A CHAPTER OF ANECDOTES. 159 



half a century ago, such an abomination as a tramway for 

 cars was not invented.' He goes on to another anecdote 

 of modern stage-coaching : 



' I once heard an American gentleman on the front 

 seat tell his friend on the coach that the Prince of Wales 

 once took up coaching, but suddenly gave it up, and sold 

 off all his harness, one set of which was now in use 

 before us. This beat me for the moment, until he ex- 

 plained by pointing out the coronet on the harness — of 

 course the property of my partner. " The coaches," he 

 says, "are much patronised by Americans, and very good 

 and pleasant patrons and companions they are, too. They 

 make up their minds to enjoy themselves and make the 

 best of everything." 



' In reply to my query as to where the " Burford 

 Bridge Hotel" was, he says, " Early last season the old 

 sign-board, with its picture of the ' Hare and Hounds,' the 

 original name of this ' inn,' was taken down, and in its 

 place was put up a plain board, ' The Burford Bridge 

 Hotel.' Hence the change in the newspapers, and my 

 own reference to it. I agree with you in preferring the 

 former name." 



The Dorking Coach, hitherto a ' butterfly/ con- 

 tinued on the road throughout the winter of 1873, and 

 ran between the ' White Horse Cellar ' and the ' Hare and 

 Hounds,' Burford Bridge, on this side of Dorking. This 

 should prove a useful stage for men hunting in Surrey. 



