2i8 STAGE-COACH AX D MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



and Blue Boar." It is singular that it made 

 the third Bedford coach running daily from 

 that inn : Home seems to have considered that 

 Bedford could not have too many coaches. The 

 others were the "Telegraph," twice a day — 8 a.m. 

 and 2.15 p.m. — and the " lloyal Telegraph" at 

 9 a.m. The " Times " started at 3 p.m., and 

 went at Vd\ miles an hour, including stops. This 

 was a very smart and exclusive coach, l)uilt on 

 the lines of the private drag, and ran to that 

 monumental Bedford hotel, the " Swan." The 

 " Bedford Times " was further remarkahle as one 

 of the last-surviving of the coaches. It Avas not 

 run off the road until 1818. 



Home prided himself on his drastic ways, and 

 was fond of recounting his master-strokes in 

 crushing out rivals. The particular coup on 

 Avhicli he loved to dwell was that of driving up 

 to an inn belonging to a middle-ground j^^i'tner 

 of one of his enemies, and buying up all the 

 horses overnight, so that in the morning, when 

 his own coach bowled by, the rival concern was 

 l)rouglit to an ignominious standstill. This story, 

 if true, reflected no credit on either himself or 

 the other party to the transaction, Avho certainly 

 Avas liable to an action for breach of contract. 

 There is, hoAvever, no doubt at all that Home 

 Avas the man to have gone to the extravagant 

 length of indemnifying the vendor — perhaps better 

 described as his accomplice — against any action- 

 at-laAv. He simply Avould not brook l)usiness 

 rivalry. 



