192 THE COACHING AGE. 



proprietors were all considered, partners, each man 

 provided his own horses and harness, and any 

 loss by death or otherwise in his stock fell upon 

 himself solely, and was not borne by the general 

 body. 



As has been already observed, no traders knew 

 so well what profits they were making as persons 

 engaged in the coaching trade, as their settlements 

 took place every four weeks ; in fact, they might 

 be said to resemble what Sydney Smith, I think, de- 

 scribed as ' the beautiful simplicity of the three per 

 cents.' 



Coaching might be called a ready-money business, 

 the fares being paid at the time of booking the place, 

 or at the end of the journey at furthest. There were 

 some persons known as regular customers, or with a 

 large carrying business to and from London and 

 manufacturing places, who might run short ac- 

 counts ; but the country partners always expected to 

 receive their share of the earnings at every monthly 

 settlement, which rendered it incumbent upon the 

 endmen, who usually received all the money, to have 

 it in hand ready to be paid over to the different 

 middle-ground men. 



A person who was perfectly conversant with coach- 

 ing accounts, having to make up and keep those 

 of some twelve or thirteen different coaches, drew up 



