70 THE COACHING ERA 



popgun, they shot at anything and everything that in 

 their eyes was a suitable target. The slugs with which 

 they loaded the blunderbusses were intended to lodge in 

 the bodies of highwaymen, but the "gentlemen of the 

 road " looked askance at the mail-coaches which threa- 

 tened to destroy their trade and, with great want of 

 consideration for the feelings of the armed guards longing 

 to display their valour, refused to present themselves 

 as targets. The guards, thus baulked of their legitimate 

 prey, varied the monotony of coaching by shooting at 

 dogs, sheep, pigs, hens, etc., and by pointing their 

 deadly weapons at innocent and terror-struck travellers, 

 thereby frightening them nearly out of their lives. 



These sportive proceedings were eyed with disfavour, 

 and, in Wales, one Mr. Pennant, who hated mail- 

 coaches and all that concerned them because they were 

 exempt from tolls, determined that the next guard who 

 erred ever so little from the direft path defined for mail- 

 guards should be brought to judgment. He did not have 

 long to wait, for word was brought him that a guard, 

 nicknamed the "Prince of Wales" from the extreme 

 elegance of his person, had not only shot a dog because 

 it had barked at him, but also threatened to blow the 

 turnpike-keeper's brains out. 



Clear acts of violence both of these, and Mr. Pennant 

 at once issued a warrant against him. The sequel was 

 unexpected, for Mr. Pennant who had been praying 

 that a guard might be delivered into his hands, for him 

 to make an example of for the petrification of all mail- 

 guards, was so softened by the charms of the "Prince of 



