STAGE-COACHES OF THE PERIOD. 181 



stage-coaches should be, and are equal, if not superior, 

 to any that were seen in the palmiest days of the road. 

 When the skies have permitted pleasure-folks to 

 travel, the Defiance has carried good loads ; and now 

 that there is an appearance of a continuance of settled 

 weather, an opportunity will be afforded of fetching up 

 some of the leeway. That the venture is a costly one 

 will readily be understood by any conversant with 

 coaching matters. The first cost of this large stud, 

 together with the coaches, harness, and stable requi- 

 sites, involves a large outlay, and I shall not be very 

 far from the mark if I fix the amount of capital in- 

 vested in the Defiance at about 10,OOOZ. Throughout 

 the entire length of the long journey, this first-class 

 stage-coach of the period, the Defiance, is worked in a 

 style that deserves success, though in the teeth of this 

 disastrous season it cannot command it. The spirited 

 proprietor, however, is not easily daunted, and it is to 

 be hoped that his motto will be, "Better luck next 

 time/' 



A very cheery hour can be passed at the cele- 

 brated old coaching rendezvous, the White Horse 

 Cellar, Piccadilly; say from 10.30 to 11.30 A.M., 

 whilst watching the coming and going of the different 

 well-appointed stages. Shortly before the adver- 

 tised hour the clear notes of the well-blown horns 

 announce the coming in different directions of 

 the thoroughly business - like drag which works 

 between Hatchett's and Windsor, and the excellently- 

 horsed Box Hill coach, both being timed to leave 

 the Cellar each day at 10.30. At 10.45 the "Tally 

 Ho ! " starts for Virginia Water, and performs the 

 journey through a beautiful line of country in excellent 



