232 THE COACHING AGE. 



He at once called on the three spectators, who 

 were enjoying their joke, to get the mare away from 

 the gates ; but they professed their unwillingness to 

 go near her, for fear of the consequences. At length, 

 however, she was got away from the doors and put 

 into the mail, and the journey was resumed.. The 

 little time, if any, , lost by the performance would 

 be made up in some way over the dijBFerent stages ; 

 or in the event of this being impracticable, the 

 guard would have the means of accounting for it on 

 his time-bill, by ascribing it to improper horses being 

 employed, which would at once cause some commu- 

 nication between the Post-Office Inspector and the 

 proprietor, in all probability somewhat to the annoy- 

 ance and trouble of the latter. 



The advertisements of Mr. George Eobbins, a noted 

 auctioneer of large estates many years since, used to 

 be productions of the most flowery character, con- 

 taining glowing and enchanting descriptions of the 

 properties to be disposed of. They were such as are 

 not to be met with in the advertisements of the most 

 zealous auctioneers of the present day. 



There are, however, to be found in the current 

 announcements of things to be sold, descriptions 

 perhaps more curious than accurate, as appears by 

 extracts I have made from various papers. 



In the equine department, for instance, it would 



