GUARDS 71 



Wales," that, after impressing on him that guards were 

 entrusted with firearms for the proteftion of the mails 

 and coaches, and not as he seemed to suppose for the 

 express purpose of terrifying His Majesty's subjects, he 

 dismissed him with a reprimand. 



That the guards did not discontinue their evil practices 

 is evident from the f aft that subsequent regulations made 

 them liable to a fine of ^5 if they fired their blunder- 

 busses without due cause or provocation. 



The Post Ofiice officials, undoubtedly, had the guards 

 very much on their minds, and sought to regulate their 

 condu6l by an extensive list of rules which set forth what 

 a guard was and was not to do in every conceivable 

 emergency. 



He was to see that the coachmen kept true time; and 

 to report him if he did not. To blow his horn at specified 

 distances and places, in order that toll-gates should be 

 open, fresh horses waiting, mail-bags ready, carts drawn 

 out of the way, that there might be no let or hindrance 

 to the expeditious passage of that arrogantly important 

 vehicle, His Majesty's Mail. 



The guard's first and foremost duty was to the mail- 

 bags, and the authorities could not sufficiently impress 

 upon them the paramount importance of the mails and 

 the comparative insignificance of the passengers. 



If a coach broke down, overturned, stuck in a snow- 

 drift, was stopped by highwaymen, or met with any of 

 those reverses to which the best regulated coaches were 

 liable at times, the guard was not to trouble himself un- 

 duly about the passengers. Their safety was no concern 



