ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



such velocity and speed in one hour as that the post in 

 some foreign countries cannot make in one day/ 



In 1662, when there were still only six stage coaches 

 in the whole kingdom, one John Crossel, of the Charter 

 House, London, took alarm and wrote a pamphlet de- 

 manding the suppression of these conveyances, on the 

 ground that they would inflict a serious injury on society. 



Some of his reasons are curious. ' These coaches,' 

 says he, ' make gentlemen to come to London upon very 

 small occasion, which otherwise they would not do but 

 upon urgent necessity ; nay, the conveniency of the pas- 

 sage makes their wives often come up, who rather than 

 come such long journeys on horseback, would stay at 

 home. Here, when they come to town, they must go in 

 the mode, get fine clothes, go to plays and treats, and by 

 these means get such a habit of idleness and love of 

 pleasure, that they are uneasy ever after.' 



