PIKES AND MILESTONES. 83 



1743 ; they merely wanted setting up again in the 

 ground. In naa&y places where there is a convergence 

 of important roads, there are, if I may use the 

 expression, elaborate milestones, indicating for the 

 traveller's guidance the distances up and down the 

 roads to the neighbouring, places and London. 



Such an one there is at Alconbury Hill in Hunting- 

 donshire, just by Alconbury, near which was an 

 extensive posting and coaching establishment, kept 

 for many years by John Warsop — until, in fact, the 

 railway, combined with the cheap travelling by 

 steamer to Hull and other places which diverted the 

 traffic from the road, abolished his business. 



The heavy duties on post-horses made it quite 

 impossible for postmasters to compete with the 

 steamers, which were entirely free from duties of 

 any description whatever. 



During the session of Parliament, even after the 

 steamers had considerably reduced his business, 

 Warsop used to have fourteen or fifteen pairs of post- 

 horses out in a day ; at other times perhaps not 

 half that number; while for two or three days, or for 

 several days together, not a pair would be moving on 

 the Toad. With the posting the coaching also of 

 course fell off to a very great extent, and the stabling 

 of horses going up and down the road, together with 

 the company staying at the house, was lost. 



6—2 



