"The price of Coals in the Pool, yesterday, were:—Best 43s. Inferior sorts from 36s. to 38s. Delivered to housekeepers 49s. to 44s. The price rose considerably yesterday from a report that several colliers had been captured."—(Times, Feby. 12, 1793.)
"On Monday the price was 70s. per Chaldron all sorts.
On Wednesday, the price was 60s. and some sorts lower.
On Yesterday, the price was 50s. to 45s. per Chaldron.
We are happy at giving such an agreeable account to our readers."—(Times, March 7, 1794.)
"The prices of Coals still continue very high, notwithstanding above 100 ships have, this week, arrived at market, which are nearly all sold from 38s. to 44s. per Chaldron: so that the best sorts cannot be fairly delivered under 50s. per Chaldron. The number of ships taken out of the trade, into the transport, and other services, is the cause of the present high price, as the demand is greater than the supply."—(Times, Oct. 4, 1794.)
"Many complaints have been made of the high price of coals, and it is supposed to arise from a combination, but we are well assured no such cause exists. The long frost having stopped the navigation of the Thames, what coals remained in the lighters, and barges, were nearly exhausted at the wharfs, and naturally, every man possessed of a commodity, looks to extraordinary profits on unusual events, which has, we understand, occasioned six, and seven, guineas to be given for a chaldron of coals, within a few days past, but, had the frost continued, coals would have been considerably cheaper, than at present, as the ice admitted the coals being worked over it. There are, at present, near 50 sail of colliers in the river, not unladen, which contain about 10,000 chaldrons, for an immediate supply, (but not ten times that quantity, as erroneously stated in most of the papers) and, before they can be consumed, we may expect a fresh fleet at Market."—(Times, Jany. 30, 1795.)
"Yesterday, there was only one ship of coals, at Market, which sold at three guineas and a half per chaldron. About 30 sail more were at sea, and forced into the Humber."—(Times, Feby. 24, 1795.)
"Coals were on Friday (12th April) sold in the Pool at five guineas per Chaldron. There was only one ship-load at market."—(Times, April 15, 1799.)
THE ROAD AND STREETS.
The Highways and Streets were in very far from good condition, the roads being full of ruts, and the streets when paved, were made of large "Cobble" Stones, and were full of holes, ofttimes very dangerous, as we shall see. The foot pavement, except in some of the best streets, which were flagged, was very narrow, and made of "Kidney" stones on end, such as may still be met with in the bye-ways of some country towns. Consequently no one stirred out more than they could help; the men always on horseback, if single—by "Post," if accompanied by ladies. It will have been noticed in "Men's dress" that they all wear boots, if not in the house, and the reason is plain—they had to be protected against the mud of the streets, and ready for the saddle. Every man had to learn to ride, and no doubt this laid the foundation of the Continental opinion, that every Englishman is a good horseman.
| "Young Gentlemen during their Holidays, are supplied with gentle pleasant Horses of all sizes, and the most careful Attendance and Instructions for | £2 12 6 | |
| A Horse to ride for Exercise in the House | 0 3 6 | |
| Twelve lessons when convenient | 2 7 6 | |
| Sixteen lessons in four weeks | 2 7 0 | |
| Single lesson | 0 5 0 | |
| Book of Instructions for Ladies | 0 5 6 | |
| Breaking a horse | 2 7 6 | &c." |
—(Morning Post, Jany. 2, 1788.)
"Advt.—A CAUTION to all Gentlemen who drive Jobb Horses by their own Coachmen, the Gentleman paying yearly wages to them: From a Gentleman who has had experience of it.—That the Coachmaster and Coachmen do agree, the one to give, the other to receive, annually, a certain sum of money, which can be for no other purpose than to defraud their employers, demanding so much more for the price of their horses, to bribe the said Coachmen to conceal defects in them, and to engage the said Coachmaster to recommend the said Coachmen: and so vice-versa to employ each other, if out of place or business. This is a most dishonest, but general practice of the Coachmasters. The writer of this, to avoid and discourage the practice of this Knavery, has purchased his own horses, persuaded no other means will be effectual. This is written merely to put Gentlemen on their guard, at the expense of the Advertiser, and will not be inserted again."—(Times, July 2, 1795.)
