244 DRIVING. 



and this excellent warm wrap I had for years. No such thing as 

 a railway wrapper or travelling rug was known in those days. 

 No apron or rug belonged to a coach. At starting, or whenever 

 they changed coachmen, the new comer appeared whip in hand 

 and an apron over his arm generally a stiff tarpaulin large 

 enough for the box passengers as well as himself -the other pas- 

 sengers made shift with a bit of clean straw if they were lucky 

 enough to get it. Our greatcoats were uncomfortable ; they 

 had pockets behind like an evening tail-coat, and on the 

 hips with flaps over them ; without unbuttoning the coat you 

 could not get your hand in or out of them or withdraw any- 

 thing you wanted ; a small breast pocket was put for one's 

 handkerchief and that was all. There was no such thing as 

 a tab for the collar, only three long hooks and three eyes, 

 through which the wind whistled into one's teeth. Before my 

 time, I am told, even the coachman had no apron ; this probably 

 was the reason why so many of them wore knee-caps, and a 

 night coachman was swaddled up something like a mummy 

 how he got on and off his box or could use his arms was 

 a mystery. I must not forget dear old Mrs. Botham, of the 

 Pelican, at Speenhamland, with her rich black silk gown and 

 her high white, sort of modified widow's cap. She was always 

 kind and hospitable. When the family posted up they dined 

 there, and all were made to drink a little most excellent cherry 

 brandy, each was presented with a cornet or screw of white 

 paper containing brandy snaps of the very best, and when 

 children travelled by the coach they had the same. The 

 cherry brandy was noted for its excellence all over the country. 

 Mrs. Botham died at a ripe old age, respected by all who 

 knew her. 



A coach ran from Salisbury to Chippenham Railway Station 

 and back again, horsed and driven by a very respectable man 

 and good coachman of the name of Stevens, who did both 

 journeys thirty-three miles each way. That it should pay 

 between Chippenham and Devizes I can understand, but how 

 he took anything except from * through ' passengers and parcels 



