POSTAL HOUSES, POST-MASTERS, AND POST-BOYS. 227 



For the services of the ''cads," the post-boys 

 themselves had to pay about four shilhngs a week. 



The same writer goes on to say that the post-boys 

 at the " Red Lion," at Barnet, rode in yellow jackets 

 and black hats, and the post-boys at the " Green Man " 

 in blue jackets and white hats. Passengers who had 

 been left behind by the coach frequently posted after 

 it, hoping to catch it up before it arrived at the next 

 change. 



In those days post-horses were kept ready saddled 

 and harnessed day and night. 



On one occasion seventy-five pairs changed within 

 twenty-four hours at the " Green Man," at Barnet ; 

 but twenty-five pairs a day was considered about the 

 average of changes. 



Post-boys would frequently ride fifty miles a day. 



Post-masters had to pay a tax of five guineas on 

 every post-chaise. 



When persons travelled a distance of seventy miles 

 or more the post-chaise, as well as the post-boy, was 

 changed at every inn ; this caused considerable con- 

 fusion, delay, and inconvenience, as it necessitated 

 removing the luggage and all the paraphernalia of the 

 traveller from the one chaise to the other ; all the 

 heavy trunks being securely strapped on to a large fiat 

 board over the axle of the front wheels. 



At the posting-houses four horses were allotted to 

 each post-boy ; consequently, by the number of post- 

 boys at an inn, one could obtain a fair estimate of the 

 number of post-horses there were in the stable. 



The post-boy frequently on his return journey, 



believed to be a corruption of the word " cadger," which means 

 a beggar, one who would rather live on other people than work for 

 himself. Dr. Johnson uses the word, and gives " huckster " as the 

 meaning. 



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