1 5 6 ST A GE- CO A CH AND MA IL IN DA J '.9 OF ] ^ORE 



get oft' the coach and sleep a niglit on the road ; 

 by which I don't mean under the hedj^e, but in 

 one of those fine okl (and highly expensive) inns 

 that then were to be found at more or less regular 

 intervals along the great highways. Posting, 

 generally with four horses — a highly extravagant 

 way of travelling, but one in great favour with 

 those who could afford it — maintained corres2)ond- 

 ingly high charges at all these houses of enter- 

 tainment. It Avas all very well to rhapsodise 

 over the climbing roses, the fragrant honeysuckle 

 and the odorous jessamine that wreathed the 

 portals of the wayside inn in summer, or to become 

 eloquent over the roaring fire, at Avliose ruddy 

 blaze you toasted your feet in Avinter, l)ut you 

 had to pay — and to pay pretty heavily — for these 

 luxuries. I will suppose that the traveller stopped 

 for dinner, Avhicli, if left to the landlady, generally 

 consisted of eels, or other fresh-Avater fish, dressed 

 in a A'ariet}^ of Avays, roast fowl, laml) or mutton 

 cutlets, bread, cheese, and celery, for Avhich a 

 charge of six or seven shillings Avas made. If 

 the meal took place after dark, there was an 

 additional item of tAvo shillings or half a croAvn 

 for Avax lights. Then, 'for the good of the house ' 

 and your OAvn certain discomfort, there Avas a 

 bottle of fine crusted port (probably tAvo days in 

 bottle) seA''en shillings ; or a bottle of fiery sherry, 

 just drawn from tlie wood, six shillings. To all 

 these charges must be added the A\aiter's fee of 

 one shilling or eighteenpence a head. 'Sleeping on 

 the road ' absolved you from some of these costs. 



