EXPRESSES PAST AND PRESENT. 289 



It appears that the contractors had found difficulty 

 in keeping time with this mail as a pair-horse concern, 

 especially as some parts of the road were very hilly, 

 and they therefore had an interview with Mr. Stow, 

 one of the inspectors of mail-coaches, on the subject, 

 and as the proprietors addressed a letter to him, 

 which will be subsequently given, he most probably 

 requested them, according to established official 

 custom, to submit their application to him in writ- 

 ing, in order that it might be laid before the Post- 

 master-General ; but before adopting this course the 

 proprietors held a meeting to settle the important 

 document, and also some questions between them- 

 selves as to distances and supply of oil for the 

 mail-lamps. A minute of their meeting ran as 

 follows : 



At a meeting of the Hastings Mail Proprietors, it is agreed as 

 follows, viz. : 



That the application to the General Post Office shall be made as 

 per statement for an additional allowance beyond the present one. 



That the distance each person shall share shall be the exact 

 distance as per time-bill, adding at the two ends one mile 

 additional, which will be as follows : 



Miles. 



Home and Gray - - 1 ) 



Golden Cross to G. P. 0. IJVsay 17 



G. P. 0. to Farnborough 15 \ 



Harris - 25^ 



E. Pawley 8 



B. Pawley - 7J 



19 



