294 DRIVING. 



ingford, Royston, and Harston, fifteen teams in all ; but rest 

 horses were kept besides. On the intervening days the return 

 journey was made. The Blenheim coach, which worked in 

 connection with the Defiance, belonged to Mr. Augustus 

 Craven, but on Saturdays the Defiance itself ran right through 

 from Cambridge to Cheltenham, after leaving Oxford, where 

 half an hour was allowed for supper, reaching the Plough 

 Hotel, Cheltenham, at two on Sunday morning. On Monday 

 the Defiance left Cheltenham at 4 A.M., 'the coach break- 

 fasted ' at Oxford, lunched at Hatchett's, and reached Cam- 

 bridge at 9 P.M. 



This somewhat herculean task, however, only lasted during 

 1879, as m I 88o Mr. Blyth ran the Defiance from London 

 to Brighton, taking the long road by Sevenoaks, Tunbridge 

 Wells, Uckfield, and Lewes ; E. Fownes, Blackburne, and 

 J. Banks being the professionals engaged. The route being 

 a somewhat hilly one, five horses were used on three stages. 

 On the coach arriving at Tunbridge Wells, three leaders abreast 

 were employed ; the same arrangement obtaining at the next 

 two changes, till Lewes was reached. At the foot of the bridge 

 on approaching Lewes the horses were stopped to let them get 

 their wind, after which a fresh start was made, the horses 

 galloping till the steepness of the ascent fairly reduced them to 

 a walk. On the up journey another route was taken so as to 

 avoid the hill. On one occasion, when E. Fownes essayed 

 the task of coming down the aforesaid hill, the staple of the 

 skid drew, but an accident was avoided. It was the custom, 

 by the way, to carry on the Defiance a spare pole made in two 

 or three pieces, the whole being screwed together when required. 

 No change was made in connection with the Perseverance 

 to Dorking, the New Times to Guildford, or the Box Hill 

 coaches. The other Brighton coach now became a double 

 one, with Mr. Chandos Pole, son of the former proprietor, as a 

 new partner, Harry Ward and John Thorogood coachmen, with 

 E. Spencer and Ike Simmons guards. Mr. Robinson was again 

 on the road, but now ran on to Esher, while the Old Times 



