122
NOTES AND QUERIES.
[9 th S. I. FEB. 12, '98,
Bristol Road. Bristoll, Chippenham,
Marlebrough, Newberry, Beading, Maiden-
head, Hounslow, London. No distances given.
There was a branch road from Maidenhead to Nettlebed, Abbington (with a branch to Oxford), Farrington, Gloucester, Monmouth, Uske, Cardiff, and Swanzey. Penbrook, Car- digan, Brecknock, Hereford, and Hay were served by branches from the Maidenhead and Swanzey branch road. There was also a branch road from Marlebrough to Devizes, Trowbridge, Froom, and Warminster. The post from London arrived at Bristol on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Chester Road. Chester, Nampwich 14, Stone 16, Litchfield 16, Colshall 12, Coventry
8, Daventry 14, Torcester 10, Brickhill 7, Dunstable 10, St. Albans 10, Barnett 10, London 10.
The branches from this road extended to Holyhead, Kendall (through Knutsford, War- rington, Preston, and Lancaster), Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield (through Northampton, Leicester, Darby, and Chesterfield), Bedford, Alesbury,Banbury, Broadway (through Strat- ford-upon-Avon), Worcester (through Bir- mingham, Bromsgrove, and Droitwich), Ludlow (through Kidderminster), Abberdovey (through Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Welch- poole, and Mahuntleth), and Stafford. The post from London arrived at Chester on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoons. " The Irish Pacquetts are sent only on Tues- daies and Saturdaies, reaching Holy-head Fridaies and Tuesdaies."
North Road. Edinbrough, Haddington 12, Cockburspeth 14, Berwick 14, Belford 12, Alnwick 12, Morpeth 12, Newcastle 12, Dur- ham 12, Darlington 14, Northallerton 10, Borrpwbridge 12, Yorke 12, Tadcaster 8, Ferribridge 9, Doncaster 10, Bawtry 6, Tux- ford 12, Newark 10, Grantham 10, Post Wittam 8, Stamford 8, Stylton 12, Huntingdon
9, Caxton 9, Roiston 8, Ware 13, Waltham 8, London 12.
Branch roads ran from Northallerton to Carlisle (through Richmond, Greatabrigg, Brough, and Penrith), from Ferribridge to Skipton, Leeds and Bradford, and Wakefield, from Yorke to Scarbrough and Whitby, from Doncaster to Hull and Burlington, from Newark to Nottingham, and to Grimsby, Louth, Lincoln, Boston, and Wainfleet, from Stylton to Peterborough, and from Roiston to Norwich (through Cambridge, Newmarket, Bury, Thetford, Larlingford, Attlebrough, and Windham). Wisbech, Downham, Lynn, Swaffham, Walsingham, Walsham, and Wells were also served by the Roiston and Nor- wich branch road. The post reached York
about the same time as Chester, and Edin-
burgh " within 5 dayes."
Yarmouth Road. Yarmouth, Beckles 10, Saxmundham 16, Ipswich 16, Colchester 16, Keldon, Wittam 12, Chelmesford, Ingerstone, Burnt wood 18, Rumford, London 16.
Branch roads ran to Harleston (through Bungay), Scole, Braintree, Walden, South- would, Aldbrough, Glenham (through Wick- ham and Woodbridge), Harwich (through Mannitree), and Maiden. The post went to Colchester " all dayes in the weeke."
Kent Road. Dover, Canterbury 15, Sitting- bourn 15, Rochester 12, Dartford 14, London
Branch roads ran to Deal, Thanet, Sandwich, Fe versham, Sheernesse (through Queenboro w). Ashford (through Maidstone), Gravesend, and Rye (through Chepstead and Stonecrouch). The post went to Dover "all dayes in the weeke."
The work of the Inland Office at the London Post Office, which dealt with the mails to and from the country, was performed principally by a comptroller, accountant, and treasurer, under whom were eight clerks, three window men, three sorters, and thirty-two letter- carriers. The last received " a certaine Rate of 8s. a weeke paid duely upon Monday Mornings." From April to October all these officers attended at 4 A.M. on Mondays, Wed- nesdays, and Fridays, the days on which the mails arrived ; and from October to April at 5 A.M., " unless the Comptroller commandeth a sooner appearance." On Tuesdays, Thurs- days, and Saturdays, the days on which the mails were dispatched, "all officers are to appeare by Six of the Clock Evenings."
In addition to the General Post Office, at that time in Bishopsgate Street, there were letter receivers at Westminster, Charing Cross, Pall Mall, Covent Garden, and the Inns of Court. They dispatched letters to the general office twice on mail nights, viz., at nine and at a later hour, so as to reach the general office at eleven o'clock.
At this date, 1677, there were no posts in London itself. Three years later, on 1 April, 1680, William Dockwra began his London penny post ; but as soon as it became remu- nerative the Duke of York took proceedings at law to prevent an infringement of his monopoly, and obtained judgment and damages against Dockwra in the King's Bench. Thereupon the London penny post was absorbed by the Post Office.
J. A. J. HOUSDEN.
MAGINN AND 'BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE.
The Edinburgh Review for January, 1898,
