CHAPTER X. 



His business. 



Definition of 

 an inn. 



Derivation of 

 hostler. 



Who is a 

 ffuest. 



"What an inn- 

 keeper nnder- 



Innkeeper 

 compellable 

 to receive a 

 traveller. 



INNKEEPERS, VETEEINAEY SURGEONS, FARRIERS, HORSE- 

 BREAKERS, TRAINERS, ETC. 



Innkeeper. 



"When a horse is taken to an inn, the innkeeper has a 

 particular responsibility imposed upon him, in return for 

 which he has certain peculiar privileges. 



An innkeeper is a person who makes it his business to 

 entertain travellers and passengers, and to provide lodging 

 and necessaries for them and their horses and attendants, 

 and it is no way material whether he have any sign before 

 his door (a). 



The true definition of an inn is, a house where the 

 traveller is furnished with every thing which he has occa- 

 sion for whilst on his way " (b). 



The word hostler is derived ab hostle ; and the word 

 hospitator, which is used in the old writs for an innJioIder, is 

 derived ab hospitio ; and hospes est quasi hospitium petens[c). 



A guest is properly a lodger or stranger at an inn ; and 

 the word " gtwst " is derived from the Saxon gest, which 

 had the same meaning as the French gist or gite, that is, 

 " a stage of rest in a journey," " a lodging " (</). And 

 Lord Holt says, " It is the lodging of the man at the inn 

 that makes him guest " (e). 



An innkeeper or hotel-keeper undertakes to receive and 

 entertain all travellers until his house is filled ; and an inn- 

 keeper by opening a common inn undertakes also to receive 

 and keep the horses of those who come to his inn (/). 



It is said that an innkeep)er may be compelled by the 

 constable of the town to receive and entertain a traveller as 

 his guest (g). 



(a) Palm. 374 ; 2 Eol. Rep. 345. 



(i) Per Bayley, J., Thompson v. 

 Lacij, 3 B. & Aid. 286 ; 22 K. R. 385. 



(c) Calye's case, 8 Coke, 32. 



(ci) Westhrook v. Griffith, Mo. 

 876, 877 ; Saunders v. Tlummer, 

 Orl. Bridg. 227. 



(e) Smith v. Dearlove, 6 C. B. 

 132, n. See also Strauss v. County 



Hotel Co., 12 Q. B. D. 27 ; 53 L. J., 

 Q. B. 25 ; 49 L. T., N. S. 601 ; 32 

 "W. E. 170; Medawarv. GrandSotel 

 Co., [1891] 2 Q. B. n ; 60 L. J. 

 Q. B. 209 ; 64 L. T. 851. 



(/) Junes V. Osborn, 2 Chit. 484. 



(g) 5 Edw. 4, 2 b. Dalt. cap. 7 ; 

 1 Show. 268. 



