STAGE-COACHES OF THE PERIOD, 187 



agreeable fellow-travellers, several ladies "being of the 

 party. 



After resting in the picturesque locality for two 

 hours, the return journey commenced, and we trotted 

 along merrily, arriving at The Cellar at 6.45, after 

 a most thoroughly enjoyable ride. Having had so 

 good a time on these two journeys, I readily ac- 

 cepted an invitation to accompany Baron Schroder 

 to Sevenoaks. 



On arriving in Piccadilly, I found Harry Ward in 

 charge of the well-appointed coach and four fresh 

 well-bred horses, and we were speedily trotting away, 

 travelling along the Vauxhall Bridge Road, where the 

 traffic is sadly disarranged by the double lines of 

 tramway; thence to The Greyhound at Dulwich, 

 where we changed horses ; then up the steep hill that 

 brings you to the Crystal Palace; through Bromley, 

 changing the team there, going on to The Polhill 

 Arms, where a very handsome lot of nags were put to, 

 and pulled us in good style up the steep hill which you 

 have to mount in order to reach Sevenoaks. 



The different teams were cleverly and carefully 

 handled by Baron Schroder, who had got his lot of 

 valuable young horses in capital form. This is a 

 lovely journey throughout. Again I was fortunate in 

 meeting with pleasant fellow-travellers, one of whom, 

 bearing the honoured name of a great modern states- 

 man, occupied the box-seat on this occasion. 



A friend on whose judgment I could thoroughly 

 rely having informed me that I should be gladly 

 welcomed if I introduced myself to Mr. Robinson, 

 who has put on the coach which plies between 

 Hatchett's and the Swan Hotel at Thames Ditton, 



