ABSTRACT
The courier who was to be in charge of the mail had to be at the yard before it started, as he had to verify the numerous items placed in his charge by the official receivers at the yard, each lot done up in grey packing paper tied round with cord. Some were large, some small : of the former sort there were things as large as a box of candied fruits, a roll of embroidery or a set of silver table-plate.1 On the other hand, some packages contained only a few letters. The list of 117 items for which Excoffon signed up comprised many single small packets to be left at minor halts, but also some bulky consignments for the larger places-six parcels for Autun, four for Auxerre, six for Macon, four for Chalonssur-Saone, no less than thirty-seven for Lyons, where the courier's responsibility ended, and he handed over his charge* But there was a large block of items which were to go on further-six for Nimes, eleven for Marseilles, and eight for Grenoble. Incidentally, Excoffon learnt that a traveller had booked one of the three possible places in the part of the coach, next to his own seat, which were often unused.
