COACH-PROPRIETORS 225 



over by the London and North-Western Railway 

 in Benjamin Worthy Home's time, long before 

 the general parcels and receiving-office l)rancli was 

 absorbed. Tlie decision to terminate the contract 

 Avas a source of much annoyance to him, on 

 account of the reason given, which was that the 

 business was not efficiently conducted. Although 

 he was a man who in general had a horror of 

 going to laAv, this stigma upon his business methods 

 so stung him that he brought an action against 

 the raihvay company for breach of contract, in 

 order to vindicate his position. This was going 

 to law for an idea, and as the company had a 

 perfect right to terminate the contract, the action 

 of course failed; but it was made abundantly 

 evident that the business was efficiently carried 

 on, and that the railway was only proposing to 

 take it over because the time was ripe for such 

 a development. His heavy costs, amounting to 

 £1200, were afterwards very handsomely refunded 

 to Mr. Home by the railway. 



It remains to say that although there Avas no 

 keener or more ruthless man of business than 

 Benjamin Worthy Home, he Avas privately a 

 considerate and kindly man, helpful and charitable 

 to those less successful than himself. 



He had a pretty estate at Highlands, MereAVorth, 

 and a toAvn residence at 33, Russell Square. He 

 died at the latter place, April 14th, 1870, aged 

 sixty-six, leaving property valued at £250,000. 



VOL. II. 15 



