COACHING. 95 



of 1816 that I commenced my new 

 vocation. The coach which left every 

 morning at nine o'clock I horsed myself 

 half-way to London, where, at the " White 

 Lion," at Mousehill, a village about two 

 miles south of Godalming, I met the 

 down coach, and, after partaking of some 

 refreshment, each driver turned back. 

 My time of arrival at Portsmouth was 

 seven o'clock in the evening so that the 

 hours were about the best that could be 

 chosen ; and, consequently, as the roads 

 were very good, though rough, the work 

 was light. 



To make use of an old simile, like a 

 child with a new toy, I was pleased 

 for a while. There is something but 

 what it is I never could discover that 

 induces your companion on the box 

 should you have one to enter into conr 

 versation ; and that not always upon 

 general subjects, but upon something ap- 