Of course those that could afford it travelled Post—which was charged one shilling per horse per mile, besides a gratuity to the "boy," but this was raised to fourteen pence in 1796, when food became so dear.
"So great is the itch of pleasure at this time of year, that on Sundays it is difficult to find post-horses in London. Last Sunday General Fox, and several other persons of Consideration, who had business out of town, were confined for want of them, though they sent as far as the extremity of Whitechapel."—(Times, Sept. 2, 1795.)
"The rate of Posting still continues at 14d. per mile, and nothing but the unanimous determination of the public to resist so extravagant a charge, can possibly do it away. Some few Post Masters have, it is true, advertised at 1s., but the general rate still remains at 14d. This charge took its rise from the scarcity, and, consequently, the high price of corn: but, at this moment, when corn has fell one third, nothing can justify the continuance of what may be justly reprobated as an imposition."—(Times, July 9, 1796.)
But it was not every one who could afford Posting or even the Stage Coach,—for them existed the "Stage Wagon"—a most cumbrous affair with very broad wheels—and some eight horses, the driver being mounted on a pony—so as to be able to ride round his team. The following is a very humorous story of a journey by Wagon:—
"A DELIGHTFUL RIDE,
"In the ten-wheeled Caravan, from Greenwich to London.
"We were twenty-four passengers within side, and nine without. It was my lot to sit in the middle, with a very lusty woman on one side, and a very thin man on the other. 'Open the window,' said the former, and she had a child on her lap, whose hands and face were all besmeared with gingerbread. 'It can't be opened,' said a little prim coxcomb, 'or I shall get cold.'—'But I say it shall, Sir,' said a Butcher, who sat opposite to him, and the Butcher opened it; but, as he stood, or rather bent forward to do this, the caravan came into a rut, and the Butcher's head, by the suddenness of the jolt, came into contact with that of the woman who sat next to me, and made her nose bleed. He begged her pardon, and she gave him a slap on the face that sounded through the whole caravan. Two sailors, that were seated near the helm of this machine, ordered the driver to cast anchor at the next public-house. He did so; and the woman next to me, called for a pot of ale, which she offered to me, after she had emptied about a pint of it, observing, that 'as how she loved ale mightily.' I could not drink, at which she took much offence; and said, 'I was mighty squeamish; but thank God, she was as good as I, and kept a lodging-house in Craven St., where she saw her betters every day, and so,' continues she, 'here's to you, my dear:' and she finished the pot. A violent dispute now arose between two stout looking men, the one a Recruiting Sergeant, and the other a Gentleman's Coachman, about the Rights of Man: and, having struck two or three blows in the Caravan, they got out into the road, to decide whether Tom Paine was an Atheist, or a Deist. In this contest, victory fell to the Sergeant, and the driver of the horses was so mauled by the leader of men, that he was lifted into the vehicle, where he sat in sullen silence all the rest of the journey.
"Another dispute afterwards arose about politics, which was carried on with such warmth, as to draw the attention of the company to the head of the Caravan, where the combatants sat wedged together like two pounds of Epping butter, whilst a child incessantly roared at the opposite side, and the mother abused the two politicians for frightening her babe. The heat was now so great that all the windows were opened, and with the fresh air, entered clouds of dust, for the body of the machine is but a few inches from the surface of the road.
"I trust, Mr. Conductor, you will give this journey to London, a place in your paper, and, I am, &c. &c.
"Lucy Treadneedle."
—(Times, Sept. 5, 1794.)
It will be noticed that then, as now, the Times, was a powerful organ for calling public attention to social grievances, and that people "wrote to" that paper as at the present time. We, in our time, know the little social inconveniences arising from staying at Hotels, where, not only does the proprietor charge for attendance, which we, no more than the writer of this letter, can understand is not included in his servants' wages—but we, also, if we want good attendance, have to "tip" the servants as well.
