[63] _Memorials of his Time_, vol. i. p. 341.
[64] Dr. Cleland, in his _Statistical Account of Glasgow_, tells us that before this time, viz. in 1787, the course of post from London to Glasgow was by way of Edinburgh, _five_ days in the week. Only five mails arrived in Glasgow from London on account of no business being transacted at the Edinburgh Office on Sundays. It now occurred, however, to some one of the astute managers of the Post-Office, that the _sixth_ mail, which the Sunday regulations of the Edinburgh Office prevented being passed through that medium, might be sent by the mail-coach to Carlisle, while a supplementary coach should travel every sixth night between Carlisle and Glasgow. This was done, and the result was the saving of an entire day between London and Glasgow. The other mails continued, as usual, for twelve months longer, it having taken the authorities the whole of that time to discover that the five mails, which required _five_ days to reach Glasgow by way of Edinburgh, might, like the sixth, be carried by way of Carlisle, in _four_ days. Dr. Cleland, however, does not seem to have perceived that there might be some other reason for adhering to the old route, such as increased outlay, &c.
[65] _Life of Robert Owen._ _Written by himself._ London, 1857.
[68] _History of England during the Thirty Years' Peace_, vol. i. p. 257.
THE TRANSITION PERIOD AT THE POST-OFFICE.