ESHER 67 



At Esher we pulled up at the "Bear," and were greeted 

 by pretty well the whole household of Claremont, who 

 must needs join in the libations that were poured forth 

 to the success of the new drag. This was repeated at the 

 turnpike ; when the lessee, an old hand — hearing of the 

 intended new start, from which it was more than 

 probable he would be the only one to derive any profit — 

 shut the gate, and planted a table, loaded with wine and 

 glasses, in the centre of the road. There was no 

 alternative ; and after doing due honour to his generous 

 spirit, we proceeded at a good pace to the " King's 

 Arms," at Kingston, as this was to be the first and 

 principal house of call in the regular way. My 

 passengers all got down, while I went a little farther 

 to turn, which I did in good style, and came back to the 

 duor of the inn. Here we stopped nearly an hour, still 

 imbibing. On remounting, the coachmaker, an active, 

 able young man, said to the old gentleman, — 



" I'll sit on the box now." He got up, while the other 

 took his place on the roof — a most providential change 

 for him, as will presently be seen. We proceeded over 

 Kinfjston Brido-e, where I had never been before. 



"Turn to the left," said my friend on the box. 



I did so, and had not gene 100 yards, when some men 

 at a public-house (where the coach, unknown to me, was 

 to stop) put up their hands, and the leaders flew under 

 the gateway. The coachmaker instantly jumped off, or 

 he must have been killed. I, with much presence of 

 mind, pulled the wheel-horses against the gate-post, at 

 the same moment threw myself forward, and received a 

 crushing blow in my shoulders and back, thereby saving 



