WATER CARRIAGE. 777 



at which timber and heavy goods were transported, and those 

 at which coarse or common articles, such as coal, timber, 

 firewood and lime, were carted. The latter function was no 

 doubt performed by the small farmers at a time when their 

 horses and carts or waggons were not required for plough or 

 harvest. Such were the hirings of cart and pair at Oriel College 

 for their firewood in the first half of this period, and at Win- 

 chester College for the last half. Even here however the hirer 

 had to pay for occasional scarcity of supply, or for his demand 

 occurring at an inconvenient time. These people received in a 

 distinctly rising market $d. to $d. per load per mile at the 

 beginning of the period, and is. at its close. And we may I 

 think conclude that ordinarily and for such goods as would 

 be entrusted to him for long journeys the common carrier re- 

 ceived double the prices which the irregular or occasional use 

 of a farmer's cart and horses was able to demand. 



In 1688 S. John's College, Cambridge, hired a lighter for 

 28 days at is. a day, and a small boat for 16 days at 6d. 

 This is of course without watermen. The object, from the 

 large amount of timber bought this year, appears to have 

 been to carry materials which the College purchased one year 

 after the other for the new quadrangle. 



There was of course a drawback to water carriage, except 

 over long distances, in the necessity there was for carting the 

 cargo from the wharf to its place of destination. Thus in 

 1 66 1, the carriage of stone which had come by water from 

 Radcot Bridge to Oxford, from the old wharf, still known as 

 High Bridge or Hythe Bridge, was i s. 6d. a load ; and in 1663, 

 the charge which Eton was put to in conveying coals from 

 the wharf to the store-house at the College was nearly half as 

 much as it cost to bring the coals from London. So in 1665, 

 the porterage and cartage charges of the wine which the Col- 

 lege bought were nearly as great as the price which was paid 

 for bringing the wine from London. 



One of the composite charges has fairly baffled me. In 

 1681, S. John's College, Cambridge, bought slate at a very 



