27 



CHAPTER II. 



IN the days I write of, Macaulay tells us that 

 the mouDted liighwaymaD, a marauder 

 known to the present generation only from 

 books, was to be found on every main road. 

 Hounslow Heath on the Great Western Road, 

 Finchley Common on the Great Northern Road, 

 were, perhaps, the most celebrated of these 

 spots ; but there was hardly an open common 

 or steep hill which was not infested with these 

 enterprising plunderers. 



Upon two occasions I fell in with these 

 gentlemen of the road. Once, when travelling 

 in very early youth from London to Goodwood, 

 the Chichester coach was stopped by two ill- 

 favoured scoundrels, who were about to levy 

 black mail on the inside passengers, when, 

 fortunately, the sound of a travelling-carriage 



