204 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



Although in his after-career as Meml^er of 

 Parliament he was a silent representative, he 

 could he eloquent in various ways. He had, as 

 already hinted, the direct and forcihle method in 

 perfection, and yet could suit his style to all 

 requirements. Coachmen, indeed, found him 

 much more dangerous in his suave and polite 

 moments, and much preferred to he sworn at 

 and violently attacked, for his polite speeches 

 generally had a sting in their tail, and earned 

 him, among the hrethren of the road, the de- 

 scriptive, if also disrespectful, nickname of " Billy 

 Eite-'em-Sly." 



The 2^^>i'ti"i'it of him shows a physiognomy 

 altogether unexpected, after hearing these tales. 

 One perceives rather a delicate and refined face 

 tlian that mentally pictured, and it is only in the 

 jiiercing eyes that his energy and determination 

 are clearly seen. 



Chaplin's coaches were easily to he distin- 

 guished along the roads, not only hy the device 

 of the " Swan with Two Necks " painted on them, 

 or later, in addition, l)y those of a " Spread Eagle," 

 " Cross Keys," or a "White Horse," as those inns 

 came under his control, hut hy their colours, 

 which were red and hlack — hlack upper-quarters 

 and fore and hind hoots, and red under-parts and 

 wheels. 



His coacliing husiness gave employment to two 

 thousand people, and included a horse-huying and 

 veterinary dej^artment, under the control of James 

 Nunn, who was accustomed to procure the greater 