"To the CONDUCTOR of the TIMES.
"Sir,—Having frequent occasion to travel many of the principal roads of England, I have often witnessed the exorbitant demands of Inn-keepers, and the no less serious ones of their domestics, sanctioned only by custom, yet arisen to such a pitch as to become a burthen unable to be borne by the poor Tradesman who is obliged to travel to sell his goods, as well as an inconvenience to the person in middling circumstances of life, who, for his health, or otherwise, has occasion to travel. Grievances (the latter of which especially), are only suffered to exist from the disinclination people have to break through a custom, or to appear singular. Having hinted at the former, I shall only shew the nature, and point out a remedy for the latter. It is well known, that let an Innkeeper's bill be ever so exorbitant, you must not only comply with it, but also give the servants just as much as if it was reasonable: so that there is no end of the expence: for instance, if a man who has a horse, puts up at an inn, besides the usual bill, he must at least give 1s. to the waiter, 6d. to the chamber-maid, 6d. to the hostler, and 6d. to the jack-boot, making together 2s. 6d., and this to be repeated every night he lays on the road (I speak now of what's expected from those who appear in middling circumstances of life). The same expence in proportion occurs in the course of the day: at breakfast, you must give at least 6d. between the waiter and hostler. If the traveller only puts up to have a refreshment, besides paying for his horse's standing, he must give 3d. to the hostler: at dinner 6d. to the waiter and 3d. to the hostler: at tea 6d. between them, so that he gives away in the day 2s. 6d., which added to the 2s. 6d. for the night, makes 5s. per day on an average to servants. Thus he is putting his hand in his pocket from morning till night, not merely to satisfy the Landlord's demand, but to appease the croaking of domestics, who, it is well known, will let you see, or feel, their displeasure in some way or other if you do not, so that it is disagreeable to go to that inn the second time where you do not behave with profuseness at the first, and there is not only the above inconvenience, but also this, that after all your givings they are not satisfied, but often abuse you for your liberality. The following anecdote proves this:—Coming home from Colchester some time since, I put up at an Inn at Ingatestone, the Innkeeper's bill was as follows:—Supper 1s., beer 3d., bed 1s., horse and corn 1s. 7d.—together 3s. 10d. I gave away as follows: waiter 1s., chambermaid 6d., jack-boot 6d., hostler, the change out of 2s. I paid him for the horse, being 5d., together 2s. 5d., being 1s. 5d. less than the bill. Yet the hostler was so abusive, because I did not give him more than the odd 5d. change, that he actually threatened me that he would mark me if I came there again. I therefore did, what I wish every one would do in the like case, punish him on the spot for his insolence. I appeared to relent that I had not given him more, and desired him to give me the half-pence again that I might see for silver for him, which after he had done, I rode off, leaving him to repent he had not kept what I first gave him. It may be alleged that these servants have little or no wages, and therefore ought to receive liberally. Be that as it may, it is very hard that I am to pay wages to another man's servants. I pay the master his bill, in which he makes a charge sufficient to cover his servants' wages, and then he leaves me to pay his servants besides. If Innkeepers have nothing to pay for servants, their charges ought to be reasonable in proportion. But I would meet another objection that is likely to be made, which is, that what is given to servants at inns is not to be considered as wages, but as their perquisites. There are two answers to this, the one, that the very notion of perquisites, signifies something gotten over and above their usual wages, whereas it is notorious, that most Innkeepers allow their servants no wages: the other, that perquisites signify a gift, now a gift is free, and may be much, or little, as suits the inclination of the giver, but, according to the modern custom at inns, he is not permitted to use his discretion, but there must be a settled sum given to each servant, fixed as to the lowest quantum, though as much above that mark as he pleases, and, if he gives less than custom warrants, they have the impudence to tell him of it. Besides, why should Innkeepers, be exempted from paying their servants wages, any more than any other tradesman. If I go into a shop, to buy a few yards of any thing, I am not charged so much for the trouble of the shopman who cut it off. Tradesmen are contented to pay their servants out of the profit of their bills, without saddling it upon their customers: and I am fully persuaded, were travellers of all descriptions to withhold for a certain time their usual gifts to servants at inns, it would ultimately tend to the benefit of those servants themselves, as well as the comfort of travellers, for when the servants find their finances so low, they would insist upon, and would not hire themselves without stipulated wages, after which, travellers might again resume their former generosity, and what they then gave, would be looked upon in the light it ought, as a gift, and not a debt.
