hose who rejoiced in the increased expedition
of the fast-coach period; not because I loved, but because I hated,
travelling, and was glad to have periods of misery abridged. I used to
listen with delight to the stories of my seniors, and to marvel that
in so short a space of time so great an improvement had been made. One
friend told me that in earlier life he had travelled from Gloucester
to Hereford in a coach, which performed the journey of about thirty
miles between the hours of five in the morning and seven in the
evening. I took it for granted that they stopped on the road to dine,
and spent a long afternoon in smoking, {34} napping, or playing at
bowls. But he would not acknowledge anything of the kind, and the
impression on his mind was that they kept going (such going as it
was), except during the time necessarily expended in baiting the
horses, who, I think, were not changed--unless indeed it were from bad
to worse by fatigue. Another friend, a physician at Sheffield, told me
that one of the first times (perhaps he may have said, the first) that
a coach started for London, he was a passenger. Without setting out
unreasonably early in the morning, or travelling late at night they
made such progress, that the first night they lay at Nottingham, and
the second at Market Harborough. The third morning they were up early,
and off at five o'clock; and by a long pull and a strong pull through
a long day, they were in time to hear Bow Church clock strike eleven
or twelve (I forget which) as they passed through Cheapside. In fact
such things have always seemed to me to be worth noting, for you never
can tell to what extent, or even in what direction, they may throw
some little ray of light on an obscure point of history. On this
principle I thought it worth while to copy an original bill which
lately fell into my hands. Many such have been reprinted, but I am
not aware that this one has; and as what is wanted is a series, every
little may help. It is as follows:--

"YORK Four Dayes

"Stage-Coach

"Begins on Monday the 18 of March 1678.

"All that are desirous to pass from London to York, or return from
York to London or any other Place on that Road; Let them Repair to
the Black Swan in Holborn in London and the Black Swan in Cony-Street
in York.

"At both which places they may be received in a Stage-Coach every
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, which performs the whole journey in
Four days (if God permit) and sets f