86 THE COACHING AGE. 



In Order to show that Mr. Warsop was not alone 

 in the opinion he expressed as to the severe pressure 

 of the post-horse duties upon the postmasters, and 

 the unfair competition with untaxed steamers which 

 they had to contend against, I will quote what Mr. 

 Cass, who carried on a large posting business at 

 Stevenage in Hertfordshire, on the Great North 

 Eoad, said : 



He was obliged to keep up the same establishment, 

 as there was a line of houses having the connection 

 of families travelling, whom he was accustomed to 

 receive from about the middle of July to September ) 

 and all he wanted was to be put on an equality 

 with travelling by steam. Although managing his 

 business in the most economical manner, it would be 

 impossible to continue without a chance of profit. 

 Indeed, his trade would be entirely annihilated unless 

 relief was afforded by the abolition of the duty. 

 The property was his own, and but for that he could 

 not continue to live there ; the business would not 

 admit of his paying a rent for it. 



If competition by steamers was having a ruinous 

 effect on the traffic on the north roads, how much 

 more so was it , on the roads into Kent, where 

 steamers were running from London — 



