^'Nimrod ' 



England.^ Let us look to another coach out of this 

 town at the period we have been speaking of — * the 

 Shrewsbury and Chester Highflyer ! * This coach started 

 from Shrewsbury at eight o'clock in the morning, and 

 arrived at Chester about the same time in the evening — 

 distance, jorty miles. This was always a good hard 

 road for wheels, and rather favourable for draught ; and 

 how then could all these hours be accounted for ? Why, 

 if a ' commercial gentleman ' had a little business at Elles- 

 mere, there was plenty of time for that. If a ' real gentle- 

 man ' wanted to pay a morning visit on the road, there could 

 be no objection to that. In the pork-pie season, half an hour 

 was generally consumed in consuming one of them ; for 

 Mr. Williams, the coachman, was a wonderful favourite with 

 the farmers' wives and daughters all along the road. The 

 coach dined at Wrexham ; for coaches lived well in those 

 days — they now live upon air ; and Wrexham church was 

 to be seen — a fine specimen of the florid Gothic, and one 

 of the wonders of Wales ! Then Wrexham was also famous 

 for ale — no public breweries in those days in Wales — and, 

 above all, the inn belonged to Sir Watkin.^ About two 

 hours were allowed for dinner ; but ' Billy Williams ' — one 

 of the best-tempered fellows on earth, as honest as Aristides, 

 and, until lately, upon the same ground — was never particular 

 to half an hour or so. * The coach is ready, gentlemen,' he 



^ It is a well-known fact that this mail has not varied five minutes in or 

 out of Shrewsbury during the last eighteen months. 

 2 Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart. 



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