COACH JOURNEY. 5 



that line of road; still the journey was 

 most tedious, even for those times; while, 

 to relieve the weariness, I once or twice 

 got out, thinking to divert myself with 

 driving ; but, what with slippery roads, 

 bad cattle, and worse tackle, I could 

 make no hand of it, and was glad to 

 get inside again to preserve myself from 

 the bitter, biting atmosphere. 



Arriving at the " Cock," at Eaton, a 

 large coach and posting-house, our first 

 coachman left us ; and the guard, giving 

 the way-bill to the proprietor, informed 

 him who we were, when he became 

 very attentive and courteous to us. 



In those times the London man was 

 held in great estimation by the country 

 proprietors ; and so far had this feeling 

 been carried by my father's predecessor, 

 that he was almost worshipped by them. 

 This arose chiefly from his gentlemanly 

 manners and good principles, so widely 



