COACHMEN. 305 



years, and still drove after ceasing to be a proprietor. 

 Anticipating the entire abolition of coach-travelling, 

 lie drew up a petition to Parliament on the subject, 

 and got it presented by a member for the town in 

 which he resided, and from which he used to drive. 

 The petition, like a great many others, was ordered to 

 lie on the table, and was, I believe, never heard of 

 any more. Some of the views and opinions ex- 

 pressed in it are rather singular, so I think I cannot 

 do better than quote it in the petitioner's exact 

 words. It ran thus : 



' That your petitioner was originally brought up in 

 a noble profession, but from a visitation of Providence 

 and other circumstances over which he had no control, 

 was compelled to seek subsistence as a stage-coach- 

 man. 



' That your petitioner has now followed that 

 employment for eight- and-twenty years, and during 

 this time has been enabled to provide for a wife and 

 large family in a respectable manner. 



' That your petitioner has seen, with considerable 

 dismay, the invention and rapid increase of railroads 

 during the last few years, accomplishing the ruin of 

 hundreds in the same employment as your petitioner, 

 and'now, by the numerous bills before your Honour- 

 able House, threatening the very livelihood of your 

 petitioner and his numerous family. 



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