332 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



travelled and the other not, the one who had heen 

 to the capital would be " London John," or James, 

 accordiiiii; to what his Christian name might he, 



A course of reading in the " travels " of the 

 authors and diarists who ambled about England, 

 on horseback or otherwise, in the old days, 

 sufficiently demonstrates the aloofness and isola- 

 tion, and the essential differences that divided the 

 country districts. When the Dukes of Somerset 

 resided at Petworth, in Sussex, the roads were so 

 bad that it was next to imj)ossible to get there, 

 and when once there it was equally difficult to get 

 aAvay. PetAVorth is only forty-nine miles from 

 London, l)ut the Duke of Somerset maintained a 

 house at Godalming, sixteen miles along the road, 

 Avhere he could halt on the way and j^^ss the 

 niijrht. His stcAvard ii^enerallv advised the servants 

 some time before his Grace started, so that they 

 might be on the road " to point out the holes." 

 When the Emperor Charles VI. visited Petworth, 

 his carriage was attended by a strong escort of 

 Sussex jieasants, to save it from falling over. In 

 spite of their efforts, it was several times over- 

 turned, and that was a very sore and bruised 

 I]m])eror who sup])ed that night with the Duke. 

 Similar adventures befel Prince George of Den- 

 mark, liusband of Q,ueen Anne, visiting Petworth 

 from AVindsor. He went in some state, with a 

 number of carriages. " The length of way was only 

 forty miles, but fourteen hours Avere consumed 

 in traversing it ; AAliih> almost CA'ery mile Avas 

 signalised by the overturn of a carriage, or its 



