2o6 THE COACHING ERA 



"who came in their usual style in tandems, and on 

 horseback, blowing horns." At four o'clock in the 

 morning the dance ended, and the company attempted 

 to depart but found to their consternation that snow 

 had fallen heavily all night, making the roads impassable. 

 Even those who resided within a few miles were unable 

 to get home, and beds at the various inns were at a 

 premium. Many ladies and gentlemen, who could not 

 find any accommodation, sat up the rest of the night in 

 the card rooms. 



During the afternoon the Cambridge men with their 

 tandems, gigs, and trumpets made a valiant attempt 

 to get to their University, but were obliged to return 

 to Bury. The weather-bound visitors renewed the 

 ball for two nights, and the younger members, at any 

 rate, extradled a good deal of amusement out of their 

 novel situation. 



The second day another attempt was made to get 

 away, and though they had to abandon their carriages 

 and proceed on horseback, a party managed to get as 

 far as Newmarket, where they were forced to remain. 

 Mr. Mills, the High Sheriff, reached his home near 

 Saxham the third day, by having his carriage preceded 

 by a heavy broad-wheeled waggon drawn by four horses 

 abreast; whilst two families residing at Rougham were 

 drawn across the open fields in a waggon with six 

 horses. 



Macready travelled with his company to Newcastle 

 in January 1813, through a blinding snow-storm. 

 Between Ross Inn and Berwick-on-Tweed the drifts 



