THE STORY OF PICKFORD AND CO. 133 



carriage of goods by AA^aggon or caravan could 

 l^e charged at hs. per cwt., or £5 per ton ; when 

 by coach the rates for small parcels were \d. a 

 pound ; and even by canal — that last effort in 

 cheap transport before railways — the charges were 

 2s. OfZ. per cwt., or £2 15s. per ton. 



He who reorganised the old business of Pick- 

 ford's demands extended notice in these pages. A. 

 portrait of him, a three-quarter length, painted 

 by Pickersgill, R.A., about 1847, has the illusion 

 common to all three-quarter-length portraits of 

 giving an appearance of great stature. Mr. Baxen- 

 dale was a man of broad shoulder, and not above 

 the middle height. While in many respects a 

 good portrait of him, it is said by those who knew 

 him best to fail in not giving expression to the 

 native kindliness and humour that underlaid his 

 keen business instincts. " Cheerful and witty in 

 conversation," says one who knew him well, " he 

 ever had a word of encouragement for the young- 

 sters, and was universally beloved by those whom 

 he employed." 



To those who served him to the best of their 

 ability he was a never-failing friend, and, at a 

 time when business firms did not usually trouble 

 themselves about the comfort of their servants, 

 took pains to secure their well-being. In the 

 c^alleries of the old " Castle " Inn he constructed 

 a coffee- and club-room for his carmen, and pro- 

 vided similar conveniences at his other establish- 

 ments. The old inn has long been demolished, 

 but the headquarters of the firm still remains next 



