126 HIGH IV AYS AND HORSES. 



menced, not only were sporting dogs frequently 

 conveyed by the coaches, but a great deal of game 

 was conveyed by them also. 



The largest coach proprietor in the high days 

 of coaching was William Chaplin ; he had offices in 

 the City and at the West of London. It is said that 

 he was originally a coachman himself, though later on 

 in life he was elected M.P. for Salisbury, and after the 

 coaches were swept off the roads, like a sensible man, 

 he did not foolishly endeavour to perpetuate their 

 existence, but became connected with railroad under- 

 takings, and eventually became deputy chairman of 

 the London and Southampton Railway Company, after- 

 wards the London and South Western Railway ; in 

 addition to which he established a great general 

 carrying business ; he was associated with Benjamin 

 Worthy Home. Under the name of Chaplin and 

 Home this firm is known at the present day, although 

 few persons are aware that the original partners were 

 in the coaching days the largest horse and coach 

 proprietors in England, which means in the whole 

 world. 



After the railways were commenced, Mr. Chaplin's 

 extensive stables were converted into warehouses for 

 goods in the course of transmission. Of the eight 

 mails that left the West of London every night, all 

 except the Gloucester and Exeter were horsed by 

 Chaplin ; they all started from Piccadilly, Chaplin 

 also horsed the mail-carts, which, driven by the mail 

 guards with their letter-bags, etc., left the General 

 Post Office every evening to meet the coaches in 

 Piccadilly. For this service he charged thirteen 

 pounds to each mail, the horses in the carts were 

 fast roadsters, as of course the mail-coaches could 



