278 DRIVING. 



digression on remembering that since coaches were driven off 

 the road, a race has arisen to which the ' revival ' is history, 

 and the fashion of the Park drags a pattern. Such, at all events, 

 was the Sevenoaks coach when it first came into the possession 

 of Messrs. Holland & Holland ; but, in order to adapt it to 

 modern requirements, the guard's seat was lengthened to carry 

 four, and a like number of passengers were accommodated 

 where the guard's armoury had erstwhile been. This old mail 

 eventually became * Cooper's coach ' on the Box Hill and Dork- 

 ing road, and Mr. Cooper was driving it when, in 1875, tne 

 pole broke within 150 yards of the journey's end. Let into 

 what is technically known as the ' boot tread ' (that is to say, 

 the step on the front boot), on each side was a lamp with the 

 object of throwing a clear light on both roller bolts. A pleas- 

 ing wind-up to the coaching season of 1868 was the presenta- 

 tion of a well-deserved testimonial, in the shape of a silver 

 flagon, to Mr. Chandos Pole and a silver tankard to Tedder. 



' The light of other days ' shone brilliantly in 1869, an annus 

 mirabilis in the history of the coaching revival. The Duke of 

 Beaufort was, indeed, no longer a patron of the road ; but 

 Mr. Chandos Pole and Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell were still faith- 

 ful to the bench, and were now helped in their undertaking 

 by Lord Londesborough, Colonel Stracey-Clitherow (who, 

 as ' Tom ' Stracey his real name is Edward had long been 

 known as a first class coachman), and Mr. G. Meek. The 

 coach was now but a single one, running each way on 

 alternate days. The London terminus was the Ship, Charing 

 Cross, the choice being made in order to avoid the clatter 

 over the stones between that place and Hatchett's ; for wood 

 and asphalte were then unknown, unlaid. Tedder was still pro- 

 fessional ; and we find a note to the effect that in this year 

 4 shouldering ' the time-honoured subject of a time-honoured 

 toast was abolished, in theory at least. Lord Londesborough 

 was responsible for the horses to Croydon, Colonel Clitherow 

 ran thence to Redhill, Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell to Lowfield 

 Heath ; then came Mr. Meek to Staplefield Common, where 



