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CHAPTER III 



Early recollections of posting — Post-horse duty — The old inns and 

 posting-houses — Collection of the duty — Manners and customs of 

 travellers who posted — Cost — Post-horse Farmers — Shillibeer, the 

 well-known Undertaker — Abolition of the duty. 



Many recollections of my busy life crowd upon me 

 but there are some which should not be forgotten, 

 and are singular records of bygone times. Some 

 years ago the general public travelled but little ; 

 there were, in fact, few opportunities to go even 

 from one neighbouring town or village to another. 

 It is, indeed, marvellous to me how business and 

 pleasure were carried on in my boyhood. I knew 

 well how the nobility and gentry moved about the 

 country, namely, by post-horses. And this brings 

 to my memory what ' posting ' in those days really 

 was, and how few there are now living who under- 

 stand it. 



The period of ' Pickwick ' was not only that of 

 'pikes' and 'pike-keepers,' but it was the palmy 

 days of posting. Posting-houses and post-horses, 

 with the system of travelling by the turnpike road 

 which flourished in my youth, tempt me to again 

 draw upon my recollections. A posting chapter 

 follows naturally upon one devoted to toll-gates and 

 toll-keepers. 



