COACH-PROPRIETORS 235 



Mrs. Nelson's second son, Robert, who drove her 

 Exeter "Defiance," Avas present, as occasionally 

 he was, following- the practice of the House of 

 Commons, Avliose members are never, Avithin the 

 House, referred to by their own names, but 

 ahvays as the representatiA'es of their several 

 constituencies, Mrs. Nelson's coachmen and guards 

 here assembled Avere addressed as "Manchester," 

 " Oxford," " IpsAvich," " Devonport," and so forth. 



When Mrs. Nelson retired from the active 

 management of the business, her eldest son, Jolm, 

 became the moAdng sj)irit. It was in his time that 

 railAA^ays came in and coaching Avent out, but he Avas 

 equal to the occasion, and started a very successful 

 line of omnibuses, the "Wellington," plying 

 betAveen Stratford, Whitechapel, the Bank, Oxford 

 Street, lloyal Oak, and Westbourne Grove. He 

 died, a very Avealthy man, in June, 18G8, aged 

 seventy-four. 



Thomas Fagg, of the " Bell and CroAvn," 

 Holborn —an inn better known to later gene- 

 rations of Londoners as " Bidler's Hotel " — Avas 

 a small proprietor, but he had in addition a 

 very lucrative business as a coach-maker at 

 Hartley Boav, near Basingstoke. The " Louth " 

 and " Lynn " mails, hoAvever, Avere partly his, and 

 Carys It'uieranj for 1821 gives a list of tAventy- 

 six stage-coaches going from his dcor to all parts 

 of the country. As " lUdler's " the house Avas a 

 very select "family liotel," but in this it only 

 carried on the traditions of Eagg's time, Avhen he 

 had some most distinguished guests. Standing 



