i8 RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



bondholders throughout the country when the trusts 

 were abolished was not more than 4^. or 5^. in the 

 pound. 



In giving this imperfect sketch of the establish- 

 ment of turnpike trusts, I cannot forbear adding 

 some slight account of the method of letting the tolls. 

 The trustees, who were mostly country gentlemen 

 of the district, forgathered at the principal inn in 

 the county town in considerable numbers, and the 

 whole place being en Jete, there was an assembly 

 of as strange a collection of humanity as could well 

 be grot together. It was usual for the trustees to 

 give a guinea for each gate let to be expended in 

 refreshments, and as generally there were six or 

 eight gates, there would be that number of 

 guineas spent amongst about forty or fifty ' pikers,' 

 as they were called, who attended, but only about 

 six or seven of these would be bidders and lessees ; 

 these were men of capital, who rarely collected their 

 own tolls. Those who witnessed these meetings 

 called them the ' Whispering Society,' as the com- 

 pany scattered about the inn yard in groups of three, 

 five, or more, were in full conclave, all in whispers ; 

 one would run off and whisper to another group 

 and return again, when they would be approached 

 by another envoy, whilst circulating rapidly amongst 

 them was one of the bond fide bidders, evidently 

 making terms with several threatening opponents, 

 and promising from i/. to 5/. to the recipient who 

 refrained from bidding. At the appointed time a 

 rush was made to the auction room, where the 



