258 SJ'AGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DA YS OF YORE 



seat on the liind-boot called tlie " dicky," Avitli 

 the two outsides on the front part of the roof 

 facing away from him. It was a rule for many 

 years strictly enforced that the outside passengers 

 of a mail-coach should he limited to three : one on 

 the box-seat beside the coachman, and the other 

 two with their backs to the guard, as described. 

 It had its origin in the fear that, if more 

 were allowed, it would be an easy matter for 

 desperadoes to overpower coachman and guard, 

 and to rob the mail. Por the same reason, the only 

 means of access to the hind-boot, in which the 

 mails were stowed away in those early days, before 

 the expansion of mail-matter caused the roof to be 

 piled up with great sacks of letters and packets, 

 was by a trap-door at the top, carefully locked, 

 and on Avhich the guard had his feet placed during 

 the whole of the journey. Any infraction of the 

 rule against allowing a passenger on the hind part 

 of the coach was sure to bring instant dismissal, 

 and for permitting an extra passenger on the roof 

 the guard was fined £5. 



But some of the joys of a mail-guard's life are 

 recounted in the old verses : — 



At each inn on the road I a welcome could find ; 



At the Fleece I'd my skin full of ale ; 

 The Two Jolly Brewers were just to my mind; 



At the Dolphin I drank like a whale. 



Tom Tun at the Hogshead sold pretty good stuff ; 



They'd capital flip at the Boar ; 

 And when at the Angel I'd tippled enough, 



I went to the Devil for more. 



