DEAN swift's JOURNEY TO CHESTER. 15 



that it was impossible to get supper, and some- 

 times started so early that it was impossible to 

 get breakfast. 



" On these grounds it was gravely recommended 

 that no public carriage should be permitted to 

 have more than four horses, to start oftener 

 than once a week, or to go more than thirty 

 miles a day. It was hoped that, if this regula- 

 tion were adopted, all except the sick and the 

 lame would return to the old modes of travel- 

 ling on horseback and by water. Petitions em- 

 bodying such opinions as these were presented 

 to the King in Council from several companies 

 of the City of London, from several provincial 

 towns, and from the justices of several coun- 

 ties." 



It is difficult to determine the exact period 

 at which a stage-coach first appeared upon the 

 road, for there is a wide difference between 

 the stage-coach of the last century and the 

 flying coaches of the previous one. Although 

 the stage-coach may have improved in speed, 

 its discomfort still existed, as may be gleaned 

 from the following hues written by Dean 

 Swift on his journey from London to 

 Chester : — 



