THE GREAT WESTERN ROAD. 97 



ticulars of the " Telegraph," because I travelled much 

 oftener by that coach than by the " Quicksilver " mail, and 

 knew more about it. The " Telegraph " used to go by 

 Andover, Amesbury, Deptford Inn, and across Salis- 

 bury Plain, by Wincanton, Ilchester, and Ilminster, which 

 was reckoned the shortest way. The " Quicksilver " 

 went by Salisbury, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Yeovil, 

 Crewkerne, and Chard, a few miles longer, and more in 

 the dark. The same guard went all the way in the 

 " Telegraph." It was hard work for both coachmen and 

 guards.' 



Between Bagshot and Basingstoke you pass over 

 Star Hill, very dangerous ground for fast coaches, there 

 being two shoots upon it. Ten miles in fifty minutes 

 was the time allowed on this ground ; and on Harford 

 Bridge flat will be found the best five miles for a coach 

 in twenty-three minutes. 



The mails for the western counties were brought from 

 the General Post Office in the City to their coaches at 

 the Gloucester Coffee House in Piccadilly, 1 in carts 

 drawn by fast-trotting blood horses, and the bags were 

 given over to the mail guards there. The Bristol, 

 Exeter, and Bath mails started at seven in the evening. 

 Most stages down these roads started from Hatchett's, 

 1 The White Horse Cellar.' 



' Travelling one night by the Bath mail, and going 

 at the usual terrific pace over that level six miles be- 



1 See the excellent coloured engraving representing these mails preparing 

 to start in front of the Gloucester Coffee House (on its site is now the St. 

 James's Hotel), from a picture by James Pollard. 



II 



