Chapter 15

POSTMASTERS-GENERAL (RT. HON. A. MORLEY AND THE MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY) VISIT BRISTOL.--THE POSTMASTER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.--THE KING'S NEW POSTAGE STAMPS.--CORONATION OF KING EDWARD VII.--LOYALTY OF POST OFFICE STAFF.--MRS. VARNAM-COGGAN'S CORONATION POEM. _Page_ 232

ILLUSTRATIONS.

TO FACE PAGE

1. THE RT. HON. LORD STANLEY, K.C.V.O., C.B., M.P. _Frontispiece._

2. THE OLD POST HOUSE IN DOLPHIN STREET, BRISTOL 7

3. THE BRISTOL POST OFFICE, 1750-1868 9

4. THE BRISTOL POST OFFICE AS ENLARGED IN 1889 15

5. A STATE COACH OF THE PERIOD OF KING CHARLES I. 23

6. THE BATH AND BRISTOL WAGGON 25

7. JOHN PALMER AT THE AGE OF 17 27

8. THE OLD LETTER WOMAN 29

9. THE OLD GENERAL POST OFFICE IN LOMBARD STREET, LONDON 31

10. ANTHONY TODD 35

11. JOHN PALMER AT THE AGE OF 75 44

12. MEDAL STRUCK IN HONOUR OF RALPH ALLEN 49

13. MAIL COACH TOKENS 51

14. BIRTHPLACE OF SIR FRANCIS FREELING 53

15. THE OLD BRISTOL POST OFFICE IN EXCHANGE AVENUE 60

16. HOW THE MAILS WERE CONVEYED TO BRISTOL IN THE DAYS OF KING GEORGE IV. 69

17. THE BRISTOL AND LONDON COACH TAKING UP MAILS WITHOUT HALTING 72

18. THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, LONDON, IN 1830 74

19. MAIL COACH GUARD'S POST HORN 90

20. AVON TRIMOBILE MOTOR VAN 92

21. MURAL TABLET TO JOHN WEEKS 95

22. THE OLD WHITE LION COACHING INN, BROAD STREET, BRISTOL 107

23. MR. STANLEY WHITE'S COACH 108

24. MR. STANLEY WHITE'S MOTOR CAR 108

25. BAGSTONE TURNPIKE HOUSE 111

26. CHARFIELD TURNPIKE HOUSE 112

27. WICKWAR ROAD TURNPIKE HOUSE 114

28. WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE TURNPIKE HOUSE 116

29. ST. MICHAEL'S HILL TURNPIKE HOUSE 117

30. STANTON DREW TURNPIKE HOUSE 119

31. THE WHITE HART COACHING INN, BATH 132

32. OLD POST OFFICE, WESTBURY-ON-TRYM 136

33. PRIMITIVE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY TRAIN 143

34. BRISTOL AND EXETER TRAIN, 1844 145

35. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY ENGINE: "LA FRANCE" 148

36. HORTON THATCHED POST OFFICE 152

37. EARLY BRISTOL POST MARKS 154

38. SIR ALFRED JONES, K.C.M.G. 160

39. THE "PORT KINGSTON" 161

40. THE "PORT ROYAL" 162

41. MR. F.P. LANSDOWN 171

42. MR. J. PAUL BUSH, C.M.G. 174

43. ELTON MANSION 177

44. SIR ABRAHAM ELTON 184

45. LADY ELTON 185

46. GARGOYLE IN ELTON MANSION 188

47. ANCIENT CHIMNEY-PIECE 191

48. EDWARD COLSTON 192

49. CHARLES II. 193

50. KING CHARLES, FLIGHT OF 194

51. COLUMBIA STAMPING MACHINE 198

52. POSTMASTER OF BRISTOL _(The Author)_ 211

53. QUAINTLY ADDRESSED ENVELOPES 224

54. PRUDENT MAN'S FUND RECEIPT NOTE 231

55. ADDRESS TO THE KING 241