2o8 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



and the petition of the coach-proprietors against it, 

 Mr. Gamon and his legislative effort had, in one 

 way and another, a stirring time. Bnt in the same 

 year he saw it pass into an Act, and two years 

 later he procured an amended and stricter statute. 

 So ridicule does not always kill. 



It therefore hecame law that stage-coaches 

 were not to carry more than six passengers on the 

 roof or more than two on the hox in addition to 

 the coachman. For every passenger in excess the 

 coachman was liahle to a penalty of 40s., and if he 

 Avas proprietor, or jmrt proprietor, this penalty was 

 raised to £4. The amended Act very materially 

 altered this regulation. Coaches drawn hy three 

 or more horses were allowed only one passenger on 

 the box and four on the roof, and those with fewer 

 than three horses, one passenger on the box and 

 three on the roof. If the pair-horse coaches did 

 not travel farther than tAventy-five miles from 

 London, they might carry an additional passenger 

 on the roof. The penalty for carrying excess 

 passengers was severe, and ingeniously contrived 

 in order to wholly sujipress the practice. It Avas 

 5s. each for every supernumerary passenger, to be 

 paid to the toll-keeper at every turnpike gate. 

 This Avas a sure method, for an excess number 

 would be instantly detected by pike-men eager for 

 a chance to add to their income. The penalty for 

 fraudulently setting down a passenger near a turn- 

 pike gate, and taking him up on the other side, 

 with intent to evade this regulation, Avas of a 

 different kind, but of equal severity. It Avas a 



