THE COACH DINNER. 97 



disant captains and needy fortune-hunters, where 

 unprincipled debtors are placed opposite their 

 clamorous creditors, where sage philosophers 

 come in collision with unchained lunatics, and 

 proud peeresses are brought in contact 

 with the frail and fair ones of the demi- 

 monde. 



They then describe a stage-coach dinner, con- 

 trasting it with one that could be had at all good 

 inns on the road when travelling luxuriously in 

 your own carriage. And they lay the scene at 

 the " Red Lion," Henley-on-Thames ; at the 

 "Windmill," Salt-hill; at the ''Pelican," New- 

 bury ; at the " Bear," Reading ; at the " Sugar- 

 loaf," Dunstable ; at the " Dun Cow," Dun- 

 church ; at the "Hop Pole," Worcester; at the 

 " King's Arms," Godalming ; at the " Castle," 

 Taunton; at the "Lion," Shrewsbury; at the 

 " Hand Inn," Llangollen, and at a variety of 

 other excellent inns, many of which have been 

 swept away since the introduction of the 

 rail. 



They dwell upon the good old Enghsh country 

 fare, which did not require the foreign aid of 

 ornament. Not that they censure French cook- 

 ing ; but what they find fault with — and I 



H 



