The Merry Past 



water once," alluding to the use he made of his 

 pocket-handkerchief. 



Bob Poynter was another Cambridge coachman, 

 said to be the best who ever drove, but he was in- 

 temperate, and had only a short career. 



The coach of coaches that ever worked the Cam- 

 bridge road was the Times, the motto of which, 

 " Tempus Fugit " painted on it, was a most fitting 

 one. When the Times was started, it was opposed by 

 the Regulator, under Alexander, who also ran a coach 

 to Brighton. No expense was spared on either side to 

 do the thing in the best style. " Why do they call 

 the opposition the Regulator ? " asked a passenger, of 

 Joe Walton one day. " Why," replied Joe, dropping 

 his hand and letting them out, " because we go by it," 

 and passed his antagonist. 



After the opposition had ceased, their coach con- 

 tinued to be worked in exactly the same tip-top form. 

 Bob Poynter, son of old Poynter, of Sussex notoriety, 

 and Joe Walton, were installed drivers of this famous 

 coach, which left the " Eagle " yard as St. Mary's 

 struck six, and, including a stoppage of twenty 

 minutes for breakfast at Hockerill, made Shoreditch 

 Church at a quarter before twelve — fifty-six miles. 

 This was not done merely for a short time, but went 

 on steadily for years without a minute's variation in 

 time. Poynter was succeeded by Bennet, known as 

 the " Astronomer." Joe Walton then worked the 

 Times up and down (one hundred and sixteen miles) 

 every day, barring Sundays, without assistance. 



Joe was of spare make, nearly six feet high, and 



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