THE TRAVELLER'S ORACLE i^j 



of each coach window so that would-be robbers might 

 see, and seeing beware. 



Dr. Kitchiner recommended pistols, but he evidently 

 thought they should be used more for show and intimida- 

 tion than actual defence, for he earnestly counselled his 

 readers not to use them merely to save their money: 

 "If your Pistol takes effeft you may preserve your 

 Property, but it is a melancholy price you pay for it, if 

 it costs the Life of a fellow Creature; and if it misses 

 fire, you will most likely not only be Robbed, but 

 Murdered."! 



To circumvent the landlord's evil designs the traveller 

 was urged to carry a supply of pocket door bolts and 

 screws as "these may on many occasions save the Pro- 

 perty and the Life of the Traveller." If the traveller had 

 neither of these appliances, and the door could not be 

 made to lock, then he was to drag the heavy furniture 

 across the room and pile it against the door; place the 

 jug and basin where they would rattle if disturbed; 

 crawl under the bed to see if it did not harbour an 

 assassin, and open cupboards for concealed robbers. 



^ Many people entertained a strong aversion to shooting at 

 a highwayman. Boswell in his life of Dr. Johnson confirms this 

 in his entry for April 4th, 1778: "He talked of going to Streatham 

 that night." 



Taylor — "You'll be robbed if you do: or you must shoot a 

 highwayman. Now I would rather be robbed than do that; I 

 would not shoot a highwayman." 



Johnson — "But I would rather shoot him in the instant when 

 he is attempting to rob me, than afterwards swear against him 

 at the Old Bailey, to take away his Hfe after he had robbed me." 



