Preface Pages Paterson's Hampshire 1785-93

page viii

Though the rates of travelling in England are generally so well known as to require little comment, yet, for the benefit of strangers, some degree of information on that head may naturally be expected in a work of this kind; for which reason we beg leave to observe that, the hire of horses and carriages differ so much, from various circumstances, as to prevent our furnishing the Traveller with an exact account of the charges he may find every where made; still, nevertheless, it is presumed, a Table of the Rates, usually paid throughout the kingdom, may contribute to his satisfaction, and, in some degreee, prevent his being imposed upon, as when they are deviated from, it will be easy for him to enquire, and find out, whether the charge made is usual and customary, or not.

TABLE of the Prices usually paid for the hire of HORSES and CARRIAGES.
		Hire.	Duty.	Total.
A Carriage and Six Horses	By the day, from 9 to 16 miles and back	2-5-0	9-0	2-14-0
	By ditto, from 16 to 20 miles and back	2-10-0	9-0	2-19-0
	By ditto, from 20 miles or upwards and back	2-14-0	9-0	3-3-0
A Carriage and Four Horses	By the day, from 9 to 16 miles and back	1-10-0	6-0	1-16-0
	By ditto, from 16 to 20 miles and back	1-14-0	6-0	2-0-0
	By ditto, from 20 miles or upwards and back	2-2-0	6-0	2-8-0
	By the mile		0-1-6	0-4	0-1-10
A Post Chaise and Pair	By the day, from 9 to 16 miles and back	0-15-0	3-0	0-18-0
	By ditto, from 16 to 20 miles and back	1-1-0	3-0	1-4-0
	By ditto, from 20 miles or upwards and back	1-5-0	3-0	1-8-0
	By the mile	0-0-9	0-2	0-0-11
A Saddle Horse	By the day	0-5-0	1-6	0-6-6
	By the mile	0-0-3	0-1	0-0-4

N.B. By a Carriage is meant either Coach, Landau, Chariot, Phaeton, or Post Chaise, all of which are let at the same Rate, the Number of Horses only making any difference in Price.

If you hire a Carriage by the Day, and your Journey exceeds 20 Miles, you are frequently charged for each Mile more at the Rate of the stated Price per Mile, instead of the general Sum specified in the Table; and if you take the Horses farther than agreed for, you are liable to stand to the Loss, in Case of any Accident happening to them. It is likewise to be observed, that travelling in your own Carriage makes no Difference in Point of Expence, the same Charge being made for Horses alone as for Horses and Carriage together.

The principal deviations from the foregoing Table is the custom of charging one shilling per mile for a chaise and pair the first stage from London; at sundry other places the like imposition is practised, particularly at Maidstone, all along the Dover Road, and, in general, every where upon Cross Roads; the hire of carriages less in common use is still more uncertain, being generally bargained for with the inn-keeper, who also sets the price upon a saddle-horse in proportion to the length of your journey, or day's ride.

Besides the hire of your carriage, it is customary to give something to the driver in case of good behaviour; and though this present may vary, according to the different dispositions of the donors, yet it may not be amiss to acquaint a stranger to travelling that in general the driver of a chaise and pair expects a shilling for each stage of 10 or 12 miles, and eighteen-pence for those of greater length, besides some additional consideration in case of carrying three person, travelling by night, long waiting, quick driving, or on sundry other pretences which their ingenuity is always ready enough to suggest.



Since this Work was begun, many Changes of Property and Alterations in Roads, must undoubtedly have taken Place, some of which may have escaped Observation; and, as in Course of Time, further Changes and Alterations may naturally be expected, the Proprietor Carington Bowles, Number 69, Saint Paul's Church Yard, London, will be greatly obliged to any Gentleman who may communicate such Alteration, Addition, or Improvement of any Kind as may tend to enrich a future Edition, directed as above, which will be duly attended to, and carefully inserted; the AUTHOR having withdrawn all his Interest and Connection from the other Works of this Sort he ws formerly engaged in.

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