THE COACHING AGE. 



used to send the proprietors and others of their 



friends invitations, which in the King's reign ran 



thus : 



King's Birthday. 



Messrs. Vidler and Parratt request the pleasure of Mr,'..' ". 



company on Thursday, the 28th May, to a cold collation at 

 3 o'clock, and to see the procession of the Mail Coaches. 



Mill Bank Eow, 



Westminster. 



This probably was the most agreeable communica- 

 tion that the London proprietor received from Messrs. 

 Vidler in the course of the year, the others consisting 

 of bills drawn upon him quarterly, at three, six, or 

 nine months, and sent to him for acceptance, drawn 

 in advance for the ' amount that would be due from 

 the proprietor as mileage for the use of the mail- 

 coaches furnished by Messrs. Vidler under their. con- 

 tract with the Postmaster-General : they did not, 

 however, consider him as actually guaranteeing the 

 payment of the mileage. With the London proprie- 

 tors Messrs. Vidler did not find any difficulty, but 

 they did sometimes with those in the country, when, 

 as a last resource, Messrs. Vidler applied to Mr. 

 Johnson, the superintendent at the General Post Office, 

 and a letter from him generally had the desired effect. 



When a fresh mail was put upon a road out of 

 London, Messrs. Vidler drew bills upon the London 

 proprietor at three, six, and nine months in anticipa- 



