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will actually （barring accidents） arrive in London in four days and
a half after leaving Manchester！〃
Fast coaches were also established on several of the northern
roads； though not with very extraordinary results as to speed。
When John Scott； afterwards Lord Chancellor Eldon； travelled from
Newcastle to Oxford in 1766； he mentions that he journeyed in what
was denominated 〃a fly；〃 because of its rapid travelling； yet he
was three or four days and nights on the road。 There was no such
velocity； however； as to endanger overturning or other mischief。
On the panels of the coach were painted the appropriate motto of
Sat cito si sat benequick enough if well enougha motto which
the future Lord Chancellor made his own。*＇2＇
The journey by coach between London and Edinburgh still occupied
six days or more； according to the state of the weather。 Between
Bath or Birmingham and London occupied between two and three days
as late as 1763。 The road across Hounslow Heath was so bad； that
it was stated before a Parliamentary Committee that it was
frequently known to be two feet deep in mud。 The rate of
travelling was about six and a half miles an hour； but the work was
so heavy that it 〃tore the horses' hearts out；〃 as the common
saying went； so that they only lasted two or three years。
When the Bath road became improved； Burke was enabled； in the
summer of 1774； to travel from London to Bristol； to meet the
electors there； in little more than four and twenty hours； but his
biographer takes care to relate that he 〃travelled with incredible
speed。〃 Glasgow was still ten days' distance from the metropolis；
and the arrival of the mail there was so important an event that a
gun was fired to announce its coming in。 Sheffield set up a
〃flying machine on steel springs〃 to London in 1760： it 〃slept〃 the
first night at the Black Man's Head Inn； Nottingham； the second at
the Angel； Northampton； and arrived at the Swan with Two Necks；
Lad…lane； on the evening of the third day。 The fare was 1L。 l7s。；
and 14 lbs。 of luggage was allowed。 But the principal part of the
expense of travelling was for living and lodging on the road； not
to mention the fees to guards and drivers。
Though the Dover road was still one of the best in the kingdom； the
Dover flying…machine； carrying only four passengers； took a long
summer's day to perform the journey。 It set out from Dover at four
o'clock in the morning； breakfasted at the Red Lion； Canterbury；
and the passengers ate their way up to town at various inns on the
road； arriving in London in time for supper。 Smollett complained
of the innkeepers along that route as the greatest set of
extortioners in England。 The deliberate style in which journeys
were performed may be inferred from the circumstance that on one
occasion； when a quarrel took place between the guard and a
passenger； the coach stopped to see them fight it out on the road。
Foreigners who visited England were peculiarly observant of the
defective modes of conveyance then in use。 Thus； one Don Manoel
Gonzales； a Portuguese merchant； who travelled through Great
Britain； in 1740； speaking of Yarmouth； says； 〃They have a comical
way of carrying people all over the town and from the seaside； for
six pence。 They call it their coach； but it is only a wheel…barrow；
drawn by one horse； without any covering。〃 Another foreigner； Herr
Alberti； a Hanoverian professor of theology； when on a visit to
Oxford in 1750； desiring to proceed to Cambridge； found there was
no means of doing so without returning to London and there taking
coach for Cambridge。 There was not even the convenience of a
carrier's waggon between the two universities。 But the most
amusing account of an actual journey by stage…coach that we know
of； is that given by a Prussian clergyman； Charles H。 Moritz； who
thus describes his adventures on the road between Leicester and
London in 1782：
〃Being obliged；〃 he says； 〃to bestir myself to get
back to London； as the time drew near when the
Hamburgh captain with whom I intended to return had
fixed his departure； I determined to take a place as
far as Northampton on the outside。 But this ride from
Leicester to Northampton I shall remember as long as I live。
〃The coach drove from the yard through a part of the
house。 The inside passengers got in from the yard；
but we on the outside were obliged to clamber up in
the street； because we should have had no room for
our heads to pass under the gateway。 My companions on
the top of the coach were a farmer； a young man very
decently dressed； and a black…a…moor。 The getting up
alone was at the risk of one's life； and when I was
up I was obliged to sit just at the corner of the
coach； with nothing to hold by but a sort of little
handle fastened on the side。 I sat nearest the wheel；
and the moment that we set off I fancied that I saw
certain death before me。 All I could do was to take
still tighter hold of the handle； and to be strictly
careful to preserve my balance。 The machine rolled
along with prodigious rapidity over the stones
through the town； and every moment we seemed to fly
into the air； so much so that it appeared to me a
complete miracle that we stuck to the coach at all。
But we were completely on the wing as often as we
passed through a village or went down a hill。
〃This continual fear of death at last became
insupportable to me； and； therefore； no sooner were
we crawling up a rather steep hill； and consequently
proceeding slower than usual； then I carefully crept
from the top of the coach； and was lucky enough to
get myself snugly ensconced in the basket behind。
〃'O；Sir； you will be shaken to death！' said the
black…a…moor； but I heeded him not； trusting that he
was exaggerating the unpleasantness of my new
situation。 And truly； as long as we went on slowly up
the hill it was easy and pleasant enough； and I was
just on the point of falling asleep among the
surrounding trunks and packages； having had no rest
the night before； when on a sudden the coach
proceeded at a rapid rate down the hill。 Then all the
boxes； iron…nailed and copper…fastened； began； as it
were； to dance around me； everything in the basket
appeared to be alive； and every moment I received
such violent blows that I thought my last hour had
come。 The black…a…moor had been right； I now saw
clearly； but repentance was useless； and I was
obliged to suffer horrible torture for nearly an
hour； which seemed to me an eternity。 At last we came
to another hill； when； quite shaken to pieces；
bleeding； and sore； I ruefully crept back to the top
of the coach to my former seat。 'Ah； did I not tell
you that you would be shaken to death？' inquired the