THE COACHING REVIVAL. 287 



Hurman, with whom was Captain Waller Otway, and Mr. 

 Bailey set up the St. Albans coach in succession to the con- 

 federacy by which it had been worked during the winter ; so 

 that the number of coaches working out of London in 1874 

 was eleven : one less than in 1873. 



During the winter of 1874 London was not left coachless, 

 as Mr. Cooper ran to Box Hill on alternate days, and there 

 was also a winter coach to St. Albans. Then again coaching 

 was kept alive by the Road Club, of which mention has already 

 been made. Major Furnivall was the proprietor, and the 

 Committee of the Club included the Duke of Beaufort, 

 Sir Henry de Bathe, Mr. E. Godsell, Colonel Withington, 

 Marquis of Blandford, Colonel Hathorn, Colonel Dickson, 

 Lord Bective, Colonel Tyrwhitt, and Major Furnivall. The 

 opening dinner, with Sir Henry de Bathe in the chair, took 

 place on November 7 at the Club house, 4 Park Place, St. 

 James's Street. In December, however, the coaching world 

 had to mourn the loss of one of its most esteemed -members. 

 Mr. G. Meek * handsome Meek ' he was often called contem- 

 plated driving a coach during the forthcoming season, but ere 

 his intention could be carried out, he took a chill and died at 

 the age of 48. 



Hitherto the coaches had commenced running at such 

 times as to the several proprietors seemed best, having regard 

 to their convenience, and the amount of business likely to be 

 done. Prior to the beginning of the season of 1875, however, 

 a suggestion was made that a leaf be taken out of the book of 

 the ancients, and that the season should be opened with a 

 procession of coaches on April 28, in imitation of the mail 

 procession of old on the King's birthday. This would natu- 

 rally have been a novel and imposing sight to Londoners ; 

 but there were difficulties in the way, and the proposal was 

 not acted upon. Another suggestion was that the Road Club 

 should take a house at Twickenham, let part of it for the 

 purposes of an hotel, and retain the remainder of the premises 

 as a sort of country home for coaching men. This suggestion, 



