288 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



coacli travelled. It, indeed, greatly resembled, 

 if even it was not identical in every particular 

 with, the post-chaises of that time, themselves 

 built to hold three persons, and by that measure 

 of accommodation helping to prove every day 

 and upon roads innumerable the truth of the old 

 adage which declares that " Two's company ; 

 three's none." If, in fact, Afe come to the 

 conclusion that post-chaises were sometimes used 

 as " Diligences " and on other occasions as post- 

 chaises, Ave shall only be giving the proprietors 

 of coaches and chaises their due credit of being 

 clever business men, suiting their stock to the 

 needs of the hour. 



BetAveen the appearance of the Shrewsbury 

 "Diligence" and the opening of the nineteenth 

 century, " Diligences " abounded. The first 

 mail-coach Avas a " Diligence." It is not to be 

 supi^osed that they were all fast; and indeed, so 

 early did the impudent slow coaches assume 

 the title, in order to deceive the public, that it 

 soon became a synonym for laziness and un- 

 punctuality, and so far Avere they in many cases 

 from being light coaches carrying only three 

 passengers, that references to them in the 

 literature of a hundred years ago mention as 

 many as six, or even eight persons. 



The AA^ord " diligence " in some subtle manner 

 conveys a very true idea of these coaches. There 

 is in it something soothing and trustworthy. In 

 some vague Avay it radiates a calm atmosphere 

 of plodding virtue and slow-going innocence, to 



