"I will conclude with a story told me the other day, by a Kentish gentleman, of an innkeeper's 'ways' on the Dover Road. Two gentlemen having dined and stayed all night, called for the bill in the morning, and one of them happened to be within earshot when the waiter went to the landlord to have it made out, and overheard the following colloquy: Waiter: 'Please, sir, the gemmen in No. 5 wants their bill.'--Landlord: 'Very well' (taking down a printed form), 'let me hear what they had.'--Waiter: 'Soup, sir.'--Landlord: 'Soup; very well; what sort was it?'--Waiter: 'Mock turtle.'--Landlord: 'Mock turtle, 3_s._ Did they make any remark about it?'--Waiter: 'No, sir; only one of them said it was werry good.'--Landlord: 'Did they eat of it twice?'--Waiter: 'Yes, sir.'--Landlord: 'Oh, then, mock turtle, 5_s._; now go on.'--Waiter: 'Fried sole and shrimp sauce.'--Landlord: 'Fried sole, 2_s._; shrimp sauce, 1_s._; 3_s._ Did they make any remark about that?'--Waiter: 'One of them said that the fish was werry fresh.--Landlord: 'Indeed! then, fried sole, 3_s._; shrimp sauce, 1_s._ 6_d._; 4_s._ 6_d._ Now go on.'--Waiter: 'Small leg of Welsh mutton, potatoes, and French beans.'--Landlord: 'Mutton, 5_s._; potatoes, 1_s._; French beans, 5_s._; rather early for French beans, isn't it?'--Waiter: 'Yes, sir; both the gemmen remarked that it was werry early.'--Landlord: 'Oh, then, French beans, 10_s._'" Of the coaching hotels enough has been written from Smollett's time, or before, to date; and, as for their number, any visitor to Barnet can judge, by those that remain, several having been made to serve other purposes. This was the first change out of London, on the great North Road, and even I remember fifteen coaches running each way, and the last one being run off. I think it was either the Luton Coach or the Bedford Times. CHAPTER XXVI. Steam carriages on roads--Commission thereon--Steam omnibus--Railways--A nuisance--Railways started during the reign--Opening of the Greenwich Railway.