO A CHES 1 7 7 



in their cost, it was very closely interested in 

 their efficiency ; and so, early in 1787, Palmer 

 had already represented to the contractors that 

 the mails mnst be conveyed by more reliable 

 coaches. 



" The Comptroller-General," he wrote to one 

 contractor, " has to complain not only of the 

 quality of the horses employed on the Bristol Mail, 

 but as well of their harness and the accoutrements 

 in use, whose defects have several times delayed 

 the Bath and Bristol and London letters, and have 

 even led to the conveyance Ijeing overset, to the 

 imminent peril of the passengers. Instructions 

 have been issued l)y the Comptroller for new sets 

 of harness to be supplied to the several coaches in 

 nse on this road, for which accounts will be sent 

 you by the harness-makers. Mr. Palmer has also 

 under consideration, for the contractors' use, a 

 new-invented coach . ' ' 



This was a truly imperial Avay of remedying 

 gross dereliction on the contractors' part, but it 

 had its effect in this and other instances, for it 

 may be presumed that the harness-makers thus 

 officially selected to replace the contractors' 

 ancient assortments of worm-eaten leather and 

 cord were not the cheapest in the trade, and that 

 tliose contractors very soon awoke to the fact that 

 it would be more economical in future to provide 

 ncAv harness of their q\s\\ free will, and from their 

 own harness-makers, than under compulsion. 



In respect of the type of coaches, as well as of 

 their equipment in minor details, Palmer sternly 

 VOL. I. 12 



