GUARDS' TIME-BILLS. 8i 



" The guard is to fill up this bill precisely as the 

 coach is worked over each sta^je, and hand it to 

 the bookkeeper at each end of his journey, with all 

 delays accounted for, and his name signed to the 

 same." 



Whilst at the foot of the Manchester " Tele- 

 graph " day-coach time-bill, there was the following 

 notice : 



"Observe — That a fine of one shilling per minute 

 will be incurred by each proprietor for every minute 

 of time lost over his stage or stages, to one-half 

 of which the coachman and guard will be held liable 

 equally between them should their employers see 

 sufficient cause for enforcing the same. Misdating 

 the time-bill, or neglecting to date at all (either with 

 pen, ink, or pencil) at any of the above places the 

 moment he arrives, will subject the guard to a fine 

 of five shillings for each default. The guard is also 

 to leave his time-bill in the office on his arrival at 

 the ' Bull and ]\Iouth,' or forfeit five shillings for each 

 omission.'' 



This coach was horsed as far as St. Albans by 

 Mr. Sherman. 



It is a pity that railway companies and the guards 

 and engine-drivers employed by them cannot be made 

 responsible in the same way ; were this done, and 

 a fine imposed every time the train was late, passengers 

 would not be made to sufter in consequence of their 

 unpunctuality. In fact, it would be a good thing if the 

 Government could be induced to take over many of 

 the railways. 



Mr. Harris gives some copies of time-bills as 

 shown on next page : 



