io5 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



''Spread Eagle" and ''Golden Cross" in Piccadilly 

 Circus. Sherman's coaches nearly all took the northern 

 road except the Exeter and Worcester ; he had nine 

 coaches on the BirminQ^ham road. There was another 

 coach proprietor called Mountain, whose inn was called 

 the " Saracen's Head," and was situated on Snow 

 Hill ; his coaches also took the northern road, whilst 

 Mrs. Nelson of the "Bull Inn," Aldgate, despatched 

 all her coaches towards the east. Chaplin's coaches, 

 from his three large establishments, went north, 

 south, east, and west. It is interesting to know that 

 Hatchett's, the place from which the "Amateur" road 

 coaches now start, was distinguished in the old days 

 for the number of stage-coaches and mails that 

 stopped there; in fact, the "Quicksilver" mail and 

 the not less distinguished " Tantivy " started from 

 Hatchett's. 



The busiest time in the day for these rendezvous 

 was from five in the morning till eight or nine ; during 

 the middle of the day the coaching inns were tolerably 

 quiet, except for the day-coaches that ran short 

 distances, which arrived and departed at all hours. 



The contrast between the coaches leaving London 

 and those which had just arrived after a long journey 

 was very striking. They were very much like ships ; 

 whereas those that have just left dock, bound on a 

 long voyage, are freshly painted, and of smart appear- 

 ance, the vessel that has just returned from a long 

 cruise, having experienced bad weather, is vastly 

 different in appearance ; she has frequently carried 

 something away, and there is a shabby look about 

 her, which is indicative of a rough passage and a long 

 absence from port. 



On the night-coaches coming into town, they 



