MAIL-COACHES 37 



do they bring any t-t-t-t-t-time down," spluttered a 

 coachman of the middle ground, rendered almost 

 incoherent by rage and natural impediment. 



The first mail-coaches, or rather stage-coaches under 

 another name, were clumsily and badly constructed, so 

 that the accelerated pace brought forth a proportionate 

 number of accidents, and people began to eye them 

 askance, and to show a growing disinclination to travel 

 by them. The indefatigable Mr. Palmer saw this and 

 remedied it by issuing an order that in future all the 

 mail-coaches should be of one pattern and of most up-to- 

 date construction. 



These new coaches were much lighter than the old- 

 fashioned stages and designed to carry four inside in- 

 stead of six. Outside travelling was recognized, but, the 

 chief objedls of the Post Office being to keep the guard 

 in splendid isolation, they at first allowed only one 

 outside passenger, on the coach-box and, though sub- 

 sequently seats were placed on the roof, none were 

 allowed at the back of the coach near the guard. The 

 idea was that a highwayman with a keen eye to possi- 

 bilities might engage the seat to the subsequent undoing 

 of the guard and mail-bags, and it was not till the coach- 

 ing era was drawing to a close that this regulation was 

 altered. 



The speed and punduality of the coaches increased 

 rapidly and, coincident with their improvements, the 

 proprietors ceased to announce bombastically that they 

 would fly, and contented themselves with modestly 

 announcing that they would run; they might in many 



