2IO STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



of depreciation. lie aimed at becoming a director 

 on that line, and had tliat desire speedily gratified, 

 being further appointed Deputy Chairman in 1839. 

 By 18J.3 he had succeeded to the chair, and, with 

 one interval, remained Chairman of what became 

 the London and South-Western Ptaihvay until 

 1858, when ill-health compelled his resignation. 

 He had the satisfaction of seeing his belief in the 

 future of that railway assured. He was" also a 

 director of the Paris and Rouen, the Rouen and 

 Havre, and the Rhenish Railways ; Sheriff of 

 London, 1815-6; a Member of Parliament for 

 Salisl)ury, 1817-57 ; in politics an advanced 

 Liberal. He died at his residence, 2, Hyde Park 

 Gardens, on April 21th, 1859, in his seventy-second 

 year, leaving property to the value of over half a 

 million sterling, including a quarter share in the 

 firm of Chaplin & Home. William Augustus 

 Chaplin, the eldest among his eight sons and six 

 daughters, succeeded him in the conduct of that 

 business, and died, also in his seventy-second year, 

 at Melton Mowbray, October 9th, 189G. 



Benjamin AYorthy Home, whose chief i)lace 

 of business Avas the " Golden Cross," Charing 

 Cross, succeeded his father, AVilliam Home, in 

 1828. AYilliam Home, who was born in 1783, 

 was originally a painter, ])ut followed that trade 

 only a few years after his apprenticeship had 

 expired. He had at an early age married Mary 

 AVorthy, daughter of Benjamin AVorthy, a Avealthy 

 wheelwright in Old Street, and in ISOt his eldest 

 son, Benjamin Wortliy Home, Avas bom. This 



