128 THE BRIGHTON ROAD 



perhaps, even more laudable in statesmen than in 

 milestones — and as rarely found. 



To this day no man knoweth the distance between 

 London and Brighton. Convention fixes the distance 

 as 51 J miles from the south side of Westminster Bridge 

 to the Aquarium, by the classic route ; but where is 

 he who has chained it in proper surveyorly manner ? 

 The milestones themselves are a curious miscellany, 

 and form an interesting study. They might profitably 

 have been made a subject for the learned deliberations 

 of the Pickwick Club, but the opportunity was 

 unfortunately missed, and the world is doubtless the 

 loser of much curious lore. 



Where is he who can, offhand, describe the first 

 milestone on the Brighton Road, and tell where it 

 stands ? It ought to be no difficult matter, for miles 

 are not — or should not be — elastic. 



It stands, in fact, on the kerb at the right-hand 

 side of Kennington Road, between Nos. 230 and 232, 

 just short of Lower Kennington Lane, and is a poor 

 old battered relic, set anglewise and with the top 

 broken away, bearing the legend, in what was once 

 bold lettering ; 



MILE 



HORSEGUARDS 

 WHITEHALL 



That is the first milestone on the Brighton Road. 

 Sterne, were he here to-day, would shed salt tears of 

 sentiment upon it. we may be sure. It says nothing 

 whatever about Brighton, and is probably the one and 

 only stone that takes the Horseguards as a datum. 



About fortv yards beyond this initial landmark 

 is another " first" milestone: a tall, upstanding 

 affair, certainly a century old. with three blank sides, 

 and a fourth inscribed : 