"A Constant Reader."
—(Times, Oct. 17, 1795.)
The following notices will show that, what with over-crowding, and bad roads, accidents were as frequent by road as they are now by rail—indeed, the per centage, considering the relative number of passengers, was much greater. The basket mentioned below, was a huge wicker work machine attached to the Coach, intended to carry parcels.
"Yesterday the driver of the Chelmsford and London Stage Coach, was convicted before the Magistrates at the Public Office, Whitechapel, in three separate penalties of 40s. each, for suffering more than six persons to ride on the roof of the said Coach.
"The owner and driver of the Bishop Stortford, and London, Stage Coach, was also convicted in the penalty of £4 for the same offence: and the driver of the Westham Stage Coach, in the same penalty, for suffering eight persons to ride on the roof of the said Coach."—(Times, Oct. 5, 1795.)
"In despite of continual and fatal accidents, not to mention the inferior consideration of pains and penalties, the Stage Coaches still continue to carry extra numbers on the outside. There were eleven on the coach, and box, of the Gosport Coach, beside the driver, and nine in the basket, on Thursday last."—(Times, Oct. 16, 1795.)
"The pavement in Bridge St. Blackfriars, which has been so long in a most dangerous state, has sunk near a foot more, within the last week, so that the roof of the main shore is every hour expected to give way."—(Times, Aug. 6, 1794.)
"On Wednesday afternoon, about four o'clock, the Boston Coach broke down, on the lowest part of Snow Hill, soon after it left the Saracen's Head Inn. The outside passengers, which were FOURTEEN in number, and mostly soldiers, were thrown with such violence on the pavement, that several were bruised, and one woman was taken to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where she died, on Thursday night. The inside passengers, which were five, and a young child, were not much hurt.
"The frequent accidents which arise from the outsides of coaches being so overladen, calls highly for reprehension. The laws are either inadequate to remedy the evil, or they are not properly enforced: and we sincerely hope that the coachman, and those who are concerned, will be severely punished, as an example to prevent the same accidents in future. We think there should be a fresh Act of Parliament, and, if the inside passengers were empowered, after taking their seats, to hire a post-chaise where there was above a stipulated number (at the owner's expence), it would remedy the evil."—(Times, Aug. 8, 1795.)
"The pavement in Bridge St. Blackfriars, still grows worse, and worse, and not the least notice is taking of it by the Paving Committee. This is a most scandalous act of neglect; as, publicly, and privately, the parties have been applied to, who ought to make the necessary repairs. The ground has now sunk near three feet. In so well regulated a city, as that of London, this is a most disgraceful business."—(Times, Oct., 16, 1799.)
"A few days since, the axle-tree of a carriage was broken in descending the slope of Blackfriars Bridge, in consequence of the very large hole, at the bottom of it, on the Surry-side, which is in the highest degree dangerous. We are not certain that an indictment would not lay against the Trustees of the Surry Roads, for the scandalous manner in which they are kept. They vie with the Paviours, in some parts of the City, and we know not which are the worst of them. It is not to be conceived the number of horses that are foundered, by holes in the streets, and roads."—(Times, Oct. 5, 1799.)
"From the dangerous state of the pavement in some parts of London, it might be supposed that the Public paid nothing towards it. The thoroughfare about the New Church, in the Strand, is so bad, that two, or three, accidents have lately happened by horses tumbling down, from their feet catching in the holes."—(Times, Sept. 30, 1799.)