2iS HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



each other, in order that there might be no delay in 

 getting reports from the provinces. 



During the Empire an institution similar to the 

 modern post was established by Augustus among the 

 Romans. 



In Germany, France, and Italy, during the ninth 

 century, there existed messengers who travelled on 

 horseback; they were, however, only employed for the 

 Government. The use of carrier pigeons, introduced 

 from the East, had only a short duration in Europe. 

 With the progress of commerce, however, the necessity 

 for having posts made itself felt, and in all the largest 

 cities of Germany mounted messengers and stage- 

 coaches began to be established ; letters were also 

 placed in the charge of travellers, merchants, and 

 butchers, who rode about the country to buy cattle. 



Pedestrian messengers who took charge of letters 

 and money for the students were maintained by the 

 University of Paris in the beginning of the thirteenth 

 century. In the fifteenth century Louis XI. established 

 for his own use mounted messengers, and instituted post 

 stations at intervals of four French miles on the principal 

 roads of P" ranee. During the next century Charles VI 1 1, 

 extended this institution for the use of the court. 



The first post was established in Germany by 

 Roger I., in the latter part of the fifteenth century. 



In 1 516 another was established by his son 

 between Brussels and Vienna. Charles V., on 

 account of the vastness of his estates, desired to 

 have news as quickly as possible, and caused a 

 permanent riding-post to be established from the 

 Netherlands through Liege, Treves, Wurtemburg, 

 Augsburg, and the Tyrol to Italy. 



After the death of Charles V., Leonard of Thurn 



