INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAIL GUARDS. 401 



By portmanteau is meant any article made of or covered with 

 leather or hair, and of course all boxes of other materials, 

 bundles, baskets, &c. are to be rejected. The portmanteaus are 

 to be fastened at one end to the seat-irons, and a staple will be 

 placed on each side of the coach, for one strap to go over and 

 further secure them. 



22. No person of any description whatever, not being an 

 inspector of the Mail-Coach Department, can be suffered to ride 

 with the guard upon the mail box, on pain of dismissal, unless 

 in order to further some necessary business belonging to the 

 service. An authority to justify the same is issued from the 

 office, with the office seal affixed to it. 



23. It is likewise the guard's duty constantly to examine the 

 condition and state of the mail-coaches, particularly of such 

 spare coach or coaches as stand upon any part of the ground 

 they work, and see that they are properly cleaned and taken 

 care of, and to report any deficiencies or imperfections in them, 

 and each guard is to be accountable for whatever damage the 

 coaches may sustain that are under his care, and also for the 

 loss of all seats, lamps, windows, or articles of any kind. 



24. If at any time the coaches are not provided with the 

 best lamps and lights, the guards must report the same. 



25. They must never leave their mail box unlocked when 

 the mail is therein, or take their lock off when the guards are 

 changed, till the succeeding guard has put his lock thereon. 



26. The guards are on no account to permit passengers for 

 mere amusement to drive the mail-coaches. If a remonstrance 

 fails of having the proper effect, the circumstances are to be 

 reported on the time bill, that the penalty the law directs may 

 be inflicted on the coachman. Should the guards neglect to 

 report the circumstance, they will be suspended. 



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