342 THE COACHING AGE. 



twenty years old lie became the driver of one of the 

 mails in the north of England, which was especially 

 noted for its fast travelling. For nearly twenty years 

 he was connected with the largest coaching establish- 

 ments, and usually went in and out of London, either 

 as, coachman or guard. It may be well to mention 

 here that his figure was tall and commanding, ' his 

 countenance intelligent and prepossessing, and his 

 mental powers far above mediocrity. He had also 

 considerable talertt for music, being known as the 

 best bugle-player on the road, besides which he had 

 a very fine voice, which was well cultivated. He also 

 excelled as a ventriloquist, and was in the habit of 

 giving public exhibitions in this character. During 

 the whole of this period of his life, and up to the 

 last three months, his liveliness, gaiety, and con- 

 sequent popularity were only exceeded by his reckless 

 -impiety. He has mentioned that for many years he 

 had seldom spent less than from eight to twelve 

 shillings daily in the purchase of intoxicating liquors. 

 ■Thus, as might naturally be expected, a constitution 

 which appeared originally calculated to bear the 

 .changes of a long life was worn out before he had 

 reached his prime. An accident which occurred near 

 Basingstoke when he was about forty years old laid 

 him aside for several weeks with a compound fracture ; 

 his recovery at that time was very doubtful, and he 



