64 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



coacli from Newcastle to London, should consent 

 to lose it by not rising betimes. The Avorst of 

 it was, that here one had to take care of one's 

 self, because no one would wait upon him or 

 return him his money. Observe the passengers, 

 therefore, all, in the coach by 2 a.m. The com- 

 pany being seated, the driver went off as fast 

 as if he would have driven them to Stamford in 

 the twinkling of an eye. So early Avas the hour 

 that we are not surprised to be told that the author 

 fell asleep by the time they Avere clear of the 

 town, and doubtless the others did the same. 

 It may be remarked here that a very excellent 

 proof of this being a fictitious journey is found 

 in there being no mention of the passengers being 

 turned out of the coach to Avalk up the steep 

 Spitalgate Hill— a thing ahvays necessary at 

 that period of coaching history. 



The remainder of this not-inaptly named 

 Travels of the Imagination is made up chiefly 

 of a long disquisition upon sleep— itself highly 

 soporific — Avhich only gives place to remarks 

 upon the journey Avhen the coach arrives on 

 Hiuhs-ate Hill. Coming over that eminence, 

 they had a peep at London. 



"It must be a Avonderful holy place," he 

 suggests to the other passengers, " there are so 

 many church steeples to be seen." 



The others, Avho must have known better, said 

 nothing. 



" Are we there ? " he asked Avhen they had 

 reached Islington. 



