REGULATIONS. 31 



front of their seat. They obtained their appointments on 

 the recommendation of an M.P. They were required to 

 bear a high character, to bring a certificate of health from 

 a doctor, and before getting to work, had to be in the 

 mail coach factory, that they might learn how to repair 

 on a journey, how to rig on a temporary tire, to make 

 up a broken pole, &C. 1 The coachman was under the 

 orders of the guard ; and the latter was furnished with a 

 time-piece 2 by government, and wore the royal livery. 

 Guards were bound to report on the state of the roads, 

 and in case of any neglect the commissioners were sum- 

 moned by them before the magistrates. 



Should a toll-gate happen to be closed at the time of 

 the passing of the mail, on the evidence of the guard, the 

 keeper would be fined 40-?. On the roof of the coach 

 behind, exactly in front of the guard's seat, rested the 

 guard's tool box, which contained — 



Three pole bars, one twenty inches long, and two four- 

 teen inches long. 



At the bottom of the box, 



Bolts and nuts for ditto, 



Screw-wrench. 



Two gimlets or nail passers, one large, called a 

 spike passer, and one small. 



Spring shackles and their bolts. 



1 See Instructions for the Mail Guards, Appendix B. 



2 This time-piece was fixed in a flat, square brass case. It was set, and 

 the case locked, in London, and the guard wore it in a pouch suspended from 

 his shoulder. It is related of one well-known waggoner, Mr. Ackers, that he 

 was a martinet in time-keeping, and regularly carried a watch screwed into 

 the butt end of his whip. 



