OLD COACHING DAYS. 201 



mas, both proprietors sold their horses. Carter then went on 

 to the Hope, a coach running to Sheffield and Halifax, and this 

 he drove to Hockliffe and back for about two years. In conse- 

 quence of the Hope being removed to the Bull and Mouth, he 

 went on to a coach called the Stag to Shrewsbury, put on by 

 the proprietors of the Wonder coach, which also ran to Shrews- 

 bury, with a view of running a coach called the Nimrod off 

 the road. They succeeded in doing this in about a year, after 

 a very strong opposition during the whole time ; each coach 

 used to gallop for the lead of the road, leaving the Wonder going 

 at its usual pace and time. Carter had strict injunctions not on 

 any account to allow the Nimrod to be in advance of the Stag. 

 Mr. Sherman, who was at that time increasing his coaching 

 establishment, had just finished building the hotel in St. 

 Martin's-le-Grand, now called the Queen's, which was first 

 opened during that year ; it was then called the Bull and 

 Mouth, and was carried on for some years on his responsibility 

 entirely managed by a Mrs. Sanderson. When the Stag was 

 taken off the road Carter went to Oxford to drive a coach put 

 on by the tradesmen of that town, who had formed a company, 

 and horsed by Major Fane, who contracted with the proprietors. 

 The coach started from the Three Cups, Oxford, leaving at 

 8.30 A.M., arriving at the Gloucester Coffee House at 2, going 

 to the Old Bell, Holborn, leaving the Gloucester Coffee House 

 on its return journey at 3 P.M., arriving at the Three Cups at 

 8.30 P.M. This Carter drove up and down as long as the coach 

 was on the road, about twelve months, daily except Sundays, 

 without the assistance of either guard or break. He then went 

 back to Nelson's, of the Bull Inn, Aldgate, and drove the Exeter 

 Telegraph to Basingstoke and back daily, until the railway 

 interfered with it, leaving Piccadilly at 5.30 A.M., arriving at 

 Basingstoke at 9.55 A.M., stopping at Bagshot to breakfast ; 

 leaving Basingstoke on his return journey at 6 P.M., arriving at 

 Piccadilly at 10.15, ano ^ the Bull Inn, Aldgate, at n o'clock. 

 This he did for some years without ever missing a day except 

 Sundays, and he is always pleased to think it was undoubtedly 



