COACHES VERSUS COVERT-HACKS. 311 



team than in the old coaching days, when there were 

 fewer inhabitants and less traffic. 



Some of the coaches which run from the White 

 Horse Cellars, run during the winter, a singular thing 

 for them to do, particularly in the case of the " Oatlands 

 Park Hotel " coach ; this hotel in the depth of winter 

 cannot be a very cheerful place In which to stay. I 

 cannot imagine a Londoner venturing on the top of a 

 coach on a bitterly cold winter's day, merely to be 

 deposited at the end of his journey at a place which 

 can offer no attraction whatever as a winter residence, 

 and is only enjoyable In summer because of its garden 

 and proximity to the Thames. 



If coach proprietors are Inclined to run well-ap- 

 pointed coaches during the winter, they should do so In 

 the hunting counties from the principal towns, In which 

 case they would be certain of a coach-load to the more 

 distant fixtures, as hunters could then be sent on early 

 in the morning, and their owners might dispense with 

 the services of a hack, and need not take their own 

 carriage to the meet ; the grooms might return on the 

 coach In charge of their master's overcoat and wraps. 

 A good coach, well horsed, with a decent coachman, 

 would under such circumstances be a welcome addition 

 to the conveniences of such renowned hunting centres 

 as Melton, Market Harborough, Oakham, Rugby, and 

 Leamington ; besides which, a coach at Bletchley or 

 Leighton Buzzard, on the L. & N.W. line, would be 

 of considerable service, as a number of men hunt from 

 these two last-mentioned places, coming down from 

 London by rail, and returning again to town In the 

 evening ; consequently they are not in the habit of 

 keeping a carriage of any kind to convey them to the 

 meets. Driving to meets of hounds economises one's 



