The Post Is Farmed
From The King, Who Lays Travellers Under Contribution For His Own
Benefit, And Has Published A Set Of Oppressive Ordonnances, Which
No Stranger Nor Native Dares Transgress.
The postmaster finds
nothing but horses and guides:
The carriage you yourself must
provide. If there are four persons within the carriage, you are
obliged to have six horses, and two postillions; and if your
servant sits on the outside, either before or behind, you must
pay for a seventh. You pay double for the first stage from Paris,
and twice double for passing through Fontainbleau when the court
is there, as well as at coming to Lyons, and at leaving this
city. These are called royal posts, and are undoubtedly a
scandalous imposition.
There are two post roads from Paris to Lyons, one of sixty-five
posts, by the way of Moulins; the other of fifty-nine, by the way
of Dijon in Burgundy. This last I chose, partly to save sixty
livres, and partly to see the wine harvest of Burgundy, which, I
was told, was a season of mirth and jollity among all ranks of
people. I hired a very good coach for ten loui'dores to Lyons,
and set out from Paris on the thirteenth instant, with six
horses, two postillions, and my own servant on horseback. We made
no stop at Fontainbleau, though the court was there; but lay at
Moret, which is one stage further, a very paltry little town
where, however, we found good accommodation.
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