COACH TRAVELLING IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3232, 8 November 1881, Page 4

COACH TRAVELLING IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

We have before us the notes of an adventurous traveller who travelled the long space between London and Carlisle in 1719. Afc Hatfield, Stevenage, and Biggleswade, he found good accommodation ; but on arriving at Huntingdon, and thinking himself not well used, ' we determined to change our inn as we returned.' At Stilton, Stamford, and Grantham there was nothing to complain about beyond the heavy charges at the latter place ; but at Barnby, Micklefleld, and Whetherby, the entertainment was more indifferent. Greaton Bridge was of a similar character, while Bowes was ' a mean inn for provision, but kept by an honest, cleanly old woman and her two daughters, where we had good provision, but no wine.' Afc Brough the inn was good, but the traveller was ' illused in the reckoning •' and Penrith had nothing to boast of in the way of good rooms and luxurious fare. Ten days after.dining at Hatfield, the tourist arrived at Carlisle, ■ thanks be to God, very well, and without

any disaster on the road.' On another occasion, in 1721, this same tourist left Carlisle on September 18th, and at noon on the 27th came to Cambridge. 'In this journey,' he says, * we enjoyed very fair weather, and met with no disaster but in coming orer to 3tanmore, where we were twice in great hazard from boggy ground • but, thanks be to God, got safe out, and arrived all safe and veil at our journey's end.' The distance travelled appears to have averaged about twenty-four mile 3 a day.—G. Holden Pike, in Grolden Hours.