36 STAGE-COACH AMD MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



Stoneliengc, in the early hours of the morning. 

 The " Quicksilver " was a favourite suhject with 

 the artists of that day, who were never weary 

 of pictorially representing it. They have shown 

 it passing Kew Bridge, and the old " Star and 

 Garter," on the outward journey, in daylight — 

 presumably the longest day in the year, because 

 it did not reach that point until 9 p.m. Two of 

 them have, separately and individually, shown 

 us the famous attack l)y the lioness in 1816 ; and 

 two others have pictured it on the up journey, 

 passing Windsor Castle, and entering the City at 

 Temple Bar ; hut no one has ever represented 

 the "Quicksilver" passing beneath that gaunt 

 and storm-beaten relic of a prehistoric age, Stone- 

 henge. One of them, however, did a somewhat 

 remarkable thing. The picture of the "Quick- 

 silver " jiassing Avithin sight of Windsor was 

 executed and published in 1810, two years after 

 the gallant old mail had been taken off that 

 portion of the road, to be conveyed by railway. 

 Perhaps the print was, so to speak, a post-mortem 

 one, intended to keep the memory of the old 

 days fresh in the recollection of travellers by 

 the mail. 



The London and Southampton Bailway was 

 opened to Woking May 23rd, 1838, and to Winch- 

 field September 21th folloAving, and by so much 

 the travels of the " Quicksilver " and the other 

 West-country coaches were shortened. For some 

 months they all resorted to that station, and then 

 to Basingstoke, when the line was ojiened so far. 



