GENERAL. 409 



Considering that at the time these observations 

 were made persons were being conveyed by steamer 

 from London to Hull for four shillings best cabin, 

 and two shillings steerage, and no duty being pay- 

 able in respect of them, the coach-proprietors do 

 not seem to have complained without reason of 

 the heavy taxation to which their business was 

 subject in several ways. All that they desired was to 

 be put on an equality with their competitors ; and as 

 long as there was not this unfair competition, the 

 coaching interest never thought of complaining, but 

 paid immense sums to the Government with the 

 greatest cheerfulness. And as they contemplated 

 almost the cessation of travelling, what they wanted 

 was merely a sort of reprieve, or power to gain a 

 little before they were completely done up. 



I must say I think the old coach-proprietors were a 

 most energetic set of men, rather wanting perhaps 

 in discretion, and allowing their enterprising dis* 

 positions to lead them on to embarking in and con- 

 tinuing undertakings which they were perfectly well 

 aware were failures in a financial point of view. 



Where there were two coaches running against each 

 other, with the proprietors of both probably knowing 

 that there was not much more than a living for one, 

 yet neither side would give in, as the publicity of 

 being driven off the road would be somewhat galling 



