BY SEVERN, TAFF, AND TOWY 149 



provided with suitable appliances. But in the latter 

 year the route by the Old ferry was greatly improved, 

 a new road being cut from Chepstow to Monmouth, 

 and a new bridge thrown across the Wye. The route 

 of Aust became the quickest from Bristol to Liverpool, 

 and from Chepstow to London. 



Naturally, it was of much consequence that between 

 Liverpool and Bristol — the second and third ports in 

 England — the course of post should be as rapid as 

 possible ; and one of the latest feats of the Post- 

 Of&ce, while coaches yet had their day, was to put 

 on a fast mail between these ports via Aust and 

 Chepstow. 



Up to nearly the end of the twenties the main road 

 from Bristol to the Mersey lay through Gloucester 

 and Birmingham, the angle thus formed being con- 

 siderable. But when, thanks largely to the former 

 Duke of Beaufort, the crossing of the Severn at Old 

 Passage was greatly facilitated, and the new road and 

 the new bridge opened, the distance was reduced from 

 189 miles, via Birmingham and Kuncorn, to 158 J, 

 via Chepstow and Woodside. From Chepstow to 

 London, through Faringdon, Aust, and Beachley, is 

 127J miles, and by way of Bristol and New Passage, 

 138J miles. 



From the cessation of the through coaches, on 

 the opening of the Midland line from Gloucester 

 to Birmingham in December, 1840, if not on the 

 opening of the Grand Junction line in 1837, the 

 letter-bags for Liverpool had circulated by way of 



