2 00 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



off one of the six horses alloAved to Avaggons by 

 the Parliament of Queen Anne. No carriage or 

 waggon drawn l)y more than five horses, except 

 up steep hills, was permitted to pass through any 

 toll-gate or toll-bar, unless the sum of twenty 

 shillings over and above the usual tolls was paid ; 

 and any person taking off any horse from such 

 vehicle, Avith intent to avoid the payment of the 

 additional toll, was, on conviction of the offence, 

 to forfeit £5 to the informer, who was given the 

 right to levy a distress on the offender's goods if 

 he could not recover the penalty in any other Avay. 

 At the same time, no waggon was to pass which 

 Aveighed, Avith its contents, more than three tons ; 

 and Aveighing engines Avere to be provided by 

 turnpike trustees, to see that the hxAV A\^as not 

 infrinored. This Avas a very determined Act, but 

 those Avho drcAV it were very Avell satisfied that, 

 considering the comparatively few roads already 

 turnpiked, its meshes could not be made small 

 enough to catch those offenders who constantly 

 carried Aveights up to five tons upon the roads 

 and yoked up ten or tAvelve horses to drag the 

 enormous load. It Avas obvious that the only thing 

 the Avaggoners had to do in order to evade the laAV 

 was — risking the chance of finding the Avay impass- 

 able — to turn aside on nearing a turnpike and to 

 make a circuit along parish roads Avhere no toll- 

 houses existed. Accordingly, those Avho framed 

 the Act inserted what Avas intended to be a very 

 alarming and altogether disabling clause. It was 

 made an unlaAvf ul act to drive off in this manner 



