228 THE COACHING ERA 



by ladies, there being only one more gentleman and 

 myself. The conversation of the ladies among them- 

 selves, who appeared to be a little acquainted with 

 each other, seemed to me to be but very insipid and 

 tiresome." 



"The gentleman, by way of introducing an appro- 

 priate topic, proceeded to relate hair raising stories 

 of the different robberies which had been committed 

 in the neighbourhood through which the coach was 

 then passing. These blood curdling revelations alarmed 

 the ladies, when the gentleman by way of soothing 

 their fears, and at the same time proving to Moritz 

 the incalculable superiority of everything English, 

 dilated at length on 'the greatness of soul' displayed by 

 English thieves compared to their low counterparts 

 on the Continent. 



"But to return to our stage," says Moritz, after 

 making copious notes on highwaymen, "I must observe, 

 that they have here a curious way of riding, not in, but 

 upon the stage-coach. Persons to whom it is not con- 

 venient to pay a full price, instead of the inside, sit 

 on the top of the coach, without any seats or even a 

 rail. By what means passengers thus fasten themselves 

 securely on the roof of the vehicles, I know not; but 

 you constantly see numbers seated there, apparently 

 at their ease, and in perfedl safety. 



"This they call riding on the outside; for which they 

 pay only half as much as those pay who are within: 

 we had at present six of these passengers over our heads, 

 who, when we alighted, frequently made such a noise 

 and bustle, as sometimes almost frightened us. He who 

 can properly balance himself, rides not incommodiously 

 on the outside; and in the summer time, in fine weather, 

 on account of the prospers, it certainly is more pleasant 

 than it is inside, excepting that the company is generally 



