GUARDS 73 



to the estimate of the guard, who had expedled a more 

 material reward for his strenuous exertions. 



The same winter the Birmingham mail-coach came 

 to grief seventy miles from London, and the guard, 

 exercising his prerogative, appropriated two of the 

 horses to carry the mails and set out for London. A 

 blinding snow-storm was raging so that he soon lost 

 all traces of the road, and wandered across country over 

 hedges and ditches, losing his way more often than he 

 found it. When he eventually reached London he was 

 in a distressing state of exhaustion, but he had done his 

 duty and got his mails forward, a reward which in itself 

 the Post Office deemed sufficient recompense. 



That department, though expedling great things of 

 the guards, was by no means disposed to err towards 

 them on the side of generosity. It gave them a gorgeous 

 uniform, it is true, no doubt realizing that an imposing 

 and slightly bizarre appearance is of immense assistance 

 to any public funftionary, and goes a long way to in- 

 spiring respeft. The guard's uniform consisted of a red 

 coat with gilt buttons, dark blue waistcoat, and a hat 

 adorned with gold lace and a cockade ; these undoubtedly 

 conferred great distindlion on the wearer, who with his 

 horn and key-bugle was an obje£l of much admiration. 



The Post Office only paid the guards ten shillings a 

 week, out of which they had to provide the oil for their 

 lamps, but they by no means depended on their official 

 pay for a livelihood, and the position was eagerly sought 

 after on account of the perquisites it entailed. A guard 

 often received as much as three or four pounds a week 



